Circular Yokohama – Harch enters into agreement to promote the circular economy through Living Lab

Harch has entered into an agreement with Yokohama City, Yokohama Living Lab Support Office (Representative Director: Yuki Kawahara) and Yokohama Community Design Lab (Representative Directors: Yuki Sugiura and Yuka Mori). The agreement is to promote the circular economy by a public-private partnership through Living Lab.

The agreement aims to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized and inclusive society and the improvement of citizens’ well-being, based on the Yokohama edition of the regional circular economy vision “Circular Economy plus,” which is advocated by the Yokohama Living Lab Support Office, and through the promotion of the circular economy.

Details

Yokohama Living Lab Support Office, Yokohama Community Design Lab and Yokohama City entered into an agreement in 2020. They proceeded with the creation and management of “Otagai hama,” an ICT platform for overcoming the Coronavirus pandemic. Harch, Yokohama Living Lab Support Office and Yokohama City have until now mutually collaborated on efforts for the regional circular economy (Circular Economy plus) through Living Lab.

Now, after going through Japan’s 4th State of Emergency due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the 4 parties have entered into this agreement because it is necessary to again pursue the well-being of Yokohama’s citizens with changes in citizens’ awareness and rebuilding of their lifestyles in mind. Moreover, it is necessary to further accelerate the promotion of the circular economy for the establishment of a decarbonized society through local entities, including the establishment of the “Yokohama City Decarbonized Society Establishment Promotion Ordinance” in June of this year.

Future Developments

To promote Circular Economy plus through Living Lab, they will cooperate with the jointly developed platforms LOCAL GOOD YOKOHAMA and Circular Yokohama and create a comprehensive foundation that aims to convey information and support commercialization.

The platform has the following functions based on the cooperation and joint development of all 4 parties.

1. Putting together regional issues and resources and visualizing them
2. Widely conveying to and sharing information with citizens and corporations
3. Provide learning places for citizens and corporations
4. Support business development and business continuation

Expectations for this Agreement

Yokohama City (Natsuko Kuroda, Policy Bureau Joint Development Promotion Room Supervising Manager)

This agreement is a chance for formalizing the creation of structures for proceeding with a regional circular economy as a city through a public-private agreement while further utilizing the mechanisms of Living Lab and the jointly developed lab. Through this, we can realize well-being for everyone suitable for the life needs and lifestyles of each Yokohama citizen.

YOKOHAMA Living Lab Support Office

As we recycle things and resources as part of the circular economy, our activities aim to realize a circular society with the idea of “Circular Economy plus,” which adds an emphasis on people, as a foundation. We would be thrilled if this cooperation could serve as a chance for Yokohama to accelerate the creation of sustainable regions through a circular society that focuses on people.

Yokohama Community Design Lab

Through utilizing the information and networks that all 4 parties have, we would like to promote further efforts for urban development that grasp the future of Yokohama ourselves and learn and think about issues together. LOCAL GOOD YOKOHAMA, which began operations in 2014, will continue to operate as an agreement between the 4 parties.

Harch

Through this agreement, we will strengthen both information transmission in and outside of Yokohama as well as business development support through “Circular Yokohama.” In addition, we will further accelerate industry, academia and government cooperation. We will make further efforts to solve regional issues through the promotion of the circular economy, as well as realizing the well-being of citizens.

Related Site ? YOKOHAMA Living Lab Support Office
Related Site ? Yokohama Community Design Lab
Related Site ? Circular Yokohama