Recommended for year-end cleaning! Just put them in the collection box and take action for SDGs easily and conveniently!

Tiger Corporation’s Circular Economy: Results from the First Year of the Initiative

As a manufacturer of stainless steel bottles, Tiger Corporation believes that “recycling-oriented manufacturing” is our responsibility, and as part of our circular economy action plan for stainless steel bottles, we have set the goals of a 10% (1) recovery rate of used stainless steel bottles, a 50% (2) percentage of stainless steel bottles made from recycled resin, and collaboration with 100 partners (including companies, municipalities, and organizations) by 2030. In June 2022, we set the goals of achieving a 10% (1) recovery rate of used stainless steel bottles, a 50% (2) ratio of stainless steel bottles made of recycled resin, and collaboration with 100 partners (including companies, local governments, and organizations).
To achieve this goal, we have been promoting the installation of collection boxes for unwanted stainless steel bottles, regardless of manufacturer.

In the first year of the initiative, Tiger and its nine partners nationwide have collected unwanted stainless steel bottles at a total of 113 locations, as well as at Tiger’s own facilities. The total volume collected during the year was approximately 2,420 kg, which is equivalent to 7,500 stainless steel bottles. (*Based on a conversion rate of 1 bottle = 0.32 kg (equivalent to our 800 mL bottle MCZ-S080))

Until now, when stainless steel bottles were disposed of, sorting them after collection was a major burden in the recycling process. This initiative collects a certain amount of stainless steel bottles that are clearly made of stainless steel, thereby reducing the amount of work required for recycling by specialized recycling companies, compared to the conventional method of removing stainless steel from a mixture of various metals. In addition, impurities are minimized, ensuring high-purity stainless steel raw materials.

We would like to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by collaborating with local governments and partner companies throughout Japan who support our efforts to reduce the burden of the stainless steel recycling process and achieve “recycling-oriented manufacturing” smoothly through the use of our collection boxes.
* 1 Equivalent to 10% of the stainless steel bottles we sell annually in Japan * 2 Of the stainless steel bottles we ship in Japan

Tiger Thermos is an initiative for the circular economy
We aim to contribute to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Recycling model built by Tiger Corporation

Stainless steel bottles no longer needed by households are collected at local schools and businesses and consolidated with recycling specialists. Recycled stainless steel and polypropylene (PP) resin products are produced from the collected recycled materials.

The recycled stainless steel material is transformed into new products and returned to customers, and the recycled resin products are utilized at our production plants.

We aim to realize a circular economy that reduces environmental burdens and achieves sustainable economic growth through the recycling of resources, instead of consuming and disposing of them. (Products using recycled stainless steel are not limited to vacuum insulated bottles.)

Click here for the Circular Economy special page　
https://www.tiger-corporation.com/ja/jpn/feature/sdgs/

Step 1
Collect stainless steel bottles

Collection boxes are installed at municipalities and dealers. We have set up collection boxes in municipalities and dealers.

Step 2
Recycled by a recycling specialist

The bottle body is separated into a bottle body and a bottle wire. Stainless steel material is recycled from the bottle body, and PP resin (polypropylene) material is recycled from the wire.

Step 3
Use recycled raw materials to produce stainless steel materials and plastic products Production of stainless steel materials and resin products

Stainless steel raw materials are delivered to stainless steel manufacturers and transformed into new stainless steel materials; PP resin (polypropylene) raw materials are delivered to resin product manufacturers and transformed into resin products (resin boxes used in our plants).

Step 4
Recycled stainless steel material is utilized and commercialized.To the customer

Stainless steel materials are transformed into a variety of stainless steel products that you can use in your daily life, and then sent to your home.
Products using recycled stainless steel are not limited to vacuum insulated bottles. Vacuum insulated bottles are not the only products that use recycled stainless steel.

Collection spots for stainless steel bottles

As of November 20, 2022, stainless steel bottles are being collected at 113 locations nationwide from Tokyo to Okinawa and within Tiger.

“Spots for collecting used stainless steel bottles” *As of November 20, 2022, in no particular order

• City halls and schools in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture (*)
• Kobe University
• THE THOUSAND KYOTO
• Totoya Kyoto Main Store
• PAPIER TIGRE
• BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA (with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) *From October 1, 2022 to the end of February, 2023
• AEON, AEON STYLE 13 stores
  Himonya / Itabashi / Shin-Urayasu / Yachiyo Midorigaoka / Makuhari Shin-Toshin / Ichikawa Myoden / Inage/Marine Pia / Kasai / Kanazawa Hakkei / Dainichi / Kameoka / Furukawabashi
• Hands 1 store
  Kyoto
• FUJI RETAILING　4 stores
  Matsuyama / Emifuru MASAKI / Shigenobu / Midorii
• Heiwado *AP=Al Plaza 54 stores
  AP Tsuruga / AP Mizuguchi / Moriyama / AP Hikone / AP Bell / AP Wani/ AP Masago/ AP Ami/ AP Ishibe
  AP Komatsu/Shinohara/AP Joyo/Aichigawa/Yale Higashi Maizuru/Yale Mineyama/AP Kanazawa/Sakamoto/Imazu
  AP Kameoka/AP Yokaichi/AP Moriyama/AP Kashima/ AP Uji-Higashi/AP Kusatsu/Vivacity Heiwado/AP Sabae/AP Hirakata
  AP Nagahama/AP Kosugi/AP Kaga/AP Kyotanabe/AP Korizono/AP Kizu AP Koroen/AP Kizu/AP Yasu/AP Takefu/ AP Toyama/AP Ibaraki
  AP Daigo/AP Tsubata/AP Ritto/AP Takatsuki/ AP Tsukashin/AP Omihachiman/AP Kata/AP Amagasaki
  AP Tsukashin/AP Omi Hachiman/AP Kata/AP Amagasaki/ AP Tsugasakin/AP Omi Hachiman/AP Kata/AP Amagasaki/AP Amagasaki
• Home Improvement Hirose 30 stores
  Super Combo Akeno/Mie/Super HC Beppu/Matsuhashi/Tobita/Super HC Kasugaura
  Super Combo Watarika/Super Combo Minami-Nobeoka/Hinata/Super Combo Usuki/Super Combo Otsu
  Super Combo Tasaki Ichiba Dori / Super Combo Isahaya Bypass / Super Combo Motomachi
  Super Combo Kusu / Super Combo Kikuyo / Super Combo Oozai / Super Combo Takeda
  Super Combo Kashima-Kamishima/Super Combo Ogori/Super Combo Taku/OK Home & Garden Hino
  OK Home & Garden Shimabara/OK Home & Garden Tomachi
  OK Home & Garden Omura/OK Home & Garden Tarami/OK Home & Garden Nagayo
  OK Home & Garden Lala Place Atago/OK Home & Garden Hirado/OK Home & Garden Fukabori
• Home Center Sakumoto 4 stores
  Urasoe/Toyomi/Koza/Nago
• UNY 1 store
  Apita Ichinomiya

In addition, there are spots where collection is conducted for a limited period of time at events, etc.
Kameoka City does not accept used stainless steel bottles from outside of Kameoka City.

Helpful for yearend cleaning! Stainless Steel Bottles FAQ

Q1. When should I replace my stainless steel bottle?

A1. If the bottle is knocked over, bumped, or subjected to a strong impact, it may dent the body, damaging the vacuum state and rendering the heat/cold retention ineffective. In this case, repair is not possible and it is time to replace the product. If there is any other internal damage or leakage of contents, please stop using the bottle and use another stainless steel bottle.

Q2: How can I check if the stainless steel bottle is keeping the water warm?

A2. Tiger Corporation’s stainless steel bottles can be checked in the following ways.
(1) Regardless of the type of bottle, fill the bottle with boiling water and wait for 5 minutes.
(2) Touch the bottom side of the bottle from the center of the side of the bottle.
(3) If the bottle is hot, the heat-retention function is no longer effective.

Q3. The inner cap of a stainless steel bottle gets dirty during use, so I always buy a new stainless steel bottle.
I always purchase a new stainless steel bottle. Is it possible to purchase only this part?

A3. The insides and gaskets are exposed to heat and steam, so they become damaged with use. We sell these parts as consumables, so please check them after about one year, and if they are noticeably dirty or loose, please purchase the parts and replace them.

I have been using this product for many years and I think it will still work if I have it repaired…”
Tiger Corporation has a 10-year warranty on performance parts for repair, so repair service is also available for 10 years!

In order to respond to customers’ comments such as “I think the rice cooker can still be used by replacing the packing of the bottle” or “I want to use it even if I have to repair it instead of replacing it because it has a special meaning to me”, we keep spare performance parts (*1) for 10 years after discontinuation of production, and repair and sell the parts.

By retaining repair performance parts for 10 years, we can also provide repair services for 10 years (*2). Therefore, even if your favorite product that you have used for many years should break down, you can continue to use it by repairing it.

We hope to meet the expectations of our customers by providing them with a wider range of choices between “repair” and “replacement,” and by allowing them to continue to use one product for a longer period of time, we hope to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society from an environmental perspective as well.

Click here for Tiger Corporation’s after-sales service page
https://www.tiger-corporation.com/ja/jpn/support/repair/#holding-period

* 1 Repair parts are parts that are necessary to maintain the function of the product. In the case of the electrical products we sell, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has instructed us to retain these parts for 5 to 6 years after discontinuation of production (depending on the product type). However, in order to further improve our services, we have extended the retention period for repair performance parts to 10 years for all products, effective May 30, 2019.

* 2 If the warranty period has expired, the product will be repaired for a fee.

(Note) The following items are not covered by the 10-year retention period for repair performance parts.

• If we run out of stainless steel bottle pouches in stock, we will use a subsequent pattern.
• Products or parts made with characters licensed from other companies.
• Parts that are not available as aftermarket parts.
  Main body (steel plate) case” of household and commercial products
  Body” of stainless steel thermos bottles (bottles, cups, lunch jars)
  Protective frame” of commercial-use products *Except for commercial-use IH jar rice cookers
  Inner case” of electric compact pizza oven
  Main body case” of ice shaver (Kyoro-chan)