Germany and Japan can learn from each other in the circular economy
02.07.2026Circular Valley further expands its exchange with Japan: At a seminar in Tokyo organized by NRW.Global Business, Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation, presented the opportunities for collaboration in the field of the circular economy to more than 120 representatives of Japanese industry.
At the seminar in Tokyo, Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation, also introduced the work and activities of Circular Valley
© NRW.Global Business Japan
What role can the circular economy play in securing the future of leading industrial regions? This question was at the heart of a seminar organized by NRW.Global Business in Tokyo, where Dr. Carsten Gerhardt introduced the activities of Circular Valley and highlighted the potential for collaboration between Japanese companies and the circular economy ecosystem in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The seminar builds on the growing exchange between North Rhine-Westphalia and Japan, including last year's NRW delegation visit led by State Secretary Paul Höller and the Japan Business Day held in Düsseldorf in May. Discussions with companies, industry associations, and representatives of North Rhine-Westphalia's economic development agencies made one thing clear: Germany and Japan face very similar challenges – and have much to learn from one another.
"Japan and Germany are both resource-poor industrial nations that have built their prosperity over many decades on high-value manufacturing and exports," said Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation. "Against the backdrop of new global competitors and changing value chains, the circular economy offers both countries the opportunity for a new industrial revolution."
A key challenge for the future: Keeping raw materials in circulation for as long as possible
As resource-poor economies, Germany and Japan already possess much of the material base their industries require. However, these materials are not yet consistently kept in closed loops. One of the key challenges of the coming decades will be to retain these valuable resources in circulation for as long as possible while complementing them with renewable energy. Doing so will enhance resource security, strengthen economic resilience, and create new business opportunities.
Discussions with companies and industry representatives also highlighted Japan's particular strengths in the circular economy. For example, PET bottles achieve return rates of around 90 % despite the absence of a deposit system. This is made possible by a dense collection infrastructure and a strong sense of social responsibility among consumers.
The circular economy is also a social and cultural challenge
Japan's commitment to cleanliness and mutual consideration is also evident in everyday life. Although public waste bins are relatively scarce, streets and public spaces remain remarkably clean because many people simply take their packaging waste home with them. This demonstrates that the circular economy is not only a technological challenge, but also a social and cultural one.
At the same time, Japan has a comparatively high consumption of plastic packaging. This is largely due to stringent hygiene standards and the country's humid climate, which makes packaging essential for protecting food products.
This is precisely where opportunities for closer cooperation with Germany – and North Rhine-Westphalia in particular – emerge. There is considerable interest in Japan in technologies for sorting, processing, and recycling plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. North Rhine-Westphalia is recognized as one of Europe's leading plastics industry hubs and has extensive expertise in both mechanical and chemical recycling.
"Japan demonstrates impressively how social responsibility and resource conservation can become part of everyday life. At the same time, Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia offer a wide range of technological solutions for the circular economy. Both sides stand to benefit from closer cooperation," Gerhardt said.
Large companies are also driving innovation in Japan
Major companies such as Henkel, Covestro, and Suntory are already advancing innovative circular economy approaches in Japan – from debondable adhesives that improve the recyclability of packaging to new plastic recycling technologies and cross-industry networks promoting circularity. Another particularly impressive initiative is the Clean Ocean Materials Alliance (CLOMA), which brings together several hundred companies to develop solutions for a more circular plastics economy by combining technological innovation with societal engagement.
For the Circular Valley Foundation, these developments underline the significant potential for closer cooperation between Japan and North Rhine-Westphalia. The transition to a circular economy offers both industrial regions the opportunity to strengthen their competitiveness while reducing their dependence on virgin raw materials.
