~ Accelerating Closed-Loop Aluminum Can Recycling — Aiming to Reduce CO₂ Emissions by Approximately 120,000 Tons Annually ~

Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Sunto District, Shizuoka Prefecture; President: Toshikazu Oga; hereinafter “Yamaichi Metal”) will establish a joint venture with UACJ Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shinji Tanaka; hereinafter “UACJ”) called UACJ Yamaichi Aluminum Can Recycling Co., Ltd. in April 2025, with the aim of further advancing closed-loop recycling of used aluminum cans.

For over 40 years, Yamaichi Metal has engaged in the reuse of resources, CO₂ reduction, and waste reduction through its proprietary aluminum can recycling technologies. Sharing a common vision—Yamaichi Metal’s purpose of “Restoring Balance to the Planet” and UACJ’s mission to contribute to reducing environmental impact—the two companies signed a basic agreement in November 2021 to collaborate on the processing of UBCs (Used Beverage Cans).

To further promote horizontal (closed-loop) recycling and reduce CO₂ emissions throughout the beverage container supply chain, the two companies signed a joint venture agreement for UBC processing in March 2023. Subsequently, in March 2024, UACJ began construction of the building for the UBC processing facility.

At the new company, Yamaichi Metal will jointly manage operations with UACJ, taking the lead in providing technology for UBC (Used Beverage Can) processing and securing raw materials. The plant will perform processes such as shredding, sorting, and roasting of UBCs to produce chips known as DCC (De-coated Chips), in which the paint coating has been removed.

These DCCs will then be melted, cast, and rolled by UACJ to become aluminum can sheet material once again. The new facility is scheduled to begin operations in January 2026.

By efficiently integrating UBC processing with aluminum sheet production, the new venture will enable a significant increase in UBC usage. As a result, it is expected to reduce Scope 3 CO₂ emissions (from raw materials) by approximately 120,000 tons per year.

Yamaichi Metal will continue to pursue closed-loop recycling—turning aluminum cans back into new cans—as a key approach to reducing environmental impact.

※1 UBC: Used Beverage Can
※2 DCC: Delacquered Can Chip
※3 Calculated based on CO₂ emission intensity values published by the Japan Aluminium Association

■Overview of the New Company

Company Name:UACJ Yamaichi Aluminum Can Recycling Co., Ltd.
Establishment:Scheduled for April 2025
Location:Within UACJ Fukui Works 21-1 Kurome, Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture
Capital:100 million yen
Shareholding Ratio:UACJ: 60%,Yamaichi Metal: 40%
Representative:President: Kimihiro Sakano (also serves as Director of UACJ Fukui Works)
Executive Officers:Executive Vice President: Takeyuki Oga (also Executive Director of Yamaichi Metal)
Others to be announced
Number of Employees:Approximately 40 (planned)
Business Description:UBC (Used Beverage Can) Processing Operations

■About the UBC Processing Facility

Capital Investment:Approx. 5.2 billion yen
Facility Completion:Scheduled for May 2025
Mass Production Start:Scheduled for January 2026

■About UACJ

UACJ Corporation is a global, integrated aluminum manufacturer. With the slogan “Lightweight solutions through aluminum,” the company is dedicated to contributing to a sustainable and prosperous society through advanced materials technology that maximizes the potential of aluminum.

With over 125 years of history in aluminum rolling, UACJ operates five core businesses: flat-rolled products, automotive parts, extrusions and fabricated products, aerospace and defense materials, and aluminum foil. Its aluminum materials support a wide range of industries, including beverage cans, automobiles, IT devices, air conditioning, and aerospace.

For the fiscal year ending March 2024, UACJ reported consolidated net sales of 892.8 billion yen and employs approximately 10,500 people across the group.

Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd. Official Website
https://yamaichi-metal.com/

Contact for Inquiries

Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd.
Corporate Support Department
Katsuhiko Nakamura
TEL: 055-972-2577