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  4. Unicharm Joins Circular Economy Partnership

2025.06.30

Unicharm Joins Circular Economy Partnership
～Accelerating Social Implementation of Resource Circulation through Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration, Centered on the RefF Project～

Unicharm Corporation (President & CEO: Mr. Takahisa Takahara) has announced its participation in the “Circular Economy Partnership for Promoting General Waste Recycling Technologies,” a consortium of nine organizations including municipalities such as Soma City and Minami Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, companies, and universities. This move aims to further accelerate the horizontal recycling of used disposable diapers through the “RefF” project and strengthen the promotion of a circular economy through collaboration among industry, government, and academia.

（From left）Mr. Tomokazu Murai, Director of Welfare Department, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture / Mr. Tsutomu Kido, Senior Executive Officer, Unicharm Corporation, Mr. Eishoku Mitsumoto, Executive Officer and Head of Circular Economy Promotion Division, Takeei Corporation / Mr. Naoki Nakamoto, Director of Citizen Life Department, Minami Soma City

【Scene from the Circular Economy Partnership Signing Ceremony】

About the Circular Economy Partnership


This initiative brings together the strengths, information, and resources of industry, government, and academia to promote the social implementation of recycling and carbon-neutral technologies. It aims to accelerate the transition to a resource-circulating society (circular economy) and build a regional circular economic zone that leverages local characteristics. The partnership was established in February 2025.

Background of the Initiative


Under its medium- to long-term ESG goals “Kyo-sei Life Vision 2030,” Unicharm has been steadily promoting efforts toward realizing a resource-circulating society. As part of this, the company launched the “RefF” project in 2015 to achieve horizontal recycling of used disposable diapers. It successfully developed a proprietary technology using ozone for sterilization, bleaching, and deodorization, enabling the production of hygienic and safe pulp equivalent in quality to unused pulp.

In May 2022, Unicharm began manufacturing and selling products such as “Lifree RefF Overnight Dry Pad Ultra,” which uses recycled materials in its absorbent paper. The company has since expanded the use of recycled materials to various products, including:

• “Lifree Stretch Fit® Thin and Comfortable Tape RefF”

• “MamyPoko Pants RefF”

• “Deo Toilet Deodorizing & Antibacterial Sheet RefF”

• “Deo Sand Scented Deodorizing Paper Sand RefF” (using recycled superabsorbent polymers)


To further expand its operations and conduct feasibility studies in collaboration with local communities, Unicharm has joined this partnership to accelerate resource circulation through collective efforts.

Members of the Circular Economy Partnership


• Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

• Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

• Zuiko Corporation (Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture)

• Kanazawa Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

• Takaryo Corporation (Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture)

• Green Rental Co., Ltd. (Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)

• Next Environmental Consultant Co., Ltd. (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)

• Faculty of Engineering, Yamagata University (Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture)

• Takeei Corporation (Minato-ku, Tokyo)

 

 

＜Related Information＞

“RefF” Brand site

https://www.unicharm.co.jp/en/csr-eco/reff.html

Takeei Corporation

https://www.takeei.co.jp/en/

Contribution to the 17 SDGs Goals through Joining Circular Economy Partnership


We believe that this initiative contributes to the following 17 goals of the "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015:

12. Responsible Consumption and Production 　　　　 17. Partnership for the Goals

We will continue to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by solving environmental and social issues through our business activities, including the provision of products and services.

 <<For Inquiries>>

Unicharm Corporation, Global Marketing Communication Division, Love Your Possibilities PR Department

Email: brand-pr@unicharm.com

Unicharm Corporation Website　https://www.unicharm.co.jp/

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