Partnership Agreement Signed to Promote Circular Economy - Ion and Nomura Real Estate Holdings to Drive Co-creation

Ion and Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter, Nomura Real Estate HD) signed a partnership agreement to promote the circular economy on June 30.

Ion has been actively involved in promoting resource circulation since the 1990s through initiatives such as the "Bring Your Own Bag Campaign" and "In-store Resource Recycling." In 2020, the company formulated its "Ion Plastic Use Policy"*1. Since 2021, Ion has been promoting "Bottle to Bottle," a horizontal recycling process that collects used PET bottles and再生s them into new PET bottles, and has been expanding efforts to circulate used clothing, thereby developing and expanding circular economy models in food, clothing, and housing.

Under its sustainability policy "Earth Pride ~Connecting the Earth~," established in 2022 and outlining the desired state of the Nomura Real Estate HD Group in 2050, Nomura Real Estate HD has set "Circular Design" as a priority issue for 2030. As initiatives contributing to the circular economy, particularly those linked to decarbonization, the company aims to realize a circular society through efforts such as reducing waste during building demolition*2, collecting waste cooking oil*3, and providing environmental education programs to users of offices and commercial facilities, as well as residents of condominiums.

Both companies have now agreed to promote new co-creation with the aim of building a circular economy model closely integrated with daily life and encouraging the participation of local residents in initiatives to realize a circular society.

Areas of Cooperation

1. Development, demonstration, and deployment of resource circulation business models (e.g., horizontal PET bottle recycling).

2. Development, demonstration, and deployment of initiatives to involve local residents in a circular society (e.g., environmental education).

3. Research on behavioral changes of local residents in a circular society.

4. Other initiatives necessary to realize a circular economy.

As one specific co-creation initiative, resource collection machines linked with WAON will be installed in some condominiums and commercial facilities involved with both companies' groups. By circulating collected resources back into Topvalu products through Ion's circulation scheme, it is expected that urban resource collection, which has been a challenge, and the value of resource circulation to customers will be better understood by local residents, providing a more accessible trigger for the initiative to take root.

Through this partnership, Ion and Nomura Real Estate HD will promote the development of resource circulation business models closely integrated with daily life and aim to realize a circular society together with local residents.

Specific Initiatives at Nishi-Chiba Residence Avenue*4

Based on this agreement, both companies will implement the following initiatives at "Nishi-Chiba Residence Avenue" in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in which the Nomura Real Estate Group participates.

1. Providing Environmental Experiences in Daily Life: A PET bottle collection machine will be installed in the condominium, and the separately collected resources will be reborn as "Topvalu" beverage containers through horizontal recycling. Residents will be awarded WAON points based on the amount collected, which can be used for shopping at Ion stores such as the "Kasumi" supermarket adjacent to the condominium.

2. Providing Learning Opportunities: Experience sessions, including food education programs, will be held for children residing in the condominium.

*1: This policy aims to promote sustainable plastic use towards the realization of a decarbonized society. Through stores, products, and services, we will promote the establishment of new decarbonized and resource-circulating lifestyles together with all stakeholders.

1. We will aim for zero single-use plastic by reviewing wasteful and disposable use of resources in business activities.

2. We will transition necessary plastics from fossil-derived materials to environmentally and socially considerate materials.

3. We will build a resource circulation model that collects, reuses, and再生s used plastics based at our stores, and work with customers on sustainable resource utilization.

<Goals> Aiming for sustainable plastic use:

- By 2030, reduce the use of single-use plastics by half compared to 2018.

- By 2030, use environmentally and socially considerate materials for all private brand (PB) products.

- By 2030, convert 100% of PB product PET bottles to recycled or plant-derived materials.

*2: [Reference] Release dated May 11, 2026: Initiatives to Reduce Waste During Demolition of Existing Buildings for the Realization of a Resource-Circulating Society https://www.nomura-re-hd.co.jp/news/pdf/n2026051106661.pdf

*3: [Reference] Release dated November 1, 2025: Start of Collection of Household Waste Cooking Oil in Condominiums Managed by Nomura Real Estate HD https://www.nomura-re-hd.co.jp/news/pdf/n2025111006455.pdf

*4: A large-scale mixed-use development on the former University of Tokyo Nishi-Chiba Campus site (approx. 3-minute walk from JR Sobu Line "Nishi-Chiba" Station), handled by Nomura Real Estate and others, covering approximately 75,000 sq. meters. It features residential, commercial, and park facilities integrated into a town development aimed at forming a new community where multiple generations can live. Centered around a condominium (512 units, scheduled for completion around October 2026), the "Kasumi" supermarket, an Ion store, opened in May 2026 within the district. https://www.proud-web.jp/mansion/b117000/ https://www.kasumi.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/news1481.pdf