By sharing a vision for a circular economy-based society and creating innovations that support resource recycling, we will promote business model transformation and realize diverse user needs by enhancing the sustainable value of the environment and the economy.

The environment surrounding us has changed dramatically in recent years. It is assumed that environmental problems will become more serious in the future, such as rising sea levels, more severe natural disasters, and water shortages due to global warming, and increasing waste due to growth in industrial activities. In addition, population growth and industry growth are increasing the risk of natural resource depletion.
To solve these problems, it is necessary to shift from a "linear economy" based on mass production and mass disposal to a "circular economy," which pursues greater efficiency in resource use.

To this end, Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) established the Hitachi-AIST Circular Economy Cooperative Research Laboratory, a joint research center, in AIST Tokyo Waterfront with the aim of realizing a circular economy-based society.
Around 40 experts from Hitachi and AIST will come together to promote joint research on the ideal society, necessary rules, and solutions for a circular economy-based society in which resources are used efficiently throughout the entire value chain across industry.

In this laboratory, as the grand design for a circular economy-based society, we will present a vision of the kind of circular economy-based society we aim for, the roadmap for shifting from the current state to the ideal state, and the methodology and rules for the transition. By utilizing environmental data such as carbon dioxide emissions, we will develop digital solutions that enable companies to create environmental reports and production schedules with a low environmental impact, and promote their implementation in society. In addition, we plan to make policy recommendations, formulate Japan-originated rules, and promote standardization with regard to data collection and utilization methods. We will also actively disseminate information on the content and results of our joint research to society through open forums and proposals, so that we can take a lead globally in the circular economy field.