Amita Circular Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takahide Suetsugu; hereinafter referred to as Amita Circular*1) has newly established and commenced operations of the smart factory "ZERO I" (Zero One) on July 9, 2026 (Thu) within the Himeji Circular Resource Manufacturing Plant (Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture). ZERO I is a core facility for "Circular 3.0," a business model that supports the transformation of the entire supply chain.
By integrating Amita's unique "information compilation capabilities," advanced by generative AI and other technologies, with "resource manufacturing functions" utilizing the latest equipment, we will create high-value-added "circulating resources"*2 accompanied by sustainability information, thereby accelerating the social implementation of Circular 3.0.
On the same day, an opening ceremony and facility tour were held, attended by approximately 50 people from companies and related organizations involved in the supply chain. It served as an opportunity to deepen understanding of the role ZERO I will play and the importance of promoting resource circulation through cross-industry collaboration.
*1 Amita Circular Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amita Holdings Co., Ltd.
*2 Recycled resources made from waste as raw materials.
<Smart Factory "ZERO I">
1. Social Background Requiring ZERO I
For a long time, Japan's manufacturing industry has relied on procuring resources from overseas. However, in recent years, it has become difficult to "secure necessary resources stably when needed" due to geopolitical risks such as export controls, the weak yen, soaring resource prices, and the uneven distribution and depletion of resources. Furthermore, the environment surrounding companies is changing significantly, with the need to address Scope 3 and labor shortages.
In this context, there is a strong demand for the establishment of social infrastructure that enables the entire society to circulate and optimally utilize resources.
2. Amita's Strengths
For over 45 years, Amita Circular has recycled a wide variety of generated materials*3 (waste) based on diverse data such as composition, properties, demand, and supply, knowledge of resource circulation, and a network of over 300 recycling businesses. The core competence that enables this is Amita's unique "information compilation capability," which integrates and analyzes information to design optimal resource circulation. Currently, we are further advancing these capabilities with AI and DX to promote the social implementation of Circular 3.0. The ZERO I, which has now commenced operations, is the core facility for this initiative.
*3 Amita considers waste as resources on earth and refers to it as "generated material" rather than "waste."
<Overview of Circular 3.0>
3. Features of ZERO I
ZERO I is a smart factory that fuses Amita's unique "information compilation capabilities," enhanced by generative AI and other technologies, with the latest manufacturing equipment. By optimizing and automating the entire resource conversion process based on data such as generated materials, circular technologies, industrial structures, and sustainability indicators, it creates high-value-added circulating resources with sustainability information, realizing a system where resources circulate throughout the supply chain.
Data Platform and Software Utilizing "Information Compilation Capabilities"
- Automated Control System [Operational/Some functions to be expanded sequentially] Automates the entire process from receiving, manufacturing, storage, to shipping, ensuring stable quality of circulating resources. During resource manufacturing, AI analyzes the condition of raw materials from camera footage and automatically controls factors such as moisture content.
- Circular Chatbot [To be implemented gradually by 2027] Based on Amita's database of generated materials, resources, technologies, industrial structures, etc., AI will derive optimal resource conversion flows and new resource development plans, which will be used for proposals to customers. It will also automatically generate optimal blending recipes by combining multiple generated materials.
- Shipping/Receiving Reservation System [To be implemented gradually by 2027] Integrates information on generated materials, transportation status, and demand, thereby improving the efficiency and optimization of administrative tasks related to shipping and receiving.
<Control Room for Automated Control System>
Manufacturing Equipment Capable of Handling Difficult-to-Process Materials
The storage area has been expanded to approximately five times the conventional size, and equipment capable of handling high-moisture and hard solid materials has been introduced. This allows us to accept generated materials that were previously difficult to process and enables customized manufacturing of a wide variety of products according to customer needs.
<Raw Material and Product Storage Yard>
4. Changes Brought About by ZERO I
With the operation of ZERO I, information on generated materials, demand, and supply will be linked with resource manufacturing functions, enabling the design of resource circulation with the entire supply chain in view.
This will allow resource-user companies to select resources based not only on price but also on sustainability information such as supply stability, recycled material content, GHG emissions, and impact on nature positivity, transforming procurement from "buying" to "strategic procurement." For waste generators, it will become easier to utilize previously difficult-to-process generated materials as resources, leading not only to cost reduction and resource recovery but also to the creation of non-financial value such as CO2 reduction and contributions to nature positivity.
By optimally connecting information and resources, we aim to evolve resource circulation from a "system for processing waste" to an infrastructure for the entire society to circulate and optimally utilize resources.
5. Opening Ceremony and Facility Tour
An opening ceremony and facility tour were held to commemorate the start of ZERO I's operations. Approximately 50 participants from waste generators, circulating resource user companies, and related organizations involved in the supply chain attended and toured the manufacturing lines and equipment, which are normally off-limits.
Attendees expressed sentiments such as, "We expect new value to be created through ZERO I," and "We are greatly honored to be able to participate in the plan supporting the automation and safety improvement of the factory and unmanned operation." The event served as an opportunity to raise expectations for new resource circulation starting from ZERO I.
<Scene from the Opening Ceremony>
6. Future Development and the Society We Aim For
The commencement of ZERO I's operations is not a goal, but a starting point for transforming the very nature of industry. Moving forward, we will sequentially implement the "Circular Chatbot," "Shipping/Receiving Reservation System," and "Automated Control System" by 2027, achieving full automation and unmanned operation of the manufacturing process. Based on this foundation, we will develop a system that connects procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and recycling into a single flow, extending beyond a single company or industry.
Beyond that, we envision the realization of an "ecosystem society" as advocated by the Amita Group, where people, nature, things, and information are organically connected and circulate without waste. Starting from ZERO I, we will expand the social infrastructure for resource circulation with diverse stakeholders, contributing to sustainable manufacturing and society.
▶ For details on equipment, functions, and acceptable generated materials, please visit the special page.
We have also released a concept movie depicting Amita's vision for resource circulation.
【Special Page】https://www.amita-net.co.jp/business/zero-1/
【Concept Movie】https://vimeo.com/1207558018
7. Related Releases and Announcements
2025.02.28
Amita HD Decides to Establish Next-Generation Factory within Himeji Circular Resource Manufacturing Plant ~Aiming for Service Advancement through Full Automation of Manufacturing Processes for Improved Product Value and Unmanned Operation~
https://www.amita-hd.co.jp/news/250228_circular3.0.html
8. Contact for Public Relations and Inquiries
Amita Circular Co., Ltd. Public Relations: Fujioka / Komai
TEL: 075-277-0795 / Email: [email protected]
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- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: 企業動向