Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) of Japan has announced that it will join and support a reusable cup project of Yokohama City and the Yokohama Sports Promotion Corporation. The project is to replace existing disposable paper cups with reusable ones for beverages sold at the Yokohama International Stadium. The reusable cups are to be introduced on a trial basis from August 2004 to March 2008.

The cups made of polypropylene can be washed and reused up to 50 times. The introduction of the reusable cups is expected to reduce paper cup waste and CO2 emissions throughout the product life cycle from production to disposal.

It is estimated that the amount of paper cup waste will be reduced by 180 kilograms per game of the J-League, the professional football (soccer) league in Japan, or about 3.2 tons annually, which accounts for 5 percent of the total waste amount. CO2 emissions will be also reduced by 68 grams per cup, or about 14.7 tons annually.

This project is part of the Yokohama G30 Plan, aiming at reducing the volume of waste in 2010 by 30 percent from the 2001 level. Through this project, Yokohama City intends not only to actually improve the environment but also to make the Yokohama International Stadium a focal point for raising public awareness about environmental issues. In support of this concept, TEPCO decided to join the project. The reusable cups carry the company logo and messages related to the environment.



Posted: 2004/08/27 02:55:43 PM
Japanese version

TAG Global warming , Local government , Material reduction , Non-manufacturing industry , System/Law