Major Trends for Transition toward the Circular Economy

15:00-15:30 Pre-Registration required

Japan Productivity Center

Consulting Department

Chief of Eco-Management Center

Sophia University Graduate School

Global Environmental Studies

Part-time Lecturer

Mr. Kazunori Kitagawa

【Profile】

For many years, being engaged in research and consulting related to the environmental policies and activities of governments and companies. Part-time lecturer at Sophia University, Member of the Circular Economy Vision Study Group for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (FY2018-FY2019), NEDO's Technical Committee Member, ISO TC323 Circular Economy Domestic Committee Member etc.

【Abstract】

The Circular Economy (CE) in Europe has become a very hot and popular topic which is a discussion not only among stakeholders in the traditional 3R fields, but also among a wide range of experts, academics, private and the public sectors. In that background, it seems that there is an awareness and reflection on the global environmental problems that have been caused by the economic growth of mankind over the past several decades.
CE could therefore be seen as an effort to identify new economic conditions that overcome the limitations of the existing linear economy and focus on more efficient use of materials and flow optimization.

Challenge of Kao to Circulation Economy for plastic

15:30-16:00 Pre-Registration required

Kao Corporation

R&D Packaging Technology Research

Group Leader

Mr. Shuhei Matsumoto

Transition to circular economy at BASF

16:00-16:30 Pre-Registration required

BASF Japan Ltd.

Country Development, Sustainability

Senior Manager

Mr. Takeshi Irie

The Importance of Developing Separation Technologies to Simultaneously Achieve Carbon Net Zero and Resource Circulation -The Case of Lithium Ion Batteries and Photovoltaic Panels

16:30-17:00 Pre-Registration required

Waseda University

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Professor

The University of Tokyo

Faculty of Engineering

Professor

Prof. Chiharu Tokoro

【Profile】

Graduated from the University of Tokyo in 2003 (Doctoral degree of Engineering). Worked for Waseda University as an Assistant from 2004, Lecturer from 2007, and Associate Professor from 2009. Now, Professor of Faculty of Science and Engineering from 2015. Project Professor of Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo from 2016. Professor of School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo from 2021. Council member of Science Council of Japan. Committee member of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Major research areas are resource recycling, chemical engineering, and powder technology.

【Abstract】

While the introduction of renewable energy, CO2 capture, and new energy-saving technologies to achieve carbon neutrality are expected to reduce various environmental burdens, including GHG, there is concern that resource consumption may increase even more rapidly than current situation. On the other hand, resource circulation requires a considerable amount of energy for recovery, transportation, and separation, so these processes must be made as energy efficient as possible. At the same time, it is necessary to make the resource circulation loop as small as possible by restructuring the supply chain to circulate not only elements but also functions. In this presentation, we will introduce examples of separation technology development aimed at creating various resource circulation loops, using lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic panels that are closely related to the realization of carbon neutrality as examples.