New Possibilities for Paper Recycling Connected by AI and Awareness Campaigns

At the "93rd Paper and Pulp Research Presentation Meeting" hosted by the Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry

The Paper Recycling Promotion Center (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) announced on June 24, 2026 (Wed), at the "93rd Paper and Pulp Research Presentation Meeting" hosted by the Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, held at the Yayoi Auditorium, University of Tokyo, the collaboration between the "ECOPON"雑がみ sorting support AI app developed by Professor Shohta Ando of Atomi University and the "Find the 雑がみ-sama!" awareness campaign promoted by the Center.

This presentation demonstrated the potential of a new approach combining digital technology and awareness initiatives to address the "gap between recognition and action" in paper recycling.

"Easy Sorting" and Behavioral Change Realized by AI

Professor Ando presented an environmental learning program that combines the 雑がみ sorting support AI app "ECOPON ver.2" with the awareness campaign "Find the 雑がみ-sama!".

In paper recycling, many 雑がみ are not sufficiently recycled at home due to reasons such as "difficulty in understanding sorting methods" and "inconvenience." To address these challenges, it was shown that it is necessary to approach both understanding and action by combining AI-powered sorting support with user-friendly awareness initiatives.

"ECOPON" is an app that uses AI to identify the type of paper photographed by a smartphone and supports sorting, characterized by a mechanism that allows users to learn while having fun. By incorporating features like quizzes, it is designed to deepen understanding through a cycle of experience and knowledge.

The presentation also introduced case studies of workshops using this app and "Find the 雑がみ-sama!", reporting on the spread of environmental awareness from children to their parents and the increased understanding and interest of participants.

These results suggest that combining digital technology and awareness campaigns can effectively promote behavioral change in paper recycling.

Connecting "Awareness" to "Action": Collaborative Initiatives

"Find the 雑がみ-sama!", promoted by the Center, is an awareness campaign that encourages recognition of 雑がみ lying dormant in households and promotes their collection as resources.

This presentation introduced practical initiatives that, by collaborating "ECOPON", developed by Professor Ando, with this campaign, go beyond promoting understanding to actually lead to sorting actions.

Specifically, in settings such as workshops, awareness was provided as an integrated experience where participants used the app for decision-making and engaged in sorting using actual awareness materials, by combining the creation of awareness through "Find the 雑がみ-sama!" with sorting support from "ECOPON".

Through these initiatives, we expect to see environmental awareness spread from children to their parents and the establishment of sorting behaviors in daily life.

The Future of Sorting Expanded Through Co-creation: New Possibilities Born from Diverse Collaborations

The Center is promoting initiatives to explore new ways of sorting support in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including universities.

By bringing together their respective expertise and knowledge, and through repeated dialogue and collaboration across fields and positions, new perspectives and ideas are incorporated, expanding the possibilities of these initiatives.

This collaboration is not merely a division of roles, but a process of "co-creation" where value is jointly created through mutual learning. Through engagement with diverse entities such as sharing research knowledge with universities, exchanging opinions from a practical perspective with local governments, and technical discussions with companies, the aim is to develop sorting into something more accessible and easier to implement.

Going forward, the Center will continue to engage in value creation through co-creation while further expanding this network of collaboration. Through collaboration with diverse entities, we will pioneer new possibilities in sorting and build a foundation for the realization of a sustainable society.

雑がみ-sama ECOPON

(Comment) Shohta Ando, Professor, Atomi University

雑がみ are familiar "resources" in households, yet they are not fully collected due to reasons such as "not knowing how to sort" and "hesitation in judgment." The 雑がみ sorting support AI app "ECOPON" was developed with the aim of learning 雑がみ sorting while having fun and connecting it to actual behavior. We hope to further develop 雑がみ sorting into something more accessible and practical through collaboration with "Find the 雑がみ-sama!"

(Comment) Masatomo Kawakami, Managing Director, Paper Recycling Promotion Center

In paper recycling, small everyday hurdles such as "not knowing how to sort" and "hesitation in judgment" are one of the factors hindering resource circulation. New technologies like AI are expected not only as means to solve these challenges but also as triggers to elicit behavioral change, such as "let's try it." However, technology alone does not change behavior. We aim to develop paper recycling into something more accessible and practical by accumulating co-creation that leverages the strengths of university research, corporate technology, local government and community practices, and the Center's awareness campaigns.

Find the 雑がみ-sama! Awareness Flyer Find the 雑がみ-sama! Awareness Bag