ChopValue Japan Obtains 'Valuable Resource' Certification for Used Bamboo Chopsticks from Kawasaki City

## ChopValue Japan Obtains 'Valuable Resource' Certification for Used Bamboo Chopsticks from Kawasaki City

ChopValue Manufacturing Japan Inc. (CEO: Tsuyoshi Yamagami, hereafter 'ChopValue Japan') announced that it officially received 'valuable resource' certification from the Kawasaki City Environment Bureau in April 2026 for the used bamboo chopsticks it collects and processes through its proprietary upcycling system.

This certification reclassifies used bamboo chopsticks from 'waste' to 'valuable resources,' establishing a new precedent for circular resource recovery and decentralized local manufacturing within Japan.

### Promoting a Localized Circular Resource Model

ChopValue Japan collects used chopsticks from partners such as restaurants, offices, hotels, and commercial facilities, centered around its flagship Kawasaki microfactory.

These resources are upcycled into furniture, interior materials, and commercial products using proprietary technology. The company develops a 'local production for local consumption' model, where resources collected in a community are manufactured and utilized within that same community.

In Japan, under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, used chopsticks are typically regarded as 'waste,' requiring authorized operators for collection and processing. This new certification enables the promotion of such initiatives within the formal framework of municipal regulations.

### Realized Through Kawasaki City's Pilot Research Program

Over the past year, ChopValue Japan has collaborated with Kawasaki City on verification and testing. This is the first case in Japan where the resource value of such a process has been officially certified through a municipality-led pilot research program.

Note that this certification is limited to bamboo materials collected and processed by ChopValue Japan and does not comprehensively apply to general household waste or similar processes by other operators. Verification for additional materials, including aspen wood, is currently underway.

### Future Outlook

ChopValue Japan is expanding its business through partnerships with organizations such as Kokuyo Co., Ltd., Takenaka Corporation, and the Embassy of Canada in Japan. The company continues to promote the construction of a decentralized manufacturing network that balances waste reduction with resource circulation, aiming to create 1,000 jobs for skilled woodworkers nationwide.