Researcher, Environment & Energy Research Division
Mitsubishi Research Institute
Overview
In recent years, in the EU and Japan there have been lively discussions surrounding the topic of resource efficiency and circular economy. Such discussions go beyond the traditional scope of recycling, and focus on increases in product life expectancy and the shift from the simple sales of products to pay per service sales schemes based on the concept of products as a service. It became clear that the topic is influencing not only the recycling industry, but manufacturers as well as service providers and the industry as a whole. The high global interest for the topic was made even more evident when it was included in the joint press release of the G7 Summit held in Schloss Elmau in June 2015.
In this context, METI and the EU-Japan Centre co-organised a Seminar to further investigate this timely and important topic from the EU and Japanese perspectives, including the potential of EU-Japan cooperation on this area. The number of participants reached more than 180, reflecting a strong interest in this subject.
Programme
13:30-13:40 | Opening Remarks: Mr. Hiroki Mitsumata, Deputy Director General for Technology and Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) |
| <Session 1: Introduction to Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy from the EU perspective > | |
13:40-14:10 | “Overview of the New EU Circular Economy Package” Ms Fulvia Raffaelli, Acting Head of Unit – Clean Technologies and Products, DG GROW, European Commission |
14:10-14:30 | “Overview of EU Ecodesign and Energy Labellin Schemes” Speaker: Mr. Michael-John Bennett, Policy Officer – Clean Technologies and Products, DG GROW, European Commission |
14:30-14:50 | “Report on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in the European Union” Speaker: Ms Rie Arai, Researcher, Environment & Energy Research Division, Mitsubishi Research Institute |
14:50-15:00 | Q&A |
15:00-15:20 | Break |
<Session 2: Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in Japan> | |
15:20-15:50 | “Current Activities and Future Direction Related to Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in Japan” Speaker: Mr. Hideyuki Umeda, Deputy Director, Recycling Promotion Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) |
15:50-16:10 | “Corporate Activities on Increasing Resource Efficiency in Japan” Speaker: Mr. Daijiro Ueyama, Senior Manager, Home Appliance Recycling Promotion Office, Customer Satisfaction Division, Toshiba Corporation |
16:10-16:20 | Q&A |
<Session 3: Prospects for Circular Economy Policy Implementation and EU-Japan Cooperation> | |
16:20-17:20 | Panel Discussion and Q&A Moderator: Prof. Eiji Hosoda, Keio University Panellists:
|
17:20-17:30 | Closing Remarks: Mr. Silviu Jora, EU-side General Manager, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation |
 Ms. Fulvia Raffaelli, DG GROW, European Commission |  Mr. Michael-John Bennett, DG GROW, European Commission |  Ms. Rie Arai, Mitsubishi Research Institute |
 Mr. Hideyuki Umeda, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry |  Mr. Daijiro Ueyama, Toshiba Corporation |  Panel discussion chaired by Prof. Eiji Hosoda, Keio University |
Mitsubishi Research Institute
European Commission
DG GROW, European Commission
Toshiba Corporation
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
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Joint venture established in 1987 by the European Commission (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government (METI) for promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan.
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