Pilot Test Begins for 100% Recycled Material Containers to Advance Resource Circulation and Further Reduce Fossil-Based Plastics

Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tomohiro Akutsu) is advancing the use of environmentally conscious materials in original product containers and further strengthening efforts to reduce fossil-based plastics. Amid global concerns over rising energy and material costs, the company will further promote initiatives such as the use of paper materials, container lightweighting, and expanded adoption of recycled materials, accelerating implementation. Moving forward, the company will continue contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through reducing environmental impact and promoting resource circulation.

For transparent containers (A-PET containers) used in products such as Cup Deli, salads, and cooked noodles, the company has collaborated with container manufacturers to increase the use of recycled PET resin. Specifically, it adopted a specification using 80% recycled PET resin and completed the transition of all A-PET containers to this 80% recycled specification by 2023, thereby reducing the use of fossil-based raw materials.

To further promote the use of recycled materials for food containers, the company will now begin a pilot test in June 2026 for A-PET containers using 100% recycled PET resin. Based on the test results, the company plans to gradually expand usage.

This initiative is part of the group's environmental declaration, 'GREEN CHALLENGE 2050,' specifically under its 'Plastic Countermeasures' pillar. The company aims to switch 50% of containers used for original products to environmentally conscious materials by 2030 and 100% by 2050. (As of fiscal 2025, approximately 40% of containers use eco-friendly materials.)

<Reference: Plastic Reduction Initiatives>

Approximately 40% of all original products use environmentally conscious materials (fiscal 2025)

・Paper-based containers for pasta and chilled bento boxes have reduced plastic use by approximately 1,014 tons compared to 2013 levels.

・Use of mass balance approach for bento trays and lids reduces plastic use by approximately 70 tons annually.

・Starting May 2026, chilled Japanese confectionery containers will be gradually thinned, reducing plastic use by 4% per unit.

・PET bottle recycling machines installed in stores to support bottle-to-bottle recycling.

※1 Further strengthening the use of environmentally conscious materials that reduce environmental impact in containers used for original products.

https://www.sej.co.jp/company/news_release/news/2025/202511121500.html

◆ Switching chilled bento containers from plastic to paper materials

https://www.sej.co.jp/company/news_release/news/2020/2020060809.html

◆ Changing Cup Deli lids to top-seal film type

https://www.sej.co.jp/company/news_release/news/2020/20200518160001.html

◆ Replacing part of sandwich wrapping materials with paper

https://www.sej.co.jp/company/news_release/news/2021/202107211500.html