Zojirushi Corporation has relocated its 'Reusable Bottle Washer,' which was installed at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, to the third-floor Casual Court (food court) of Aeon Mall Kyoto Katsuragawa (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture), operated by Aeon Mall Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture; President and CEO: Eiji Ono), effective May 25, 2026.

Since 2006, Zojirushi has been conducting awareness campaigns promoting reusable bottles to help address societal issues such as plastic waste. By collaborating with Aeon, a company deeply engaged in local environmental initiatives, the installation of the 'Reusable Bottle Washer' aims to eliminate concerns about hygiene and maintenance when using reusable bottles outside the home, thereby supporting the creation of a more convenient and user-friendly environment.

Background and Purpose of Installation at Aeon Mall Kyoto Katsuragawa

Aeon positions 'resource circulation (circular economy)' as a key pillar in achieving a sustainable society, with a goal to halve single-use plastic consumption by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The company is building a resource circulation model centered on its stores, promoting the collection, reuse, and recycling of used plastics. Initiatives such as discontinuing plastic straws and implementing 'Bottle-to-Bottle' recycling of PET bottles aim to drive behavioral change. Furthermore, in April 2025, Aeon strengthened its collaboration with Kyoto City, jointly declaring efforts to advance the circular economy.

By installing the 'Reusable Bottle Washer,' Aeon aims to create a more convenient environment for reusable bottle usage and contribute to reducing environmental impact in the local community together with its customers.

Overview of the 'Reusable Bottle Washer'

Since 2006, Zojirushi has promoted reusable bottles to address social challenges like plastic waste. After nearly 20 years, while reusable bottles have become widespread, a significant number of users still do not use them regularly. Key pain points include 'weight when carrying,' 'inconvenience in preparing contents,' and 'inability to clean bottles when refilling while out.' To address one major barrier—'the hassle of cleaning'—Zojirushi began developing the 'Reusable Bottle Washer.' During development, it was selected for the Osaka-Kansai Expo's special participation program 'Co-Design Challenge,' leading to the installation of 10 units at the Expo site. During the event, bottles were washed a total of 158,488 times, resulting in approximately 12,837 kg of CO2 reduction.

After the Expo, the 10 'Reusable Bottle Washers' installed at the venue will be relocated to other locations for continued use. Zojirushi will continue its efforts toward reducing environmental impact and realizing a society where reusable bottles are used more routinely in daily life.

The machine completes cleaning and sterilization in approximately 20 seconds.

Overview of Aeon Mall Kyoto Katsuragawa

- Store Name: Aeon Mall Kyoto Katsuragawa - Location: 376-1 Kuse-Kodachō, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture - Business Hours: 10:00–21:00 (some stores may have different hours) - Official Website: https://kyotokatsuragawa.aeonmall.jp/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Partnership