Suntory Holdings and Osaka University Team Up for Resource Recycling! Symposium Held to Discuss a Recycling-Oriented, Low-Carbon Society

Osaka University and Suntory Holdings Limited signed an agreement to team up for education and awareness regarding “horizontal recycling,” which transforms products into the same products, namely recycling of used plastics back to resin to turn them into new ones.

This type of collaboration is the first attempt to be conducted between Suntory and a Japanese national university. In order to promote this endeavor to the public, they held a joint press conference at Osaka University Nakanoshima Center on February 5, 2024.

After explaining the details and significance of this collaboration, President NISHIO Shojiro and Mr. FUJIWARA Masaaki (Division COO, Sustainability Management Division, Suntory) called upon people to act in order to realize a sustainable society.

Following the press conference, a symposium entitled “Creating a Sustainable Future Society that Protects 'Life' and 'Living'” was held at Keizo Saji Memorial Hall in the center.

This symposium - open to the public - was held to think about a recycling-oriented and low-carbon society in order to celebrate this alliance, in cooperation with the Co-creation Base of Resource Recycling That Aims for Zero Plastic Waste in Osaka Bay and the Citizen’s Division of the Inochi Forum.

Following a greeting by President Nishio, Professor UYAMA Hiroshi (Graduate School of Engineering) and Mr. Fujiwara gave lectures.

During the panel discussion held in part two of the symposium, Ms. SEKINO Kuniko (Environmental Counselor and CEO of a study group, Come Full Circle) and Professor ITOH Takeshi (Osaka University-affiliated think tank, Social Solution Initiative) joined to discuss the topic of “Resource Circulation that Starts and Expands from Osaka” and answer questions from participants.

Despite the cold, rainy weather, this symposium attracted many attendees, making for a lively and meaningful discussion on recycling of plastic (PET) bottles and other plastics and the realization of a recycling-oriented, low-carbon society.

At the joint press conference

At the Osaka University Symposium