Otsuka Pharmaceutical finalizes an agreement with Fukuroi City on the horizontal recycling of PET bottles

2025-02-17 2:26 min Sustainability & Circular Economy, Asia Pacific

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Partnering with Its Factory to Promote a "Local Production and Local Recycling" Initiative for PET Bottles
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) signed an agreement on February 13 with Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture (Mayor: Noriyuki Oba), and Toyota Tsusho Corporation to promote resource circulation and horizontal recycling of PET bottles as part of efforts to realize a sustainable society. Through this Local Production and Local Recycling initiative for PET bottles, in which Otsuka's Fukuroi Factory collaborates with Fukuroi City, the company aims to further advance bottle-to-bottle¹ horizontal recycling of PET bottles.

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Promoting a local production and recycling initiative for PET bottles through a new partnership with the municipality hosting our factory

Otsuka operates the Fukuroi Factory, which manufactures beverage products in Fukuroi City. The company has long promoted environmentally conscious initiatives under the Environmental Conservation Agreement signed with the city in 1995. In addition, Otsuka has established a disaster response collaboration framework with Fukuroi City and, in 2017, signed a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement to promote initiatives such as extending healthy life expectancy and encouraging sports participation, working closely with the local community to support health.

With this newly signed resource circulation agreement, Otsuka will further advance a local production and recycling system in which PET bottles collected in Fukuroi City will be reused as raw materials for new PET bottles at the Fukuroi Factory. The company will also collaborate with the city to raise awareness of resource circulation through educational posters, videos, and other outreach efforts focused on bottle-to-bottle recycling.

The signing ceremony for the resource circulation agreement was held at Fukuroi City Hall on February 13. (From left: Toshihiro Miyachi, Factory Manager of Fukuroi Factory, Otsuka Pharmaceutical; Toyota Tsusho; Noriyuki Oba, Mayor of Fukuroi City; Toshihiko Maki, General Manager of the Sustainable Plastic Department) The bottle-to-bottle initiative. (Photo credit: Otsuka)

Initiatives to advance bottle-to-bottle recycling

Otsuka has signed resource circulation agreements with 21 municipalities², including Tokushima Prefecture, the birthplace of the Otsuka group, and Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture's Ono District, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go, a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.

The company also actively promotes bottle-to-bottle recycling through awareness campaigns and collection efforts at large-scale events such as marathons and outdoor live music events, collaborating with local communities and organizations to further advance resource circulation.

Environmental initiatives at Otsuka's Fukuroi Factory

Since its completion in May 1996, the Fukuroi Factory has been committed to reducing environmental impact by producing environmentally conscious PET bottled beverages and minimizing waste generation. Alongside collaborating with Fukuroi City on local environmental conservation efforts, the factory actively promotes environmental awareness through factory tours and other educational initiatives.

The bottle-to-bottle initiative. (Photo credit: Otsuka)

Main activities

In 2007, the factory became the first in Japan to adopt a positive-pressure aseptic filling method, producing beverage products using lightweight PET bottles.
Employees participate annually in volunteer activities to clean city roads and surrounding areas near the factory.
The factory contributes to the local landscape by planting flowers in flower beds around sports venues in Fukuroi City.

Major awards

2011: Received the METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) Minister's Award for Factory Greening Greening

Reference: Otsuka's sustainability initiatives toward a circular economy

Otsuka operates its business with a corporate philosophy centered on contributing to health. As part of this mission, the company has identified four key material issues (materiality) and is actively working to address these challenges while striving for a sustainable society.

One of these material issues is reducing environmental impact, with a particular focus on advancing the Circular Economy (resource recycling and conservation). Under the Otsuka Group Plastics Statement, the company is implementing various initiatives to achieve zero fossil resource-derived materials and zero waste discharge into nature. These efforts include promoting bottle-to-bottle recycling, introducing PET bottles made from recycled PET resin, expanding label-free bottles, reducing material weight, and adopting alternative materials. By enhancing resource efficiency across the entire value chain, from raw material procurement to production, logistics, and sales, Otsuka aims to build a sustainable coexistence with both natural and biological resources.

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¹ A circular recycling system in which PET bottles are recycled and used again as new PET bottles.

² As of February 13, 2025.

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www.otsuka.co.jp

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