Oji Holdings, ONIBUS COFFEE Launch Paper Cup Recycling Initiative in Japan

Oji Holdings Corporation and ONIBUS Co., Ltd. have launched an initiative to recycle used paper cups from ONIBUS COFFEE specialty coffee shops into paper hand towels, with operations beginning in April 2026.

The companies said the project addresses a longstanding challenge in the recycling of paper beverage containers. Paper cups are often incinerated rather than recycled because they are contaminated by beverage residue and contain plastic laminates that are difficult to separate during processing.

Under the initiative, paper fibers recovered from used cups will be recycled at a factory affiliated with the Oji Group. The collected material will then be converted into paper hand towels for use in ONIBUS COFFEE stores.

The companies said the effort reflects growing demand for circular economy solutions and aims to promote resource recycling at the point of consumption. Coffee is widely consumed in daily life, making the recovery and reuse of paper cups a potentially significant contribution to resource circulation.

Oji Group has been advancing circular economy initiatives through sustainable forest management, afforestation, and waste paper recycling. Through its “Renewa” program, the company is expanding resource recycling efforts, including the processing of waste paper that is traditionally difficult to recycle.

ONIBUS COFFEE, which operates under the vision of “enriching towns and lives with coffee,” has also pursued environmental initiatives and resource recycling through community-focused store operations.

The project includes the sorting and collection of used paper cups at ONIBUS COFFEE stores, verification of collection routes and operational procedures, recycling through the Renewa program, use of recycled hand towels in stores, and customer awareness activities through in-store communications.

The initiative has initially been introduced at selected stores. After assessing operational challenges, the companies plan to expand the program in the future.