Nessu Partners with Plenus to Provide Wash-Free, Recyclable Containers to Children's Cafeterias

Nessu Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki Kido; hereinafter "Nessu"), which aims to realize a society where all children can face the future on equal terms and is working to create systems that deliver hope and opportunities to children, is launching the "Recyclable Plastic Container Donation Project" in collaboration with Plenus Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shiro Kaneko). This project aims to support the operation of children's cafeterias and create opportunities for children to learn about resource circulation firsthand.

Plenus uses Eco Mark-certified containers for some of its bento boxes at "Hotto Motto" as part of its environmentally conscious initiatives. Through this project, a portion of the sales related to these Eco Mark-certified containers will be utilized to provide "P&P Re-Repack" (hereinafter "Re-Repack"), containers that can be collected and recycled without washing by simply peeling off the film after use, free of charge to children's cafeterias in target regions.

In the first phase of fiscal year 2026, approximately 10,000 "Re-Repack" containers will be provided to organizations such as children's cafeterias operating in the Tokyo metropolitan area (Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa prefectures), Fukuoka Prefecture, and Oita Prefecture. Applications will be accepted starting July 13, 2026 (Mon), and donation recipients will be selected based on the application guidelines.

Background of Implementation

At children's cafeterias, limited staff and volunteers are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including procuring ingredients, cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Especially when serving many meals at once, preparing and managing tableware and containers, as well as the washing work after meals, can be a significant burden. Furthermore, depending on the activity location, it is often difficult to secure storage space for tableware or adequate washing facilities.

Against this backdrop, disposable containers are sometimes used from the perspectives of hygiene and operational efficiency, depending on the activity location and service format.

On the other hand, according to the "Children's Cafeteria Status and Challenges Survey 2025" conducted by the Certified NPO, Center for Children's Cafeteria Support, Musubie, while 89.6% of organizations receive "food donations" from the community, only 27.9% receive "donations of goods and equipment other than food." This suggests that support from the community for supplies and operational materials other than food remains limited.

Furthermore, due to the prolonged impact of rising prices, securing containers and supplies, in addition to operating funds, human resources, and food, has become a significant challenge for children's cafeterias. Additionally, general disposable containers are often discarded after use, creating a need for a system that connects used containers to resource circulation while maintaining convenience.

Source: Certified NPO, Center for Children's Cafeteria Support, Musubie "Children's Cafeteria Status and Challenges Survey 2025"

Support Structure Aimed for by This Project

This project began with the aim of connecting Plenus's environmentally conscious initiatives to support for local children's cafeterias. By utilizing a portion of sales related to the target Eco Mark-certified containers, "Re-Repack" containers, which can be collected and recycled without washing, will be provided free of charge to children's cafeterias in target regions.

By utilizing a portion of sales, the aim is to create a system that provides continuous support linked to business activities, rather than just a one-time donation. Plenus has agreed with the purpose of this initiative and is participating from the initial stage.

Nessu has been working to resolve the opportunity gap for children by delivering food and experiential opportunities to children's cafeterias and single-parent households through its "Regional Revitalization Project (Kodomo Furusato Bin)" utilizing the hometown tax donation system, and by building a system to connect underutilized food to support sites. In this project, Nessu will leverage its expertise and network in child support to handle recruitment and coordination of donation recipients, guidance on container usage and collection methods, and collection of activity reports.

In fiscal year 2026, approximately 10,000 units are planned to be provided as the first phase. Based on the implementation status and feedback from children's cafeterias, multiple distributions are planned within the fiscal year, aiming for a total donation of approximately 30,000 units this fiscal year.

Through this project, Plenus and Nessu aim to reduce the operational burden on children's cafeterias, create opportunities for children to learn about resource circulation firsthand, and expand the system that connects corporate business activities with support for children's cafeterias.

Features of "Re-Repack"

"Re-Repack" is a container that allows for collection without washing, as the film attached to the container can be peeled off after use, making it difficult for food stains to remain on the main body. Collected containers are recycled and used as raw material for new containers.

Furthermore, depending on the operational status of the organization, incorporating the experience of children peeling off the film themselves can lead to environmental education opportunities to learn about recycling firsthand.

Image of "Re-Repack" Usage at Children's Cafeterias

At children's cafeterias, after serving meals, the film on the container is peeled off, and waste is separated into trash bins and containers are returned to the collection box, creating a resource circulation flow of "eat, peel, recycle."

The collected containers are recycled at a factory and used as raw material for new containers. Depending on the organization's operational status, children peeling off the film themselves provides an opportunity to think about sorting, recycling, and resource circulation in a familiar way.

*Specific usage, storage, collection, and return methods will be individually communicated to the target organizations after donation recipients are decided.

Voices from Children's Cafeterias Using "Re-Repack"

"Kinuta Kodomo Shokudo Soramame" in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, operates three times a month.

One day's menu was mapo tofu, and preparations began in the morning between cafe operations, with serving ready around 5:00 PM. In addition to minced pork, vegetables such as vermicelli, carrots, chives, bell peppers, and green onions were carefully cooked. The great reward is when the children eat it all up, given the effort put in.

Previously, when the number of participants was small, portions were served individually from a pot, but now that the number of participants has increased, they are served in "Re-Repack" containers, and they wait for the children to arrive.

"Re-Repack" is also effectively used for post-meal cleanup. The flow of children peeling off the container film, separating waste into trash bins, and returning containers to the collection box has become established, leading to improved operational efficiency.

Kinuta Kodomo Shokudo Soramame

Representative: Hisako Takao

Overview of the "Recyclable Plastic Container Donation Project" 2026 Phase 1 Recruitment

Donation Contents: Approximately 10,000 units of "Re-Repack" containers that can be collected and recycled without washing. *The number of donated units may change depending on application status, etc.

Application Period: July 13, 2026 (Mon) - July 27, 2026 (Mon) 12:00 PM

Target Organizations: Organizations such as children's cafeterias that meet the following requirements.

- The activity location must be in the Tokyo metropolitan area (Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa prefectures), Fukuoka Prefecture, or Oita Prefecture. - Other organizations that meet the conditions specified in the application guidelines will be targeted.

For details such as application guidelines and how to apply, please check the special page below.

Special Page URL: https://kodomo-ouen.nessu.co.jp

Company Overview

[Nessu Co., Ltd.] Representative Director: Yuki Kido Established: June 10, 2022 Head Office Location: 4-44-4 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0032 URL: https://nessu.co.jp/

Business Overview: Nessu is a startup aiming to realize "a society where all children can face the future on equal terms" by creating systems that deliver hope and opportunities to children. It operates businesses such as the "Regional Revitalization Project (Kodomo Furusato Bin)" which delivers local products and experiences to children's cafeterias and single-parent households using hometown tax donations, the "Food and Childcare Support Project" which connects underutilized food to households and organizations in need, and the "Circular Design Lab" which recycles waste resources as materials.

[Plenus Co., Ltd.]

President and CEO: Shiro Kaneko

Established: November 1976

Head Office Location: GINZA SIX 8F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

Number of Stores: 2,820 stores (818 directly managed stores, 2,002 franchise stores)

Business Activities: Hotto Motto franchise business, Yayoi-ken franchise business, MK Restaurant franchise business, sales of ingredients, packaging, and other materials.