On Monday, July 14, Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School hosted a special lecture as part of the WOW & EX Project, inviting Mr. Kenji Takada from Epson Sales Japan Corporation to speak on the topic of cutting-edge environmental recycling technologies.

As an affiliated school of Ritsumeikan University, our institution provides students with unique opportunities to engage directly with real-world issues and industry leaders. This lecture was one such initiative, aiming to deepen students’ understanding of environmental challenges and technological innovation through direct interaction with experts at the forefront of corporate sustainability.

During the lecture, Mr. Takada introduced Paper Lab, the world’s first dry process paper recycling system that requires no water—unlike conventional paper recycling methods. Developed by Epson, this groundbreaking technology significantly reduces environmental impact and plays a vital role in the realization of a circular economy.

The presentation went beyond a technical explanation, highlighting how Paper Lab serves as a catalyst for cross-industry collaboration, regional employment creation, and broader societal engagement in sustainability efforts. It provided students with a compelling vision of how advanced technology can contribute to building a more sustainable future.

Each participating student received a special notebook made from upcycled paper, further sparking their interest in environmental issues and inspiring them to think critically about innovation and ecological responsibility.

At the end of the lecture, Endo, a third-year high school student, presented the “RITSU KAMIKURU Project”—a student-led initiative that involves collecting used paper from campus, recycling it using Paper Lab, and transforming it into one-of-a-kind personalized graduation certificates. This project is conducted in collaboration with Shimadzu Corporation Kyoto, where the Paper Lab system is currently installed.

The next part of this series, “Exploring Cutting-Edge Environmental Sustainability (Part 2)”, will include an on-site visit to Shimadzu Corporation to observe Paper Lab in action. We encourage all students interested in environmental issues and sustainability to join us for this upcoming session.