JR Kyushu x Oita Paper: 20 Years of Regional Resource Circulation Collaboration

Kyushu Railway Company (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, President and CEO: Yoji Furumiya, hereinafter "JR Kyushu") and Oita Paper Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Representative Director: Hiroyuki Takita, hereinafter "Oita Paper") began their resource circulation recycling initiative for used train tickets and office waste paper generated by JR Kyushu in 2005, marking 20 years this year. The continuous collaboration between companies for resource circulation over two decades is noteworthy, and through this initiative, JR Kyushu's "closed-loop (in-house resource circulation)" recycling scheme has been in continuous operation.

JR Kyushu's Recycling System

Used train tickets collected by JR Kyushu and office waste paper are dissolved and regenerated using Oita Paper's recycling technology to produce toilet paper. The manufactured toilet paper is used by various companies within the JR Kyushu Group (stations, commercial facilities, hotels), establishing a resource-circulating recycling scheme within the region.

Railway Company's Actions Towards a Circular Society

Since 2005, JR Kyushu has been collecting and recycling not only office waste paper but also used train tickets. The collected tickets are processed at Oita Paper, where the magnetic strip on the back is separated, and the paper is regenerated into toilet paper. In fiscal year 2022, approximately 47 tons of tickets were recycled into toilet paper.

Paper Manufacturer's Actions Towards a Circular Society

Under its management philosophy of "Developing Together with the Region," Oita Paper aims to build a regional resource-circulating recycling system for paper through the manufacturing and sale of household paper, backed by advanced recycling technology. The company is also actively engaged in uncovering (re-recycling) waste paper resources through collection activities for paper resources that would otherwise be incinerated.

Achieving Both CO2 Reduction and Waste Minimization Simultaneously

This initiative simultaneously achieves waste reduction and a decrease in CO2 emissions.

* Approximately 766 kg of CO2 reduction per ton of waste paper x approximately 47 tons annually = approximately 36 tons of CO2 reduction annually (compared to incineration disposal)

* Source: Ministry of the Environment Contracted Survey "FY2004 Survey Report on Container and Packaging Life Cycle Assessment - LCA Survey Targeting Beverage Containers -"

This initiative, which reuses used train tickets as new resources, not only reduces paper waste but also promotes resource circulation within the region and contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society.

Future Outlook

JR Kyushu and Oita Paper will deepen their collaboration towards the realization of a sustainable society by leveraging the resource circulation initiatives they have cultivated.

Moving forward, as companies rooted in Kyushu, both companies will continue to promote initiatives that balance environmental load reduction and effective resource utilization while leveraging their respective strengths, contributing to the realization of a circular society and a carbon-neutral society.

Contribution to SDGs

This initiative is considered to contribute particularly to the achievement of the following SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) out of the 17 goals: "Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Action), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)."

Company Overview

Kyushu Railway Company

Location

3-25-21 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Representative

Yoji Furumiya, President and CEO

Established

April 1987

Business Activities

- Transportation Services Business - Real Estate and Hotel Business - Retail and Food Service Business - Construction Business - Business Services Business

Company URL

https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/

As a railway company based in Kyushu, JR Kyushu promotes business activities that emphasize reducing environmental impact and coexisting with local communities, in addition to providing safe and comfortable transportation services. Through various initiatives aimed at resource circulation and resource conservation, including the recycling of used train tickets, the company is working towards the realization of a sustainable society.

Oita Paper Co., Ltd.

Location

2-15-27 Nishikimachi, Oita City, Oita Prefecture

Representative

Hiroyuki Takita, Representative Director

Established

October 1953

Business Activities

Manufacturing and sales of household paper products

Company URL

https://www.oita-seishi.com/

Oita Paper Co., Ltd. is a household paper manufacturer headquartered in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. Established in 1953, it operates a production system with three factories across Kyushu (Oita Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture). The company primarily manufactures toilet paper using waste paper as raw material, ranking among the top domestic producers with approximately 6% of the national market share and over 60% of the production volume within Kyushu. Guided by its management philosophy of "Developing Together with the Region," it aims to build a regional resource-circulating recycling system for paper. The company continues to deliver "comfort" to people's lives through the supply of affordable, high-quality products, while contributing to the local community through forest resource conservation, waste reduction, and CO2 emission reduction.