Symposium on Circular Economy

Governor Koike attended a symposium on the circular economy in central Tokyo on August 6. The symposium was held in conjunction with the “2nd Resource Circulation for Municipalities Forum” co-hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other organizations at the convention facility Otemachi Place Hall & Conference.

“It is important to build systems for resource recycling even in normal times,” Governor Koike said in her opening remarks. “For our country, where many resources are scarce, realizing a circular economy is the key to a vital growth strategy.”

She cited as one of the metropolitan government’s recycle-and-reuse efforts the “Tokyo Oil Field” project to collect and convert used tempura oil from households into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) that powers aircraft. Another example is the “Tokyo Mine” initiative.

“At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, we awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals to the medalists, but in fact, we transformed discarded household appliances—donated by various people—into those medals,” Governor Koike said.

“I hope this, too, will serve as a source of inspiration for the various innovative approaches being taken in different regions,” she said. “I hope this forum will serve as a valuable opportunity to share insights and best practices from across the nation, foster new collaborations, and provide the impetus needed to create models for circular businesses.”