Bookoff expands CD and DVD recycling program into eco-friendly consumer goods

JAPAN – Bookoff Group Holdings, a leading secondhand goods retailer, is intensifying its commitment to plastic recycling by repurposing unsold CDs and DVDs into daily-use products.

The company, which operates around 800 outlets across Japan, currently disposes of approximately 1,700 tonnes of discs and cases annually.

In a strategic shift, Bookoff aims to recycle all this waste material into useful consumer items, reducing environmental impact and expanding its eco-conscious product line.

Since January 2025, Bookoff has been producing and selling items such as storage baskets, smartphone stands, and business card holders made from recycled plastic sourced from discarded CDs and DVDs.

These products are available in select Bookoff outlets and in stores that specialize in goods addressing social and environmental issues.

Headquartered in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, the company outsources the recycling process, crushing, washing, and processing, to specialized contractors.

Additionally, Bookoff sells recycled polypropylene resins to manufacturers, contributing further to the circular economy.

In a move to deepen its sustainability initiatives, Bookoff also plans to start buying back used plastic items from customers at its stores, extending the life cycle of its materials.

This initiative aims to foster a two-way circular supply chain that includes both product creation and consumer engagement.

“We hope our efforts to recycle plastic, rather than trying to get rid of it, will provide consumers an opportunity to think about the environment,” a company official stated.

Bookoff’s program reflects a broader trend in Japan and globally to reduce single-use plastics and embrace upcycling.

Other Japanese retailers, such as Muji and Aeon, have launched similar efforts, offering items made from recycled materials and setting up in-store collection points for unwanted goods.

Internationally, entertainment giants like Disney have also moved toward eliminating plastic disc packaging for physical media, further reducing plastic waste at the source.

Bookoff’s initiative also aligns with Japan’s national policy goals. The country’s Plastic Resource Circulation Act, enacted in 2022, encourages businesses to reduce plastic use and improve recycling.

As the global market for recycled plastic continues to grow, estimated to exceed US$77 billion by 2030, Bookoff’s early investment positions it as a leader in sustainable retail practices.

By turning waste into opportunity, Bookoff is not only reducing landfill burden but also redefining value in the secondhand market, helping Japan take another step toward a more circular and responsible consumption model.

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