[Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Club Program] Sustainability Initiatives

[Meiji Yasuda J1 League Centennial Plan] Sustainability Initiatives

Initiatives inside and outside the stadium

Revised garbage sorting rules and new eco-station

Meiji Yasuda J1 HUNDRED-YEAR CONCEPT LEAGUE has updated its waste sorting rules at Mercari Stadium and installed a new waste collection point, the "Eco-Station," on the second floor concourse of the main stand inside the stadium.

Garbage cleanup event: "LEADS TO THE OCEAN"

We have endorsed "LEADS TO THE OCEAN (aka LTO)", a project dedicated to tackling marine environmental issues promoted by the NPO Umi-Sakura and The Nippon Foundation, and have commenced litter-picking activities around the stadium during home games.

It is said that "approximately 80% of marine litter originates from urban areas." To protect the environment of our hometown, which faces Kashimanada and benefits from its rich marine resources, we will promote activities to safeguard our beautiful ocean, starting from the stadium.

In the Meiji Yasuda J1 Hundred-Year Vision League, the following home games are scheduled to host these activities:

・1st: March 14 (Sat) Matchday 6 vs Kawasaki Frontale
・2nd: March 22 (Sun) Matchday 8 vs JEF United Chiba
・3rd: May 3 (Sun/Holiday) Matchday 14 vs FC Machida Zelvia

Saturday, March 14, Kawasaki Frontale Match

Saturday, February 21, vs. Kashiwa Reysol: Sustainability Match ~Always the Same Dream~ to be held!

Learn while having fun! "Anton 'Sustaina' Quiz Rally"

In cooperation with our partner companies, we held a quiz rally where participants could learn about sustainability activities in an enjoyable way. Participants challenged quizzes while visiting exhibition booths, and the first 1,500 people to answer all questions correctly received an "Antlers Original Sticker." A lottery was also held where participants could win a replica uniform signed by a player.

Resource Recycling Area

■ Horizontal Recycling Box Installation (Partner: Suntory)

We set up a booth to educate visitors about "horizontal recycling," a scheme that regenerates plastic bottles collected at the stadium into new plastic bottles.

■ Paper Resource Collection Box Installation (Partner: Nippon Paper Crecia)

To collect and recycle household paper resources, we collected "empty tissue boxes," "toilet paper rolls," and "milk cartons."

■ Re-CUP Washer Installation / Exhibition and Experience of Peelable Cups (Partner: Toyo Seikan Group)
In addition to installing the "Re-CUP WASHER," which will be introduced to stadiums from 2025 to wash used paper cups on-site, we also exhibited "peelable cups," a food container scheduled to be newly introduced during the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial League period.

Food-related area

■ Original menu featuring "Mame-tan" (Partner: Showa Sangyo)
An original menu featuring "Mame-tan," a plant-based and environmentally friendly product from Showa Sangyo, was offered. The soy crumble gapao rice (cooperating restaurant: Norina) was served in a "peelable cup," allowing customers to experience "peeling off the film for recycling."

■ Green Planet cutlery display (Partner: Kaneka)
Cutlery and shopping bags made from Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer "Green Planet®," which are used in some stadium stores, were on display.

■ Vegetable sales booth (Partner: JA Ibaraki)
Environmentally friendly "organic vegetables" were sold, and a "all-you-can-stuff" event for off-spec vegetables was held.

Climate Change Area

■Green Energy Introduction Exhibit (Partner: Octopus Energy)
An exhibit was held to learn about the mechanism of "local energy production for local consumption," which utilizes local solar power at five facilities including the stadium and clubhouse.

■Carbon Offset Introduction Exhibit (Partner: LIXIL)
An exhibit was held to learn about the mechanism of "carbon offsetting," which reduces the environmental impact of travel for all matches in the Centennial League to zero.

Mercari booth

As part of the "Sustainability Match -Always Dreaming the Same Dream-", and with the cooperation of Mercari, Inc., our official partner, we offered content where visitors could experience sustainability.

■Clothing Collection at Unwanted Item Collection Box "PASSTO"
We set up "PASSTO," a resource recycling service operated by ECOMMIT, Inc., in our booth to collect unwanted clothing. The collected items will be sorted by ECOMMIT for reuse and recycling.

■Reuse Discovery Lab
At Mercari R4D, our research and development organization, we use AI to help you discover items around you that "might be reusable!" and visualize actions to enjoy reuse more through manga.

■Experience Reuse Educational Materials

We demonstrated educational materials aimed at elementary school students, allowing them to experience reuse in a fun way through the flea market app "Mercari." The first participants received the "Mercari Observation Journal" textbook, and all participants received an original Nekopos cardboard box that can be used for shipping with the "Mercari" flea market app.

■Panel Presentation on Reducing Clothing Waste and Greenhouse Gases

We showcased through panel displays how much reuse on Mercari can contribute to reducing clothing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Kids Park tie-up event

■Antlers Book Drive
We carried out the "Antlers Book Drive," collecting unwanted books from homes and donating them to facilities that support employment for people with disabilities.

A book drive is an activity where books that have been read at home are collected and donated to welfare organizations and facilities that need support. Books donated through the Antlers Book Drive are repurposed at employment support facilities for people with disabilities and sold online. The proceeds become wages (remuneration) for people with disabilities working at the facilities.

The first 200 people who brought in books enjoyed one free entry to the Kids Park.

■Toy and Memory Exchange (Elementary School Age and Younger Only)
We held the "Toy and Memory Exchange" event in the play area, where participants brought in their unused toys to exchange them along with their memories.

Those who brought toys were given one free entry to the play area.

Press conference regarding the "Sustainability Policy" and "Implementation Project"

Representative Director and President Fumiaki Koizumi and Director Masaki Hamaguchi took the stage and announced the club's "Sustainability Policy" and future initiatives to the press. Anton, who was appointed as the "Sustaina-Match Ambassador," was also in attendance.

After the presentation, they moved to the Kashima Dandan Hiroba, where Koizumi and Anton sampled "Mametan" menu items and demonstrated peeling the film off "peelable cups." Hamaguchi also introduced the initiatives at each booth to the press.

Introduction to Kashima Antlers' Sustainability Initiatives

With the desire to "protect an environment where future generations can enjoy soccer with peace of mind," Kashima Antlers is earnestly addressing the future of the earth, people, and communities with the same passion as winning on the pitch.

＞Learn more