Watami Starts Offering "Sustena-mai" Rice, Produced Through a Food Recycling Loop, in Stores ~Towards a Society That Doesn't Waste Food~
Watami Co., Ltd. has launched a food recycling loop where food waste from its stores is recycled into fertilizer, which is then used to grow "Sustena-mai" (specially cultivated rice). This rice is then offered back to customers in some stores, contributing to a society that circulates resources rather than incinerating food waste. The initiative received certification under the Food Recycling Law in 2023.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 20:50
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 12:02
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Watami Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "Watami") has established a recycling loop where food waste discharged from its stores is recycled as food-related circular resources into fertilizer (compost), and the rice produced using this fertilizer (specially cultivated rice: "Sustena-mai") is then offered back to customers. By using "Sustena-mai" as part of the rice served in some stores and selling it to customers, Watami aims to circulate food waste as a resource instead of incinerating it as combustible waste. This initiative obtained certification for a "Recycling Utilization Business Plan (Food Recycling Loop)" based on the Food Recycling Law in 2023. Moving forward, Watami will also explore collaborations with other companies to expand its efforts, contributing to the creation of a society that circulates food as a resource and does not waste food.
■ What is a Food Recycling Loop (Recycling Utilization Business Plan)?
The food recycling loop (recycling utilization business plan), which is the current initiative, is a plan to establish a system where food waste from Watami's stores, a food-related business operator, is used as food-related circular resources, and the compost manufactured by a recycling utilization business operator is applied by a collaborating agricultural producer to grow specially cultivated rice, which Watami then purchases and offers back to customers. This plan receives certification from three ministers. By obtaining this certification, Watami can receive special provisions under the Waste Management Act, enabling wide-area collection and transportation of food-related circular resources (general waste), thereby further promoting recycling.
In this initiative, food waste such as cooking scraps and leftovers from two directly managed stores in Niigata is used as a resource. The compost manufactured at the food recycling plant of Fuji Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture), a recycling utilization business operator, is applied to the fields of Yamanami Farm Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture), a collaborating agricultural producer. The rice produced is then delivered to Watami stores and offered back to customers.
Watami is implementing this initiative as part of its food waste reduction efforts. First, through communication with customers, Watami encourages finishing meals and taking home leftovers, aiming to eliminate food loss. Any remaining food loss or food residue is weighed, its causes are investigated, and efforts are made to suppress it, as well as to recycle it into feed. Through these activities, Watami contributes to SDGs 12.3 (halving per capita food waste), 12.5 (substantially reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse by 2030), and 12.8 (sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature).
【Stores Offering "Sustena-mai"】
Watami Group stores in the Kanto, Hokuriku, Tohoku, Nagano, and Okinawa regions.
【Availability of "Sustena-mai"】
Service started on May 5 (Tuesday).
*Please note that service may be interrupted or terminated depending on procurement and inventory conditions.
【Recycling Implementation Stores】2 stores
"Mirai Saka" Niigata Ekimae Higashi-odori store
"Sandaime Torimero" Niigata Ekimae Higashi-odori store
■ Watami Co., Ltd.
【Address】 1-1-3 Haneda, Ota-ku, Tokyo
【Representative】 Miki Watanabe, Chairman & CEO
【Established】 May 1986
【Business Activities】 Domestic and international food service business, overseas business, home meal delivery business, agriculture, environmental business, human resources service business
【Homepage URL】 https://www.watami.co.jp
■ What is a Food Recycling Loop (Recycling Utilization Business Plan)?
The food recycling loop (recycling utilization business plan), which is the current initiative, is a plan to establish a system where food waste from Watami's stores, a food-related business operator, is used as food-related circular resources, and the compost manufactured by a recycling utilization business operator is applied by a collaborating agricultural producer to grow specially cultivated rice, which Watami then purchases and offers back to customers. This plan receives certification from three ministers. By obtaining this certification, Watami can receive special provisions under the Waste Management Act, enabling wide-area collection and transportation of food-related circular resources (general waste), thereby further promoting recycling.
In this initiative, food waste such as cooking scraps and leftovers from two directly managed stores in Niigata is used as a resource. The compost manufactured at the food recycling plant of Fuji Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture), a recycling utilization business operator, is applied to the fields of Yamanami Farm Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture), a collaborating agricultural producer. The rice produced is then delivered to Watami stores and offered back to customers.
Watami is implementing this initiative as part of its food waste reduction efforts. First, through communication with customers, Watami encourages finishing meals and taking home leftovers, aiming to eliminate food loss. Any remaining food loss or food residue is weighed, its causes are investigated, and efforts are made to suppress it, as well as to recycle it into feed. Through these activities, Watami contributes to SDGs 12.3 (halving per capita food waste), 12.5 (substantially reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse by 2030), and 12.8 (sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature).
【Stores Offering "Sustena-mai"】
Watami Group stores in the Kanto, Hokuriku, Tohoku, Nagano, and Okinawa regions.
【Availability of "Sustena-mai"】
Service started on May 5 (Tuesday).
*Please note that service may be interrupted or terminated depending on procurement and inventory conditions.
【Recycling Implementation Stores】2 stores
"Mirai Saka" Niigata Ekimae Higashi-odori store
"Sandaime Torimero" Niigata Ekimae Higashi-odori store
■ Watami Co., Ltd.
【Address】 1-1-3 Haneda, Ota-ku, Tokyo
【Representative】 Miki Watanabe, Chairman & CEO
【Established】 May 1986
【Business Activities】 Domestic and international food service business, overseas business, home meal delivery business, agriculture, environmental business, human resources service business
【Homepage URL】 https://www.watami.co.jp