With the hope that children who will lead the future will learn a recycling society in an enjoyable manner, the web app to be developed by Kanadevia was named “Think about SDGs with Shimajiro” and it was partially pre-released.

Kanadevia, which changed its name for the first time in 81 years in October last year, has made efforts to realize a sustainable society, so its sales in the environmental field, mainly the sales of facilities for generating electric power by combusting waste, account for about 70% of total sales of the Kanadevia Group. Ogura, who engaged in the development of the web app, expressed her message: “I hope that through the Expo, children will think over what they can do now for the earth.”

In this web app, there will appear popular characters among kids, such as “Shimajiro,” “Mimirin,” “Trippy,” and “Nyakkii.” The pre-released story explains smart collection boxes and the recycling of resources in the form of a picture book. In addition, they will offer a variety of content, such as “AR Quiz,” “Look for Good Points,” and “Smart Puzzle,” in which more pieces fit together as the collection amount of resources increases, by the time when the Expo begins.

They have almost completed a smart collection box, which is introduced by Shimajiro and others, while encouraging you to use it at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Daiei Kankyo and Daiei Kankyo Research Institute will take charge of them. Four smart collection boxes will be placed in the signature zone, to collect plateware provided at food trucks. The plateware is made of biodegradable plastics, and will be composted like garbage after collection. In addition, a sensor attached to the top of the inner part of each smart collection box will measure the amount of plateware (resources), and when it exceeds a specified amount, an email for prodding staff in charge to collect the plateware will be sent.

　In the web app, there is a scene in which Shimajiro and others describe, “Plates put into a smart collection box are not ‘waste,’ but precious ‘resources’ for the earth.” Tsubouchi of Daiei Kankyo Research Institute said with expectation, “Waste can be recycled as resources only when it is sorted appropriately. I hope that this box will motivate people to think about it.” They also said that they would like to use the data they will collect during the Expo in the web app.

　The brand concept of Kanadevia is “to pursue the harmony between humankind and nature with the power of technology,” while the basic sustainability policy of Daiei Kankyo is “A future will be born from trust.” They took different approaches, but both of them have operated business as an enterprise supporting a recycling society. They hope that many people will realize the importance of sorting waste and change their behavior. At the venue of the Expo, they envision a future with aspirations of their own.

Smart collection boxes (two boxes from the left)

(From left) Mr. Ryota Tsubouchi, Director of Daiei Kankyo Research Institute, and

Ms. Mai Ogura of the Environment Business Headquarters, Kanadevia