Ointment Container Recycling Program Expands to 50 Locations Within 9 Months of Launch

Overview The 'Ointment Container Recycling Program' promoted by Shionogi Healthcare Co., Ltd. has expanded its collection network from 16 locations in Osaka to 50 locations nationwide since its launch in September 2025. Newly joining the initiative are drugstores in the Chubu area, municipal facilities in Tsushima, Hamamatsu, and Suita, and the Osaka Pharmaceutical Association.

Why Ointment Containers? Approximately 760,000 tons of plastic packaging waste is collected in Japan annually. Despite being made of highly recyclable materials like aluminum tubes, ointment containers have historically been under-recycled. To address this, Shionogi Healthcare launched Japan's first collection and material recycling program for used ointment containers on September 15, 2025, in cooperation with TerraCycle Japan.

Progress of the Initiative Starting with 16 drugstore locations in Osaka, the program has grown to 50 collection sites in nine months. Participating locations include: - Akakabe Co., Ltd. - Amano Co., Ltd. - Sugiyama Yakuhin Co., Ltd. - mik japan Co., Ltd. - Tsushima City Office, Nagasaki Prefecture - Hamamatsu City Western Cleaning Factory (Eco-hama), Shizuoka Prefecture - Suita City Resource Recycling Center (Kurukuru Plaza), Osaka Prefecture - Gramme (Bulk-sell store, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture) - Pharmacies affiliated with the Osaka Pharmaceutical Association (with further expansion planned)

Activity reports and interviews are available on the official website. Moving forward, the company aims to increase collection volumes and regenerate the collected resources into products beneficial to patients, creating new value.