MOE Japan Adopts Nine Applications for FY2024 Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas

For the purpose of introducing models aimed at achieving zero FLW (zero food incineration/landfill) in specific areas and pioneering initiatives to reduce food loss and waste and to promote food recycling taking into account the characteristic of each business category or area, and thereby establishing models that contribute to creating zero FLW areas in the future, 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.”
　FY2024 Public calling for the model project for creating zero FLW areas etc.
　(Press release of the Ministry of the Environment on March 1, 2024)
　https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_02804.html (in Japanese)

- H2O RETAILING CORPORATION
- Food Loss Reborn Center
- Specified Non-profit Organization RIVIERA SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS

- Sanyu Kankyo Sogo Kenkyujo Co., Ltd.
- Shibuya Fertilizer LLC
- NPO Diversity World
- Fukuoka City
- Mie Prefecture
- Yamadai Mizuabu Lab

Category Ⅰ - Model projects for creating zero FLW areas

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
H2O RETAILING CORPORATION	Zero FLW Area Project Jointly with the Local Community 2024	In addition to further deepening its initiative carried out in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, this project aims to expand the target area. The initiative to compost household raw garbage generated at the time of cooking instead of disposing it is expanded to other areas. Moreover, “Zero FLW Area Symposium (provisional title)” will be held to enhance awareness and value of zero FLW area, and to improve the continuity and development of this project’s target area as a Zero FLW area.
Food Loss Reborn Center	Zero FLW area project in Sagamihara municipal elementary schools	This project aims to accomplish zero FLW in elementary schools engaged in food recycling in Sagamihara City. A recycling loop centered on elementary schools, where school lunch residues are thoroughly segregated, and the portion of them that are difficult to use as raw materials for animal feed are used for methane fermentation, is formed. Moreover, the project aims to change awareness of children and their parents and guardians through classes of food and nutrition education, parent-and-child excursion tours to food recycling plants, etc.
Specified Non-profit Organization RIVIERA SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS	Project to reduce food loss and waste in the marina restaurant business, including establishing a completely circular regional ecosystem, realizing environmental education, sustainable tourism and food drive	This project aims to achieve zero FLW in the Riviera Zushi Marina (Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture) and its surrounding area. Specifically, a complete recycling loop is formed through making compost from food waste of the restaurant, cultivating vegetables using compost, and serving them in the restaurant. In addition, it promotes food loss and waste reduction through mottECO, facilitate food donation through food drive, conduct environmental education and sustainable tourism. Through the above efforts, Specified Non-profit Organization RIVIERA SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS is committed to taking a comprehensive approach to food loss reduction and environmental protection.

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

Representative participant	Project title	Project outline
Sanyu Kankyo Sogo Kenkyujo Co., Ltd.	SAIKAI COFFEE for Office: From disposal to recycling of “coffee grounds” generated in offices	This project aims to establish a scheme in which coffee grounds generated in facilities and offices in Shibuya Ward are recycled. A circular model in which coffee grounds dried by entities that generated them are used as raw materials to produce fertilizer, compost, and animal feed will be formed. Farmers and dairy farmers utilize those fertilizer, compost, and animal feed to produce crops, milk, and processed products and supply them to entities that generated coffee grounds.
Shibuya Fertilizer LLC	Circular sweets	Food waste from large commercial buildings in big cities is recycled to produce fertilizer and used to cultivate agricultural products in neighboring areas. A circular scheme is established in urban and rural areas in which agricultural products harvested are consumed where raw garbage was generated. In addition, value-added products are created from these agricultural products to realize sixth industrialization of regional resources, capitalizing on the advantage of big cities such as market size and information transmission capabilities. At the same time, the project aims to reduce food loss and waste by designing products in a way that they reduce them.
NPO Diversity World	Demonstration experiment of a food bank portal app “Messhare” (Promotional campaign + verification of effectiveness) under the collaboration of industry-government-academia NPOs with a view to expanding zero FLW areas nationwide	A food bank portal app, “Messhare”, is promoted at event sites and participating stores in specific areas as its promotional campaign. This app displays maps of stores that accept online transactions of food donation and/or doggy bags including mottECO. In addition, the effect of the app is verified in creating zero FLW areas and improve the app with a view to expanding them nationwide.
Fukuoka City	Zero FLW school model project	With a view to reduce food loss and waste generated from elementary school lunches to zero, children of the model schools will design and implement their own initiative to reduce leftovers. Moreover, food waste from elementary school kitchens will be converted into compost and recycled at methanation facilities. In addition, an effective and practical method of reducing food waste at schools is examined.
Mie Prefecture	Iga City method of realizing zero leftover utilizing ICT ~Aimed to realize environmentally friendly schools where children can eat up with appreciation~	This project aims to help children value food, cultivate a sense of appreciation for those who engage in production of food, and feel joy and happiness of eating food, thereby reducing leftovers from school lunches. This project consists of cultivation learning, classes by guest lecturers, recording of educational videos at agricultural sites, creation of educational videos to reduce leftovers from school lunches, conversion of vegetable waste into fertilizer, and utilization of unused ingredients for school lunches.
Yamadai Mizuabu Lab	Yamadai Mizuabu Lab presents: Food waste → Recycling and circulation project: [Food waste generated at homes of students and teaching staff of Yamagata University] returns as [sustainable and environmentally-friendly rice grown without the use of agricultural chemicals]	Food waste brought by students and teaching staff of Yamagata University is recycled using a Yamadai Mizuabu Lab’s processing system for recycling (food waste is fed to larvae of black solider flies and grown larvae are fed to cattle, while excrement of larvae is converted into fertilizer), leading into the establishment of a new food waste processing network.