S-Pool Blue Dot Green Hosts 'SCB in Tokyo', a Networking Event for Corporate Sustainability Officers

S-Pool Blue Dot Green inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kohei Yatsubayashi) hosted an information-sharing and networking event titled 'SCB (Sustainability Conference of Boyadge) in Tokyo' in April 2026. The event was aimed at corporate sustainability officers and held in Tokyo.

A total of 62 sustainability professionals attended the event. It was organized to provide an opportunity for practitioners to share their practical challenges and concerns across different industries and company sizes, and to learn from the initiatives of other companies.

The event consisted of two parts. In the first part, a talk session was held featuring Mr./Ms. Wakabayashi, Chief Manager of the Sustainability Planning & Promotion Section, Sustainability Promotion Office at FPCO Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Morimasa Sato), a leading manufacturer of food trays. In the second part, a networking reception was held where participants shared their current initiatives and challenges.

■ Part 1: Talk Session

In 1990, FPCO became the first company in the world to start 'circular recycling,' recycling used food trays into new ones. As of March 2025, the company has installed collection boxes at approximately 11,000 supermarkets, collecting around 47.5 billion trays over the 35 years between 1990 and 2025.

Regarding the reason for starting tray recycling, Wakabayashi explained, "It was not to comply with regulations, but to overcome a crisis threatening our business survival." When the company's business began to take off, social issues affecting the manufacturing and sales of food trays—such as CFC usage regulations and waste disposal problems—surfaced in rapid succession. Recycling started as an initiative to protect their core business under those circumstances.

Enomoto, the moderator from S-Pool Blue Dot Green, commented:

"Some companies feel they have no sustainability information to disclose, but efforts made to continue business operations often end up contributing to sustainability. It is important to reorganize your own company's initiatives from a third-party perspective."

Furthermore, the sustainability responses required of companies—such as climate change countermeasures, plastic issues, and human capital—are diversifying year by year. On the other hand, many companies are handling these demands with limited staff, leading to an increased burden on practitioners.

Wakabayashi revealed that as of April 2026, FPCO has only three employees handling sustainability-related tasks. Given this, Wakabayashi shared strategies for sustaining operations with a small team, stating, "Rather than chasing after everything, we prioritize tasks by aligning them with our business scope."

Participants shared the following feedback:

- It was highly educational to hear not only about successful initiatives but also about failures and the reality of daily operations.
- Learning how to link business activities with sustainability responses and how to build a circular model was very helpful.
- Although brief, the session was dense with information and rich in insights.

■ Part 2: Networking Reception

Following the talk session, a networking reception was held to deepen connections among participants. Over light snacks and drinks, attendees actively exchanged opinions on their own initiatives and challenges. To encourage easier interaction among a larger number of participants, beginner-friendly tables were set up, and a stamp rally was conducted to spark conversations initiated by exchanging business cards. Those who completed the stamp rally received a plush toy of the company's mascot, 'Pibotan,' through a lottery.

During the reception, many participants were seen discussing their own challenges and future plans based on the talk session's contents. Feedback from participants included:

- It was a very fruitful time being able to share current statuses and challenges with companies from a wide range of industries.
- When I consulted someone about a challenge, I received practical advice like, 'This is how we handle it at our company.'
- It was a valuable opportunity to interact with many people sharing similar interests in a friendly atmosphere.

■ Background of the Event

The structure and progress of corporate sustainability responses vary depending on the presence of dedicated departments, company size, and industry. However, practitioners often face common challenges on the front lines.

Currently, while there are some shifts in the sustainability movement in Europe and the U.S., Japan is scheduled to apply the new sustainability disclosure standard 'SSBJ' starting in 2027. Although the target companies will initially be limited...