Expanding Paper Recycling Through a Nationwide Children's Environmental Network

The Paper Recycling Promotion Center (Chuo-ku, Tokyo), as a partner member of the nationwide children's environmental activity network 'Kodomo Eco Club' (Japan Environmental Association), is working to reduce combustible waste through the recovery of miscellaneous paper and to build a regional circular society based on paper recycling. Since October 2025, we have been collaborating with the club to implement resource circulation by leveraging its nationwide activity base.

The Kodomo Eco Club consists of approximately 2,400 clubs and 95,000 children who practice various environmental learning and activities across the country based on their interests. (Supported by: Ministry of the Environment)

Our center recently participated as a supporting organization in the 'Kodomo Eco Club National Festival 2026,' where we hosted an awareness-raising booth titled 'Find the Miscellaneous Paper!' to showcase the potential for new resource circulation driven by children's proactive actions.

Connecting with the 'Social Infrastructure' of a Nationwide Network

The greatest strength of the Kodomo Eco Club is that child-led environmental actions are practiced continuously in daily life. Rather than one-off events, these actions accumulate across schools, homes, and communities, allowing environmental awareness and practices to take root in society.

Our center views this nationwide network as a 'foundation for spreading behavioral change to society.' By linking the familiar theme of paper recycling to this foundation, we enable 'social implementation' that goes beyond mere promotion of collection.

Converting Overlooked 'Miscellaneous Paper' into Resources

Combustible waste discharged from households contains a significant amount of recyclable paper, known as 'miscellaneous paper.' Items such as paper boxes, wrapping paper, flyers, and memo pads are currently being incinerated due to a lack of awareness regarding sorting and systemic issues.

'Find the Miscellaneous Paper!' is an initiative that redefines these unused resources as 'objects to be found.' The experience of children proactively identifying paper resources transforms sorting from an obligation into a discovery, increasing the continuity of their actions.

This 'qualitative shift in behavior' is the key to making resource circulation effective.