Nippon Paper Industries and Ogino Launch Initiative to Increase Paper Carton Recycling Starting July 26, 2026

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Akira Sebe; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") and Ogino Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Yuji Ogino; hereinafter referred to as "Ogino") will launch an in-store collection and recycling initiative for Alu-foil laminated paper cartons at the Ogino River City store (Chuo City, Yamanashi Prefecture). Running for two months starting Sunday, July 26, 2026, this marks the first initiative of its kind at a supermarket in Yamanashi Prefecture (according to the Company's research). To coincide with the launch on July 26, an environmental event featuring a hands-on papermaking experience will be held at the store.

Through this initiative, the two companies aim to establish a routine for the separate collection of Alu-foil laminated paper cartons and will monitor trends in collection volumes.

■ Alu-foil Laminated Paper Carton Collection and Recycling Initiative (2-Month Period)
Item / Details

·Period: Sunday, July 26 – Wednesday, September 30, 2026

·Location: Ogino River City Store Recycling Collection Box

·Methods: In addition to the existing collection box for standard (non-aluminum) paper cartons, a new dedicated box for Alu-foil laminated paper cartons has been installed at the storefront.

·Description:
o    July 26 – August 31: Separate Collection Promotion Campaign
Customers who upload photos of themselves depositing Alu-foil laminated paper cartons into the dedicated collection box via a dedicated online form will be entered into a draw. Fifty lucky winners will receive a 2,000-yen Ogino gift certificate.

o    September 1 – 30: Sorting and Collection (Ongoing)
Following the campaign, collection volumes for each period will be evaluated and compared with the results from the same months of the previous year to determine the feasibility of continuing the program and expanding it to other stores.

Note: Collected Alu-foil laminated paper cartons will be delivered to the Company via Ando Paper Industry Co., Ltd.

 

■ Environmental Event Overview
Item / Details

·Date & Time: Sunday, July 26, 2026 / 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

·Venue: Ogino River City Store (Recycling collection box space and Kitchen Studio)

·Activities:
(1) In-Person Collection of Alu-foil Laminated Paper Cartons (Open to all)
Location: Recycling collection box space

o    Please bring rinsed, opened, and dried Alu-foil laminated paper cartons.

o    Participation Bonus: Products from Nippon Paper Crecia Co., Ltd. (limited to the first 200 households).

 

(2) Parent-Child Paper Carton Recycling Workshop: Make a One-of-a-Kind Postcard through Papermaking! (Advance registration required)
Location: Kitchen Studio

o    Each session has a capacity limit. For details, please refer to the in-store announcements and information at Ogino.

 

■ Background: The Challenge of "Confusion Over Sorting" Alu-foil Laminated Cartons
Standard "non-aluminum" products, such as milk cartons, bear the "Paper Carton Mark" based on voluntary industry guidelines. After collection, they are primarily recycled into household paper products such as toilet paper. In contrast, "Alu-foil laminated" paper cartons—often used for beverages distributed at room temperature—bear the general "Paper Mark" in accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. When processed through appropriate collection routes, these can also be recycled into containerboard or household paper.

Despite being a highly recyclable and valuable resource, Alu-foil laminated cartons face recycling challenges. The difference in recycling marks causes confusion regarding sorting methods at retail collection points, and there is a general lack of consumer awareness that these cartons can even be collected for recycling. Consequently, the market recovery rate remains low, at approximately 3%.
(Reference: "Survey Report on the Recycling Flow of Alu-foil Laminated Beverage Paper Containers (FY2024 Status)" by Japan Federation of Printing Industries, Liquid Carton Division / Dynax Urban Environment Research Institute, Inc.)

 

[Reference: Differences Between Regular Paper Cartons (Non-aluminum) and Alu-foil Laminated Paper Cartons]
1. Regular Paper Cartons (Non-aluminum)

·Materials: Polyethylene / Paper

·Identification Mark: "Paper Carton" Mark

· Features:

o    Gable-top container shape

o    Requires refrigerated storage

o    Shelf life of about 5 days to 3 weeks

 

2. Alu-foil Laminated Paper Cartons

·Materials: Polyethylene / Aluminum / Paper

·Identification Mark: "Paper" Mark

·Features:

o    Brick-shaped container

o    Aluminum lamination prevents content degradation from light and oxygen

o    Can be stored at room temperature

o    Shelf life of about 3 months to 1 year

 

■ Significance of the Initiative

·Creating direct consumer touchpoints through our first in-store collection of Alu-foil laminated paper cartons
This marks the Company’s first direct in-store collection of Alu-foil laminated paper cartons. By directly engaging with consumers at the retail level—where sorting occurs—and understanding their sorting behaviors and recycling awareness, the Company, as a packaging manufacturer, aims to build a more effective resource circulation model.

·Demonstrating corporate and retail environmental commitments and fostering community collaboration
Partnering with Ogino, a retailer deeply rooted in the community, brings the Company's environmental conservation efforts closer to local residents. The two companies aim to establish a model for sustainable activities that unite businesses and local communities.

·Raising awareness and promoting the habit of sorting and collecting Alu-foil laminated paper cartons
Focusing on Alu-foil laminated paper cartons, whose recyclability has largely gone unrecognized, the Company aims to educate the public on proper sorting methods through a dedicated collection box and promotional campaigns. This will ensure the effective use of valuable resources and improve overall recycling rates.

·Data-driven planning for future collection and expansion
The two companies will objectively analyze collection volumes and participation data gathered during this two-month initiative. Rather than a temporary event, this is viewed as a stepping stone toward continuous collection box placement, expansion to other store locations, and the exploration of new recycling methods. Cartons collected during this initiative will be recycled into raw material for containerboard, with a long-term goal of recycling them into household paper.

 

■ Future Developments
The two companies will continue to deepen their collaboration, expand community-based paper carton recycling networks, and contribute to the realization of a circular economy.