Realizing Reusable Bottle Circulation from Member Voices: Resource Circulation Initiative Begins with "Shizenha Style All-Purpose Sauce"
Co-op Shizenha has started collecting and reusing bottles for its private brand "Shizenha Style All-Purpose Sauce." This initiative, realized through member feedback, will begin supplying products in reusable bottles from May 2026, with a new product, "Shizenha Style Japanese Pure Rice Mirin," also scheduled for release on May 25, 2026. This is part of the company's 2030 Vision to achieve a sustainable circular economy.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 12:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 12:16 (14 min after Collected)
Co-op Shizenha is promoting the collection and reuse of bottles for its private brand "Shizenha Style All-Purpose Sauce." On March 2, 2026, approximately 8,000 collected bottles were washed, of which about 850 bottles will be utilized as reusable bottles, with supply commencing in May of the same year. Preparations are also underway for the remaining approximately 7,000 bottles to be supplied around June 2026.
Introduction of reusable bottles initiated by member voices — The path to realization and what lies ahead
Path to realization
In response to members' voices saying, "We want to reduce our environmental impact in daily life," the United Recycling Committee was established in September 2022. Discussions began on introducing reusable bottles.
We tackled various challenges one by one, including selecting manufacturers, adjusting container changes, building a collection scheme, and establishing a bottle washing and transportation system. As a result, we successfully introduced reusable bottles for "All-Purpose Sauce," a product of our private brand "Shizenha Style." Product supply using reusable bottles began in June 2025, and collection started in July.
Future challenges
Promoting recycling and reuse presents challenges, as costs are incurred in each process of manufacturing, collection, washing, and reuse. Overseas, there are examples of "deposit systems" where a deposit is paid at the time of purchase, assuming the return of containers, and mechanisms to promote resource circulation are being advanced.
In Japan, too, there is a need to review the current social structure, which is based on disposability, and to consider how to achieve sustainable resource circulation.
Co-op Shizenha will continue to address these challenges with its members and work to reduce environmental impact.
Future outlook
As a new product using reusable bottles, the private brand "Shizenha Style" plans to launch "Shizenha Style Japanese Pure Rice Mirin" on May 25, 2026. Moving forward, we will contribute to the realization of a resource-circulating society by expanding the use of reusable bottles.
Co-op Shizenha 2030 Vision
Co-op Shizenha has set a 2030 Vision consisting of six visions and is undertaking various initiatives across the organization to achieve it.
"3. Reduce future environmental impact"
2) We will engage in businesses and activities that connect a sustainable and rich natural environment to future generations.
We will continue to implement initiatives to achieve one of our goals: "Promote recycling businesses that reuse resources rather than disposing of them as waste."
About the private brand "Shizenha Style"
We want to feed safe and secure food to children! We want to protect Japanese agriculture by "choosing" domestic ingredients! We want to leave safe and secure food for children in the future. Cherishing these aspirations, "Shizenha Style," which expands its product lineup mainly with processed foods that are deeply rooted in daily life while incorporating the voices of its members, is a private brand launched by the Consumer Co-operative Co-op Shizenha in 2009.
Currently, product development and handling are carried out by 9 co-ops and 2 business federations that are members of "Co-op Network 21," a network of friendly co-ops sharing the same vision. By jointly handling products with friendly co-ops, product development that was previously impossible due to lot size issues is also progressing.
"Towards a society where everyone can eat organic produce"
Co-op Shizenha values face-to-face relationships with producers and aims for a life in harmony with nature, operating in the Shikoku and Kansai areas. It is a consumer cooperative that sets strict unique standards and primarily handles products that rely on domestic ingredients and no food additives, as well as vegetables grown through organic and environmentally friendly agriculture. It engages in a wide range of activities, including initiatives to expand organic farming, such as the Organic School.
Consumer Co-operative Federation Co-op Shizenha / Orange Co-op Business Federation
[Co-op Shizenha Shikoku, Co-op Shizenha Osaka, Co-op Shizenha Hyogo, Co-op Shizenha Nara, Co-op Shizenha Kyoto]
Location: 3-8-5 Mitsugaoka, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2228
Official website > https://www.shizenha.ne.jp/
Shizenha Style > https://www.shizenha-style.jp/
Online Table > https://table-shizenha.jp/
>>Click here to consider joining
https://www.shizenha.ne.jp/weekly-delivery/
Keywords:
Introduction of reusable bottles initiated by member voices — The path to realization and what lies ahead
Path to realization
In response to members' voices saying, "We want to reduce our environmental impact in daily life," the United Recycling Committee was established in September 2022. Discussions began on introducing reusable bottles.
We tackled various challenges one by one, including selecting manufacturers, adjusting container changes, building a collection scheme, and establishing a bottle washing and transportation system. As a result, we successfully introduced reusable bottles for "All-Purpose Sauce," a product of our private brand "Shizenha Style." Product supply using reusable bottles began in June 2025, and collection started in July.
Future challenges
Promoting recycling and reuse presents challenges, as costs are incurred in each process of manufacturing, collection, washing, and reuse. Overseas, there are examples of "deposit systems" where a deposit is paid at the time of purchase, assuming the return of containers, and mechanisms to promote resource circulation are being advanced.
In Japan, too, there is a need to review the current social structure, which is based on disposability, and to consider how to achieve sustainable resource circulation.
Co-op Shizenha will continue to address these challenges with its members and work to reduce environmental impact.
Future outlook
As a new product using reusable bottles, the private brand "Shizenha Style" plans to launch "Shizenha Style Japanese Pure Rice Mirin" on May 25, 2026. Moving forward, we will contribute to the realization of a resource-circulating society by expanding the use of reusable bottles.
Co-op Shizenha 2030 Vision
Co-op Shizenha has set a 2030 Vision consisting of six visions and is undertaking various initiatives across the organization to achieve it.
"3. Reduce future environmental impact"
2) We will engage in businesses and activities that connect a sustainable and rich natural environment to future generations.
We will continue to implement initiatives to achieve one of our goals: "Promote recycling businesses that reuse resources rather than disposing of them as waste."
About the private brand "Shizenha Style"
We want to feed safe and secure food to children! We want to protect Japanese agriculture by "choosing" domestic ingredients! We want to leave safe and secure food for children in the future. Cherishing these aspirations, "Shizenha Style," which expands its product lineup mainly with processed foods that are deeply rooted in daily life while incorporating the voices of its members, is a private brand launched by the Consumer Co-operative Co-op Shizenha in 2009.
Currently, product development and handling are carried out by 9 co-ops and 2 business federations that are members of "Co-op Network 21," a network of friendly co-ops sharing the same vision. By jointly handling products with friendly co-ops, product development that was previously impossible due to lot size issues is also progressing.
"Towards a society where everyone can eat organic produce"
Co-op Shizenha values face-to-face relationships with producers and aims for a life in harmony with nature, operating in the Shikoku and Kansai areas. It is a consumer cooperative that sets strict unique standards and primarily handles products that rely on domestic ingredients and no food additives, as well as vegetables grown through organic and environmentally friendly agriculture. It engages in a wide range of activities, including initiatives to expand organic farming, such as the Organic School.
Consumer Co-operative Federation Co-op Shizenha / Orange Co-op Business Federation
[Co-op Shizenha Shikoku, Co-op Shizenha Osaka, Co-op Shizenha Hyogo, Co-op Shizenha Nara, Co-op Shizenha Kyoto]
Location: 3-8-5 Mitsugaoka, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2228
Official website > https://www.shizenha.ne.jp/
Shizenha Style > https://www.shizenha-style.jp/
Online Table > https://table-shizenha.jp/
>>Click here to consider joining
https://www.shizenha.ne.jp/weekly-delivery/
Keywords: