*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.

Today, as the Earth boils over, the question is whether humanity can envision a sustainable future society on Earth, that is, a “Future Society for Our Lives” the theme of the Expo. The Japanese government is advocating the concept of a Triple Sustainability・Circular and Ecological Economy, which will simultaneously achieve carbon neutrality, circular economy, and nature positivity, in order to realize sustainability. The realization of a circular economy is a core concept for achieving sustainability, while having synergy with carbon neutrality and nature positivity. In the keynote speech, the overall picture of sustainability and the importance of the circular economy will be presented based on the concept of donut economics. Then, as case studies, we will report on government policies, regional developments, corporate initiatives, global collaboration through fund building, and advanced case studies of technology utilization. In the panel discussion, we will explore how to realize the Circular Economy while delving into the worldview of what the Circular Economy means.

【Program Summary】
Held during The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week, this session explored both the theoretical frameworks and practical initiatives toward achieving a circular economy. Through discussions encompassing local government efforts, pioneering corporate initiatives in resource circulation, and global perspectives, the participants examined key conditions for building a sustainable economic society. The realization of a circular economy is not merely about waste reduction or recycling—it represents a fundamental transformation of the economic model itself. The session highlighted the need for a new, integrated approach that unites science, policy, industry, and civil society.

【Speaker Summary: Tokutaro Nakai】
Nakai began by emphasizing that achieving a circular economy is a global and urgent task. The linear economic model of mass production, consumption, and disposal has reached its limits, he argued, and a transition toward a circular system is indispensable for sustainability. He stressed that the circular economy should not remain within the scope of “environmental policy,” but rather be positioned as a transformation of the entire economy—encompassing industrial structures, technological innovation, financial systems, and consumer behavior.

Japan, he noted, has led the world in recycling and energy efficiency technologies. Leveraging these strengths to promote the use of recycled and regional resources will enhance national resilience while presenting a global model for sustainable growth. Nakai particularly highlighted local governments’ initiatives as key to connecting everyday life with production and creating decentralized circular economy models.

He also pointed out major barriers: existing economic incentives still favor disposability, and emerging circular technologies risk premature elimination in competitive markets. To overcome these, policy tools such as regulation and taxation must be coupled with financial mechanisms that channel investment toward circular businesses.

Concluding, Nakai asserted that the circular economy represents a new model of civilization—one in which humanity coexists harmoniously with nature. Achieving it will require joint efforts among governments, businesses, academia, and citizens working toward a shared goal.

【Speaker Summary: Kate Raworth】
In her video message, Kate Raworth offered an inspiring vision for rethinking economics through the lens of the circular economy. She criticized the 20th-century model of “growth at all costs,” which ignored planetary boundaries and led to climate crises, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. The GDP-centric view, she argued, quantified prosperity but neglected human well-being and ecological balance.

As an alternative, she presented the Doughnut Economics model—a framework defining a “safe and just space for humanity” bounded by environmental ceilings and social foundations. Within this space, the circular economy plays a central role.

Raworth explained that the circular economy is not limited to waste recycling but entails redesigning the entire economic system. She highlighted approaches such as design for circularity (products conceived for reuse and repair), service-based business models, renewable energy adoption, and urban resource efficiency. Waste, she argued, must be redefined as a resource that generates new value at every stage of the economy.
She underscored the importance of finance and policy in this transition. Expanding sustainable finance and impact investment is vital to supporting circular startups and community projects. Policy measures—especially through regulation and taxation—should drive the shift from linear to circular systems. International collaboration in institutional design is equally crucial.

Raworth concluded by stressing that embracing a circular economy is an ethical responsibility to future generations. Rethinking our economic systems to secure a “safe and just space” for both humanity and nature is the path forward for the 21st century.

【Speaker Summary: Hisashi Hatomoto】
Hisashi Hatomoto spoke in detail about Japan’s policy framework and practical efforts to promote a circular economy. At the outset, he stated that the circular economy is no longer a matter of choice but an unavoidable issue. Especially for resource-constrained countries like Japan, it is a national strategic necessity to build a society-wide system for efficient use and regeneration of resources.

He referred to the government’s recently formulated “Circular Economy Transition Acceleration Package,” explaining that these policies are not merely environmental measures but are also crucial from the standpoint of enhancing economic competitiveness and international presence. He cited Japan’s advanced recycling systems—such as the Home Appliance Recycling Act and the Automobile Recycling System—as pioneering initiatives that combine legal frameworks with market mechanisms and have been highly acclaimed internationally.

Furthermore, he pointed out that revisions to the Basic Plan for Establishing a Circular Society have deepened the national approach—from “optimal resource use” and “waste reduction” to positioning resource circulation itself as a growth strategy. He also introduced efforts to launch platforms that match local governments and companies to create regional circular business models, emphasizing the importance of connecting national policies with local practices.

Hatomoto also discussed international collaboration for promoting a circular economy. Referring to the formulation of the “G7 Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP),” the adoption of the “Critical Minerals Action Plan,” and the establishment of international resource circulation partnerships, he stressed the importance of shared awareness among countries, information exchange, and technology transfer. He noted that cooperation with Asian nations, in particular, holds great geographical and economic significance for Japan and is essential in building a shared foundation for a circular society.

As for challenges in realizing a circular economy, Hatomoto highlighted the need for a “societal mindset transformation.” Institutional and technological development alone, he said, is insufficient; it is essential for consumers and businesses to change their behaviors. He emphasized the role of education and awareness-raising activities, noting that nurturing the ability of younger generations to choose sustainable lifestyles will form the long-term foundation for a circular economy.

【Speaker Summary: Noboru Ota】
Mayor Ota shared Maniwa City’s experiences as a leading model of a regional circular economy. Despite its modest population of 40,000, Maniwa has built a “biomass industrial city” centered on wood resources.

Ota explained how the city utilizes wood waste comprehensively for biomass power generation and pellet fuel, achieving local energy production and consumption while creating jobs and reducing CO₂ emissions. The city also recycles food waste and agricultural residue into fertilizer, linking agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors in an integrated circular model.

Public participation is key, he emphasized. Maniwa promotes environmental education in schools and citizen-led forest conservation programs to deepen community engagement.

Ota also addressed challenges: the small local market limits profitability, requiring linkages with external markets; and coordinating diverse stakeholders demands significant effort, with local governments needing to lead consensus building.

He concluded that a regional circular economy is also a powerful strategy for regional revitalization—reducing external dependence and strengthening local sustainability. Maniwa’s example, he said, could serve as a model for local cities balancing economic growth and sustainability.

【Speaker Summary: Saori Koga】
Saori Koga spoke from the perspective of a materials manufacturer about corporate responsibilities and practical initiatives toward realizing a circular economy. She explained that Mitsubishi Materials upholds the corporate philosophy of “For people, society and the earth,circulating resources for a sustainable future” and shared specific examples of how this vision is being implemented.

Traditionally, the company supplied materials derived from natural resources extracted from mines. Today, however, it is shifting its focus toward “utilizing resources recovered from end-of-life products instead of mining limited natural resources.” This transformation aims to balance economic activity with environmental protection and defines resource circulation as a core corporate responsibility.

Koga described the company’s recycling loop developed in partnership with the Panasonic Group. End-of-life home appliances are collected and reprocessed, with the recovered metals used again in new products. This collaboration, ongoing since 2011, has also been applied to the copper materials used in the Panasonic Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. After the Expo concludes, the removed cables will be collected and reintegrated into the same loop, completing the cycle.

She then introduced REMINE, Mitsubishi Materials’ proprietary brand for recycled metals. Under this initiative, recycling rates are scientifically calculated in accordance with ISO 14021 standards, with all evidence documented and presented clearly. Through this process, the company can provide highly reliable data to client firms that publicly commit to the use of recycled materials.

Koga also emphasized that the company “traces the recycling process while monitoring environmental impact,” underlining its commitment to transparency and traceability in promoting the circular economy. She stressed the importance of clarifying how used products are dismantled, reprocessed, and reborn as new materials.

In closing, Koga stated that while governmental policy support remains important, it is equally essential for industry to make steady efforts through technological innovation and creativity. She concluded that promoting a circular economy is not only a matter of strengthening corporate competitiveness but also a social responsibility to hand down a healthy global environment to future generations.

【Speaker Summary: Rahul Bhasin】
Bhasin discussed the prospects and challenges of implementing circular economy principles in India. With rapid population growth and urbanization, he noted, the linear economic model has intensified resource consumption and waste issues, particularly plastic and electronic waste, which now threaten public health and the environment.

He argued that the circular economy represents not a constraint but an opportunity. Recycling and waste management industries can generate employment and invigorate regional economies. He cited examples of e-waste recycling plants that provide stable jobs and income to local communities.

Formalizing the informal waste sector, he added, improves both working conditions and recovery rates. Institutional and financial reforms are key: enforcing regulations and extended producer responsibility (EPR), while establishing investment mechanisms and risk-sharing public finance for SMEs innovating circular technologies.

Bhasin also emphasized global cooperation, stating that circular economies cannot function within national borders. Redesigning global supply chains requires partnerships—such as between Japanese recycling technology and India’s vast markets—to achieve mutual benefit. Such collaboration will accelerate adoption through technology transfer and capacity building.

He concluded that the circular economy is not just environmental policy but a social transformation toward inclusive, sustainable growth.

【Speaker Summary: Veena Sahajwalla】
Sahajwalla highlighted the roles of scientific innovation and community collaboration in realizing a circular economy. She began by addressing the gravity of modern waste issues—particularly electronic and plastic waste—and urged a shift in perception from “waste as a problem” to “waste as a resource.”

She introduced her “Microfactory” concept—small-scale, decentralized recycling facilities that transform local waste into raw materials and products. These factories reduce transport costs and environmental burdens while creating local employment and technical training opportunities. Decentralized recycling, she argued, is key to sustainable futures.

She presented examples of technologies that convert waste plastics into building materials and extract rare metals from e-waste—solutions that reduce environmental impact and create economic value. These technologies have moved beyond demonstration and are now being commercialized, proving that science can make the circular economy tangible.

Sahajwalla stressed the need to bridge science and society—linking researchers, businesses, governments, and citizens to deploy innovations widely. Education, she noted, is vital in transmitting sustainable practices and mindsets to future generations.

She concluded by underscoring the importance of international cooperation, especially in the Asia-Pacific, to establish transnational resource circulation systems through technology transfer and human resource development.

【Discussion Summary】
In the discussion, Nakai facilitated dialogue among panelists to identify shared challenges and action principles for advancing the circular economy.

Building on Raworth’s “Doughnut Economics,” participants discussed moving beyond growth dependency and redefining prosperity indicators. Hatomoto stressed the importance of institutional design, such as taxation and regulation, and of enforcing extended producer responsibility and global frameworks.

Ota highlighted local practice as the foundation for national strategy realization. Koga responded that collaboration between corporations (providing technology and capital) and municipalities (offering testing grounds) can accelerate implementation. There was consensus that industry–community collaboration is essential.

Bhasin emphasized that both institutional and financial support are indispensable—particularly funding mechanisms that empower SMEs to scale innovation—and called for international coordination on shared rules. Sahajwalla underscored the role of decentralized technologies like Microfactories and the value of cross-border knowledge exchange.

The conversation turned to education and awareness. Hatomoto called for public education to transform consumer behavior; Ota emphasized environmental learning and citizen participation; Koga noted that supply-chain transparency itself serves as an educational tool. Raworth reiterated that the circular economy embodies our responsibility to future generations.

In conclusion, Nakai summarized that the circular economy is not a sectoral policy but a societal transformation. Aligning the efforts of governments, businesses, regions, finance, and citizens is essential. The session closed with a shared understanding: the circular economy is an investment in the future—and a responsibility across generations.