MOE Japan adopts nine applications for FY2023 Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas

日本語へ

1. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, has been conducting the Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas for the purpose of supporting initiatives aiming to achieve zero food loss and waste (FLW) through measures to prevent the edible parts of food from being thrown away and the promotion of FLW recycling.

2. As a result of publicly calling for project proposals from local governments and business operators to be conducted under this model project, MOE Japan has decided to adopt and support nine projects in the following two categories.

　・ Category Ⅰ - Model projects for creating zero FLW areas: 4 projects

　・ Category Ⅱ - Model projects for introducing measures to promote zero FLW areas:

　　　(i) Introduction of the mottECO initiative: 1 project

　　　(ii) Promotion of the 3 Rs, etc. in regard to school lunches: 1 project　

　　　(iii) Others: 3 projects

Outline and objectives of the model project

For the purpose of supporting pioneering initiatives aiming to create zero FLW areas that local governments and business operators carry out in collaboration with local relevant entities and widely disseminating the results, and thereby expanding and spreading those initiatives to other regions and organizations, MOE Japan called for local governments and business operators that will conduct a model project for creating zero FLW areas and a model project for introducing measures to promote zero FLW areas (introduction of the mottECO initiative; the 3 Rs, etc. in regard to school lunches; and others).
　https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_01237.html (in Japanese)

Adoption results

From the perspectives of the effectiveness, the continuity, and potential for development and ripple effects, the novelty and innovativeness, and the concreteness and feasibility of the project, the following model projects were adopted through the screening at Screening Committee.

Category Ⅰ - Model projects for creating zero FLW areas: 4 projects

WeAct, Japan Emergency Food Organization
Akita Prefecture
H2O RETAILING CORPORATION
Lawson, Inc.

Category Ⅱ - Model projects for introducing measures for promoting zero FLW areas

(i)　Introduction of the mottECO initiative: 1 project

mottECO Promotion Consortium 2023

(ii)　Promotion of the 3 Rs, etc. in regard to school lunches: 1 project

Kurashiki Central Schools Lunch Center, Kurashiki Municipal Board of Education

(iii)　Others: 3 projects

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AINO UNIVERSITY
KURADASHI Co., Ltd.
Painushima Biogas Power Plant, limited liability company

Outline of model projects

Category Ⅰ - Model projects for creating zero FLW areas

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
WeAct, Japan Emergency Food Organization	Project for creating zero FLW areas for emergency food through collaboration among diverse entities	The association aims to achieve zero food loss and waste from businesses by creating a mechanism in which employment support facilities for people with disabilities accept emergency food stockpiles which are no longer in use from companies, remake them into packed lunches, and sell them, and by also utilizing expired food, etc. to make feedstuff. Additionally, the association conducts a fact-finding survey on emergency food stockpiles, and analyses causes leading to their disposal and methods of reducing loss and waste of emergency food stockpiles.
Akita Prefecture	Akita Central Area Food Waste Recycling Model Project	In the central area of Akita, large food retailers, waste collection/transporting business operators, food recycling business operators, and municipal governments collaborate with each other to promote measures against food loss and waste at stores with the participation of consumers and also promote utilization of food waste for methane fermentation gas power generation, thereby aiming to create a zero FLW area. The prefecture also deliberates procedures necessary for regeneration treatment across wide areas and examines and demonstrates means for efficient collection and transport of food waste, including consolidated transport and transshipment.
H2O RETAILING CORPORATION	Zero FLW Area Project Jointly with the Local Community 2023	The corporation sets the food supermarket it operates near Kisera Kawanishi, the district for the development project of Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, as the core base for achieving zero FLW and aims to create a zero FLW area through achieving zero FLW in three categories (stores, events and homes) and at the same time developing momentum to encourage people to reduce FLW.
Lawson, Inc.	Creation of a zero FLW area model through hybrid initiatives combining effective utilization of food that would otherwise be thrown away by the use of freezing technology, efficiency improvement in donation distribution in collaboration with existing distribution services and municipal governments and NPOs, and food recycling	The company freezes food products that are considered too old to be sold according to Japanese food business practices but have not reached their “use by” date and are still edible. These products are donated to households in need of support. Through this process, the company verifies freezing methods, efficiency improvement in donation distribution and cost therefor. Additionally, by recycling food residues, which are inevitably generated even after effective utilization of food, for methane fermentation gas power generation and for making plant food and feedstuff. By implementing these initiatives, the company aims to create stores with zero FLW.

Category Ⅱ - Model projects for introducing measures for promoting zero FLW areas

(i) Introduction of the mottECO initiative

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
mottECO Promotion Consortium 2023	Project for introducing and disseminating the mottECO initiative through collaboration between a municipal government and business operators	Multiple business operators across business types and a municipal government collaborate with each other to increase stores participating in the mottECO initiative, raise awareness concerning the name and concept of the mottECO initiative, and hold relevant events. (Members of the consortium: Seven & i Food Systems Co., Ltd., ROYAL HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., SRS HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., NIPPON HOTEL Co., Ltd., Keio Plaza Hotel Co., Ltd., Aleph, Inc., Suginami Ward in Tokyo)

(ii) Promotion of the 3 Rs, etc. in regard to school lunches

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
Kurashiki Central Schools Lunch Center, Kurashiki Municipal Board of Education	Model project for establishing a method of retort processing for disposed locally-made food that is conducted at the school lunch center	The school lunch center ascertains the situation of locally-grown food that is disposed of due to such reasons as being below the standards, and holds deliberations with the aim of primarily processing such wasted food with the retort processing machine at the cookhouse and utilizing them for school lunches. Through this project, the school lunch center aims to reduce FLW and also reduce cooking time and effort and secure seasonal foodstuffs at low prices for the purpose of stable provision of foodstuffs.

(iii) Others

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AINO UNIVERSITY	University cafeteria recycling to be achieved by students themselves	Vegetables that are hydroponically cultivated using liquid fertilizer derived from FLW from the university cafeteria are to be served at the cafeteria. The hydroponic cultivation equipment is installed in the cafeteria to make the recycling visible to students and teachers. By having students participate in the project on a voluntary basis, the university intends to have them circulate resources by themselves and experience sustainability.
KURADASHI Co., Ltd.	Creation of a zero FLW area based at a shopping center through holding a food drive at a permanent store of Kuradashi	The company holds a food drive at its permanent store “Kuradashi” in a large shopping center in Yokohama City by asking for donations of food from other stores in the shopping center, neighboring companies and municipal governments. Through this project, the company aims to effectively utilize excess food and verifies the customer attraction effect of holding a food drive at a shopping center.
Painushima Biogas Power Plant, limited liability company	Awareness survey targeting tourism business operators for achieving zero FLW in a remote tourist island and examination and demonstration for fostering an environment to implement food recycling	With the aim of achieving zero FLW in tourist facilities and accommodations in Ishigakijima Island, the company conducts a fact-finding survey regarding the status of FLW, a verification test for waste sorting, and a survey to check the potential of organic waste in the island, and examines the feasibility of introducing biogas power generation. The company also carries out PR and awareness-raising activities to promote people's understanding of the project, and introduces the mottECO initiative in restaurants on a trial basis or otherwise endeavors to reduce leftovers.