On June 4th, SWiTCH General Incorporated Association and Future Design Shibuya held "CNUD MEET UP vol.3".
The theme of this year's event was "resource circulation," and the latest initiatives from Japan and abroad were introduced, as well as pitches by seven startups and local government organizations.
In addition, regarding the future outlook for CNUD, a concrete plan was revealed to connect companies and organizations active in Shibuya and promote carbon neutrality.
CNUD is a consortium that aims to make Shibuya the most sustainable city in the world.
SWiTCH, a general incorporated association, and Future Design Shibuya, a platform for young people to create a sustainable society, are carrying out various activities with the goal of "turning Shibuya into the world's most sustainable city together with young people by 2030."
One of these is CNUD (Carbon Neutral Urban Design), whose establishment was announced at SIW (SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK) 2023 on November 23, 2023. It is a consortium in Shibuya where industry, government and academia can hold discussions on decarbonization and share and exchange the latest information.
So far, CNUD MEET UP has shared the latest global initiatives on various themes related to carbon neutrality, provided opportunities for startup companies to network with each other, and hosted networking events for participants.
Learning about resource circulation from the example of Daikanyama in the Netherlands
Do you know what happens to the trash that comes out of your house?
In fact, most of it is currently incinerated and buried.
It is said that if everyone in the world lived the same way that we Japanese do, we would need 2.9 Earths.
In order to survive on this one planet, it is essential to transition from the current "linear society" where disposable items are used and waste is not utilized to a "circular society" where resources are recycled.
In the first part, Mana Saza, Representative Director of SWiTCH General Incorporated Association, gave a talk about the world of resource circulation and the latest information in Japan.
The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is actively working towards a circular economy, which is predicted to have positive economic benefits as well as environmental benefits.
It's not just overseas where efforts are underway. Last year, the "Forestgate DAIKANYAMA," a complex focused on environmental considerations, opened in Daikanyama. In addition to its architectural design that considers the reuse of resources and ease of dismantling, the facility is dotted with initiatives for "resource circulation," such as selling lost flowers that would otherwise be thrown away and selling them by weight.
Other exciting initiatives introduced included the interior design of a New York restaurant made from recycled milk cartons, which gave a sense of the potential for recycling resources.
Pitches by startups and local governments promoting carbon neutrality
In the second part, startup companies and local governments gave pitches.
The following eight organizations took to the stage:
Legitimate Co., Ltd. not only provides users with a new experience by tagging objects, but also enables clearer traceability for manufacturers who require DPP (Digital Protection Passport).
Mizu to Kominka Co., Ltd. focuses on the problems of sludge and water purification, aiming to solve various issues such as reducing costs for local governments, restoring biodiversity, and securing water for daily life in the event of a disaster.
With many companies now seeking talent who can contribute to the SDGs, Social Inc. has built a human resources platform that utilizes blockchain.
JOYLCLE Co., Ltd.: Reducing waste disposal costs and realizing upcycling
Yanekara Co., Ltd. has developed a vertical solar fence to make solar power generation more accessible and easier to use.
Ripples Inc. provides film containers at many events that utilize the horizontal cycle that is currently attracting attention for producing the same products from used materials.
Then, pitches were given by Kaman Co., Ltd. and Utsunomiya City, and we will pick out these two pitches and report on them here.
Kaman Co., Ltd.
Kaman Co., Ltd. is a startup company that develops reusable containers. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, takeout food has become a more integral part of our daily lives, but CEO Yoshizumi presented data showing that 81% of users feel guilty about the waste they produce after eating takeout food. He went on to say that 16.2% of household waste is cups and lunchbox containers, and 66% is container packaging.
The problem of plastic containers has been attracting worldwide attention, and in the Netherlands, a tax is being imposed on disposable containers. The company is proposing a scheme to share reusable containers in the local area (see figure below), and has already begun collaboration with Kamakura City, and has begun an experimental initiative in Shibuya Ward in collaboration with a food delivery company.
Utsunomiya City
Tochigi Prefecture has the second highest number of privately owned cars in Japan, and its CO2 emissions from the transportation sector are relatively high compared to other local governments in the country, making reducing CO2 emissions an urgent task.
In the midst of this, Utsunomiya City is aiming to become a compact city and has implemented the "Light Line" public transportation system, the first in Japan to run on 100% renewable energy generated within the city. It also aims to convert all 158 private buses to EVs by March 2030.
Like Oslo, Norway, Utsunomiya City aims to become the world's first model city for locally produced and consumed renewable energy, and it will be interesting to see what kind of projects the local government will develop in the future.
SHIBUYA GREEN SHIFT PROJECT launched!
CNUD SUMMIT 2024 is scheduled to be held!
Finally, information was shared about CNUD's future activities.
First, the launch of the "SHIBUYA GREEN SHIFT PROJECT" was announced, a joint project between industry, government, academia and citizens from Future Design Shibuya, Daikin, and Osaka University.
With the goal of greening Shibuya, it is expected that decarbonization actions in Shibuya will be further accelerated by actively setting up cool spots, establishing working groups, and coordinating events.
It was also announced that the next meetup will be on August 23, 2024, and that CNUD will hold an event called "CNUD SUMMIT" during "SIW 2024."
With each passing event, CNUD's circle of participants widens and the scale of the projects expands.
We look forward to people joining CNUD and walking the path with us.
