Improving the recycling flow enables the recycling of industrial waste and job creation.

Transaction status with Pantech

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Please tell me about your business relationship with Pantech

Mr. Hashimoto

We meticulously sort and process CDs and DVDs collected from all over the country, and then sell them to Pantech .

We handle a wide variety of resources, and sorting and processing operations are carried out at each yard. Specifically regarding plastic recycling, we collect discarded CDs and DVDs, sort and process them at the recycling center, and then have Pantech take them over. We have had a long-term relationship with Pantech since we started doing business with them in April 2011.

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Could you tell me how your business relationship with Pantech began?

Mr. Hashimoto

Our business relationship with Pantech began when Pantech employee proposed plastic recycling and discussed the introduction of a shredder. Prior to Pantech 's proposal, we had attempted plastic recycling once before, but it was deemed unprofitable considering the time and cost involved in sorting, and we had given up on it. At that stage, all plastics were being treated as industrial waste.

However, just as we established this recycling center and put in place a system to efficiently carry out recycling, we received a proposal regarding plastic recycling, which enabled us to recycle materials that we had previously thought were unsuitable for recycling. Now, we sort and crush the collected CDs and DVDs into approximately 10 categories (detailed by shape and color, such as PS, PP, and PC), and sell them to Pantech .

High added value through thorough sorting.

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What changes have you seen since starting a business relationship with Pantech ?

Mr. Hashimoto

Initially, we didn't consider recycling because we thought it was a difficult material to recycle. However, Pantech employees provided us with information on plastic recycling, shipping advice, and explained that sorting and processing would allow us to achieve higher prices. Shortly after starting our business relationship, we introduced three Pantech brand "Lita" series crushers, using each machine specifically for a particular resin to prevent contamination of different resins during crushing, resulting in improved quality and further price advantages.

This proposal from Pantech allowed us to learn about the potential of plastic recycling, and enabled us to offer our nationwide client companies, from whom we collect products, a buyback option for recycling instead of traditional disposal. As a company involved in environmental businesses, this has created a system that allows us to make a significant contribution to the proper disposal of waste.

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Has your employees' attitude changed?

Mr. Hashimoto

This led to increased awareness among employees, and the accuracy of waste sorting gradually improved.

In addition, the sorting and processing work led to increased awareness among employees. Thorough sorting is the most important thing when recycling various types of plastic resins. Pantech employees taught us the importance of sorting, explaining how the value of a single resin decreases when other resins or foreign materials are mixed in.

When we first started sorting, awareness on the job site wasn't very high, and there was a lot of contamination with different resins and foreign materials. Each time this happened, we received guidance with the cooperation of Pantech , and through the dedicated instruction given to each worker by the on-site supervisors, the sorting accuracy gradually improved, and we developed a sense of pride in maintaining high quality.

Greatly contributes to job creation

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Please tell me the reason for establishing a special subsidiary company.

Mr. Hashimoto

We established a special subsidiary company to improve employment conditions.

One of our company's key features is that people with disabilities are involved in plastic recycling. Employment of people with disabilities accounts for 40% of our total workforce and they are indispensable to our recycling business. Originally, they were employed as part-time employees by our parent company, Hashimoto Co., Ltd., but the wage system at the time did not adequately cover people with disabilities. Therefore, we established a special subsidiary company to improve employment conditions.

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Please tell us why you continue to actively recruit people with disabilities.

Mr. Hashimoto

I believe that employment opportunities should not be unequal because of a disability.

It all started when an employee at the public employment office spoke to us about employing people with disabilities. While the legally mandated employment rate for a company of our size is one person with a disability, we continued to hire them after our initial hiring, and now they make up 40% of our workforce. We believe that having a disability should not result in unequal employment opportunities. While the level of disability varies from person to person, with proper training, some individuals find joy in learning and in working itself.

In addition to hiring people with disabilities, our company also hires seniors aged 65 and over. We believe that by providing employment opportunities to those who are willing to work, rather than limiting them by age, we can further promote job creation in rural areas. We will continue to be flexible in our employment practices and plan to focus on hiring new graduates in the future.

Satisfaction with Pantech's services

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What aspects of your business with Pantech do you find most satisfying?

Mr. Hashimoto

They respond quickly to phone calls and emails, and handle administrative tasks accurately.

I'm very satisfied with how smooth and fast the process was, from the shipping notification to the pickup notification and payment after pickup.
Several years ago, when I consulted with them about modifying the specifications of a crusher so that people with disabilities could also work on it, they responded very quickly.
At that time, a belt conveyor was installed at the crusher's input port as a safety measure for the workers, but in the future, it would be great if metal removal devices and color identification devices could be added to further improve the accuracy of sorting.

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I understand you're satisfied with Pantech 's market reports. Could you tell me why?

Mr. Hashimoto

That's right. The monthly Asia market report you send us provides us with information on the situation of our overseas suppliers and market prices, which makes it much easier to explain things to our business partners, and it's been a great help.
When we receive recycling proposals, we are given explanations about which countries our products will be used in and how, which makes us feel that we are conducting highly transparent transactions. Because we understand the recycling flow, we can understand and respond to changes in market conditions and fluctuations in resin prices.

Recently, we've expanded our product lineup beyond the PCs and GPPS we traditionally ship, allowing us to confidently ship any product. While other companies are losing sales channels and facing the threat of losing their business due to China's "national sword" environmental regulations, Pantech 's presence in third-country markets outside of China is a significant strength.
With the loss of China, Japan's largest market, plastic recycling in Japan is bound to face a major turning point. Post-consumer materials that have already entered the market will have nowhere to go. Furthermore, with the inability to handle mixed resin products, I feel that our efforts to ship high-quality products over the years are finally paying off.

Register after the market report here.

If you check the "Market Report" box and fill out the form, we will send you a monthly market report.

https://www.pantechco.jp/contact/material/

Our future relationship with Pantech and business development

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What are your expectations for Pantech in the future?

Mr. Hashimoto

I've had a long-standing relationship with Pantech 's sales representatives, and they treat me not just as a salesperson, but as a fellow professional, with a close relationship and on the same level. I believe that it's because of the relationship we've built up over the years that business matching like this is possible.
For example, we already know several of each other's business partners, but I feel there are many possibilities, such as introducing each other to companies and working together to find solutions if any problems arise.
While there may be some challenges, we can leverage our open and frank relationship to further develop our business.

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Please tell me about your future business plans.

Mr. Hashimoto

As a company that practices "normalization," we want to contribute to society.

We started doing business with Pantech in 2011, and our business relationship has continued smoothly ever since. Our main business is outsourced work from our parent company, Hashimoto Co., Ltd. We would like to expand our independent business as Himawari Clean Center. To reiterate, we have created an environment where everyone works equally, without discrimination based on whether or not they have a disability, and without special treatment or pampering. I think we can be called a company that not only holds the concept of "normalization" but also puts it into practice.

By fostering a sense of responsibility towards their work, individuals with disabilities can grow through their jobs. Those entrusted with leadership roles on-site have shown significant growth, developing a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to handle situations responsibly. While supervisors must be mindful of the inherent risks involved in having individuals with disabilities perform tasks, otherwise, they live together without creating barriers. Through this case study, I sincerely hope that it will serve as a catalyst for gradual changes in how society treats people with disabilities, regardless of industry or business type.