As World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai came to a close this week, the conversations around circularity have been more energized than ever. Over seven months, global innovators gathered to explore paths toward a more sustainable future. One path in particular, is how to move from a linear economy to one that designs waste out of existence.

At the World Expo Canada Pavilion, we were proud to contribute to that dialogue by showing what circular manufacturing looks like when it moves beyond concept and into practice. Our solutions at the pavilion, including at Destination Poutine by Air Canada, told a simple story: waste isn’t waste when it’s designed differently. Each custom product, ranging from countertops to wall paneling features, was engineered from recycled chopsticks, locally collected from restaurants in Japan and transformed into a durable, carbon negative material that powers a new kind of urban manufacturing system.

Across the Expo, we saw clear signs that Japan is ready to scale this transformation. At Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (METI) Circular Economy Research Lab, Ricoh’s exhibit invited visitors to experience the importance of sorting and recycling through hands-on activities. By showing how individual actions affect the quality of resource circulation, Ricoh demonstrated that the shift to circularity begins with both education and access.

That connection between awareness and action is where ChopValue’s model fits in. Our Microfactory network localizes the circular economy by turning discarded materials into high-performance products close to where the waste is generated. Since opening our first Microfactory in Kawasaki, we’ve already recycled more than seven tons of material. Through collaborations such as our partnership with KOKUYO, a global leader in workplace solutions, we’re also exploring how engineered materials made from recycled chopsticks can be used to help accelerate Japan’s transition toward a low carbon environment.

Expo 2025 showcased what’s possible, and now it’s time to scale it. Japan’s leadership in circular systems, supported by cross-industry collaboration, can redefine how we build, manufacture, and live.