[Report] Japan Recycle Carpet Association Holds 4th General Meeting
The Japan Recycle Carpet Association held its 4th General Meeting, reporting on the status of its 'Horizontal Circular Value Chain' and sharing survey results indicating a recognition gap between consumers and practitioners regarding the value of recycled products.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 23:00
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The Japan Recycle Carpet Association (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Tadachika Kondo) held its 4th General Meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Currently, the association consists of 89 member companies, creating an open 'Horizontal Circular Value Chain' that encompasses everything from collection of waste tile carpets to the manufacture of recycled materials, production and sale of recycled tile carpets, and the end-users. An association that includes the entire value chain is rare even in the recycling field, representing a form designed for practical implementation.
■ Report on the 4th Japan Recycle Carpet Association General Meeting
The meeting shared activities from the past year and future directions based on the market environment. At the beginning, Chairman Kondo mentioned the significance of member companies cooperating beyond competition to promote recycled tile carpets. He noted that against the backdrop of recent international situations, fluctuations in raw material prices and supply concerns make the use of recycled materials increasingly important not only for environmental reasons but also for business continuity and stable procurement. However, he also highlighted the challenge that social awareness is not yet sufficient, emphasizing the need for future information dissemination.
In a 'Special Lecture,' Mr. Yoshiyoshi from the Resource Circulation Economy Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) spoke on national policy trends positioning the circular economy as a growth strategy. He demonstrated that resource circulation leads to economic security and industrial competitiveness beyond just environmental measures, introducing the 'Circular Partners' platform.
Activity reports shared information on the association's certification system and the 'Green Check Committee,' which checks for third-party greenwashing to ensure reliability and transparency. Finally, Vice Chairman Ochi explained the current situation and future directions based on a survey of consumers and corporate practitioners. The results showed that over 80% of consumers have a positive impression of offices using recycled carpets, while many practitioners are unaware of this evaluation, indicating a significant recognition gap. It was suggested that visualizing the value of tile carpet recycling, rather than just focusing on cost, could lead to action. Designing non-monetary incentives such as praise and customer recognition will be key to promoting widespread adoption.
■ Report on the 4th Japan Recycle Carpet Association General Meeting
The meeting shared activities from the past year and future directions based on the market environment. At the beginning, Chairman Kondo mentioned the significance of member companies cooperating beyond competition to promote recycled tile carpets. He noted that against the backdrop of recent international situations, fluctuations in raw material prices and supply concerns make the use of recycled materials increasingly important not only for environmental reasons but also for business continuity and stable procurement. However, he also highlighted the challenge that social awareness is not yet sufficient, emphasizing the need for future information dissemination.
In a 'Special Lecture,' Mr. Yoshiyoshi from the Resource Circulation Economy Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) spoke on national policy trends positioning the circular economy as a growth strategy. He demonstrated that resource circulation leads to economic security and industrial competitiveness beyond just environmental measures, introducing the 'Circular Partners' platform.
Activity reports shared information on the association's certification system and the 'Green Check Committee,' which checks for third-party greenwashing to ensure reliability and transparency. Finally, Vice Chairman Ochi explained the current situation and future directions based on a survey of consumers and corporate practitioners. The results showed that over 80% of consumers have a positive impression of offices using recycled carpets, while many practitioners are unaware of this evaluation, indicating a significant recognition gap. It was suggested that visualizing the value of tile carpet recycling, rather than just focusing on cost, could lead to action. Designing non-monetary incentives such as praise and customer recognition will be key to promoting widespread adoption.