Establishing a New Resource Circulation Model Utilizing Used Toner and Food Recycling Byproducts
Seven companies, including Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo, have established a new resource circulation model in the road infrastructure sector. By combining used toner and food recycling byproducts, they developed an asphalt additive named 'MICHINARU' that improves road durability, achieving an end-to-end circular ecosystem through cross-industry collaboration.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 13:13 (1h 41m after Collected)
Seven companies—Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd., Fuji Kosan Co., Ltd., Toa Road Corporation, Hokkaido Ishida Co., Ltd., Shiraoi Yushi Co., Ltd., Ricoh Company, Ltd., and Etria Co., Ltd.—have jointly established a new resource circulation model in the road infrastructure field utilizing unused resources: used toner and food recycling byproducts. By connecting companies from different sectors, they aim to implement a resource circulation model that connects everything end-to-end, from resource generation to the construction of road infrastructure.
■ Technology Overview
In this initiative, we developed a technology that combines the polymer resin contained in used toner with byproducts from food recycling to recycle them into an asphalt additive that contributes to improving road infrastructure performance. Fine-particle used toner remaining in toner bottles collected from customers was previously considered difficult to material-recycle and was primarily limited to thermal recovery (thermal recycling). This technology achieves recycling as an asphalt additive by combining fine-particle used toner with food recycling byproducts and utilizing a special granulation technology. By using this asphalt additive in asphalt paving materials, the dynamic stability, which indicates the rutting resistance of roads, exceeds the standard values for highly durable asphalt paving materials used on heavy traffic routes, simultaneously achieving resource circulation and improved road infrastructure performance.
Regarding this technology, four of the seven participating companies (*) completed a joint patent application for the manufacturing technology on March 11, 2026, and are currently promoting efforts toward social implementation.
*Joint patent application by Hokkaido Ishida, Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo, Fuji Kosan, and Toa Road Corporation.
■ Resource Circulation Model Through Cross-Industry Collaboration (7-Company Collaboration)
In the established resource circulation model, companies with different areas of expertise—such as collection, recycling into resources, material development, asphalt additive manufacturing, road infrastructure construction, and distribution—collaborate. This integrates the previously fragmented processes of resource circulation, connecting everything end-to-end from resource generation to road infrastructure construction.
Through this, we aim for the social implementation of a new resource circulation model that enhances the value of unused resources while returning them to road infrastructure.
Figure: Resource Circulation Flow (7-Company Collaboration Model)
■ Project Name
We named this initiative and the developed asphalt additive 'MICHINARU' (trademark registration pending). The name contains the meaning of expanding the possibilities of new resource circulation starting from roads ('michi' in Japanese). Furthermore, because it connects to the Japanese word 'michinaru' (meaning 'unknown'), it was adopted as a name symbolizing an unprecedented challenge to resource circulation. Based on the desire to move from a cycle of merely returning materials to a cycle of creating new value and connecting it to strength, and that this possibility will eventually become a solid 'path' (michi), we are aiming for social implementation.
■ Comments from Participating Companies
Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Fuji Unite HD Group) *Organizer
Role: Recycling and manufacturing of used toner and food recycling byproducts
While engaging in copier recycling for over 20 years, we have continued to face the question of whether we can find new value in used toner, and whether that value can be something society demands. Based on the idea of 'circulating resources', which is the foundation of our business, connections were made with the project members regarding resources that have not been fully utilized until now, and by linking the roles of each company, it has borne fruit in one form. Through this challenge, we will demonstrate a new circulation where resources continue to circulate within society.
Fuji Kosan Co., Ltd. (Fuji Unite HD Group)
Role: Sales and logistics network construction of recycled products
As a company that has supported social infrastructure through the supply of asphalt for many years, we will connect the value born from cross-industry collaboration to society in the form of distribution and supply. This is also an initiative to give new meaning to resources that have not been fully utilized and to breathe life into them again within society. Under the vision of 'continuing to be an energy trading company that contributes to society through green environmental responses and energy supply', we will turn this challenge into reality.
Toa Road Corporation
Role: Manufacturing, trial construction, and performance evaluation of asphalt mixtures
Through collaboration with cross-industry companies in this project, we have promoted initiatives to recycle and effectively utilize used toner and food recycling byproducts in the road infrastructure field. We believe this initiative adds new value to unused resources, contributes to the longer lifespan of pavements, and is a meaningful challenge toward realizing a sustainable society. We will continue to strive for the popularization and advancement of this technology, aiming for both effective resource utilization and improved road infrastructure performance.
■ Technology Overview
In this initiative, we developed a technology that combines the polymer resin contained in used toner with byproducts from food recycling to recycle them into an asphalt additive that contributes to improving road infrastructure performance. Fine-particle used toner remaining in toner bottles collected from customers was previously considered difficult to material-recycle and was primarily limited to thermal recovery (thermal recycling). This technology achieves recycling as an asphalt additive by combining fine-particle used toner with food recycling byproducts and utilizing a special granulation technology. By using this asphalt additive in asphalt paving materials, the dynamic stability, which indicates the rutting resistance of roads, exceeds the standard values for highly durable asphalt paving materials used on heavy traffic routes, simultaneously achieving resource circulation and improved road infrastructure performance.
Regarding this technology, four of the seven participating companies (*) completed a joint patent application for the manufacturing technology on March 11, 2026, and are currently promoting efforts toward social implementation.
*Joint patent application by Hokkaido Ishida, Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo, Fuji Kosan, and Toa Road Corporation.
■ Resource Circulation Model Through Cross-Industry Collaboration (7-Company Collaboration)
In the established resource circulation model, companies with different areas of expertise—such as collection, recycling into resources, material development, asphalt additive manufacturing, road infrastructure construction, and distribution—collaborate. This integrates the previously fragmented processes of resource circulation, connecting everything end-to-end from resource generation to road infrastructure construction.
Through this, we aim for the social implementation of a new resource circulation model that enhances the value of unused resources while returning them to road infrastructure.
Figure: Resource Circulation Flow (7-Company Collaboration Model)
■ Project Name
We named this initiative and the developed asphalt additive 'MICHINARU' (trademark registration pending). The name contains the meaning of expanding the possibilities of new resource circulation starting from roads ('michi' in Japanese). Furthermore, because it connects to the Japanese word 'michinaru' (meaning 'unknown'), it was adopted as a name symbolizing an unprecedented challenge to resource circulation. Based on the desire to move from a cycle of merely returning materials to a cycle of creating new value and connecting it to strength, and that this possibility will eventually become a solid 'path' (michi), we are aiming for social implementation.
■ Comments from Participating Companies
Kankyo Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Fuji Unite HD Group) *Organizer
Role: Recycling and manufacturing of used toner and food recycling byproducts
While engaging in copier recycling for over 20 years, we have continued to face the question of whether we can find new value in used toner, and whether that value can be something society demands. Based on the idea of 'circulating resources', which is the foundation of our business, connections were made with the project members regarding resources that have not been fully utilized until now, and by linking the roles of each company, it has borne fruit in one form. Through this challenge, we will demonstrate a new circulation where resources continue to circulate within society.
Fuji Kosan Co., Ltd. (Fuji Unite HD Group)
Role: Sales and logistics network construction of recycled products
As a company that has supported social infrastructure through the supply of asphalt for many years, we will connect the value born from cross-industry collaboration to society in the form of distribution and supply. This is also an initiative to give new meaning to resources that have not been fully utilized and to breathe life into them again within society. Under the vision of 'continuing to be an energy trading company that contributes to society through green environmental responses and energy supply', we will turn this challenge into reality.
Toa Road Corporation
Role: Manufacturing, trial construction, and performance evaluation of asphalt mixtures
Through collaboration with cross-industry companies in this project, we have promoted initiatives to recycle and effectively utilize used toner and food recycling byproducts in the road infrastructure field. We believe this initiative adds new value to unused resources, contributes to the longer lifespan of pavements, and is a meaningful challenge toward realizing a sustainable society. We will continue to strive for the popularization and advancement of this technology, aiming for both effective resource utilization and improved road infrastructure performance.