Material Cycles Division

Material Cycles Division HP

Director

Director of Material Cycles Division
NANSAI Keisuke

Greetings

The Material Cycles Division is dedicated to advancing a society that makes effective use of finite resources while achieving both the creation of diverse forms of value and the reduction of environmental burdens, by taking a comprehensive view of the entire life cycle of resources—from extraction and use to reuse and final disposal. In modern society, vast amounts of energy and materials are introduced to support society in the form of products, services, and infrastructure. While some of these materials are circulated and reused through recycling and other forms of resource recovery, many ultimately become waste. This social metabolism of materials is accompanied by a wide range of environmental impacts, in addition to resource consumption.

In this division, we promote research and development that contributes to addressing these challenges from both institutional and technological perspectives by comprehensively identifying the environmental impacts that arise throughout the resource life cycle and systematically clarifying the structure of the underlying issues. In particular, we seek to make the most of the distinctive strengths of our researchers: the capacity to understand society as an integrated system, the ability to develop foundational technologies for recycling and waste treatment, and the expertise to accurately monitor and measure chemicals in the environment. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the realization of a sound material-cycle society. In addition to a macro perspective that takes an overarching view of society as a whole, we also value a micro perspective rooted in local communities and in the on-the-ground realities of diverse stakeholders. By accumulating knowledge through dialogue and collaboration in the field in response to specific issues arising under different constraints and value systems, we seek to generalize these insights and connect them to practical social implementation.

Outline of Research

The Material Cycle Research Domain advances an integrated program of research from three perspectives: systems research, risk assessment, and technology development. Its work includes the analysis of material cycle systems, the evaluation of the resource value and hazardous properties of materials, and the planning and development of waste treatment and disposal technologies. Through these efforts, the Domain supports the formulation and implementation of material cycle and waste management policies.

As a project-based research program, the Domain conducts “Overcoming Barriers to Enhancing Material Cycles for Decarbonization” This project addresses institutional design for material circulation, the development of innovative technologies, and the optimization of technological systems. Policy-oriented research focuses on the mechanisms of material circulation and waste management, the resource value and hazardousness of materials in circulation, and policy issues related to waste treatment and disposal technologies.

Through these activities, the Domain generates scientific knowledge that helps solve urgent challenges already evident in waste management and material circulation policy, while also preventing future problems before they emerge. In doing so, it contributes to the maintenance and transformation of sustainable systems and returns research outcomes to society. In addition, as part of its intellectual infrastructure development, the Domain promotes the development of a circular economy platform aimed at dramatically improving material efficiency and supporting sound societal transformation.

Organization

Material Cycles and Social Systems Research Section
We conduct social systems research on resource circularity and waste management, using systems analysis, surveys, institutional design and policy evaluation, indicator development, and stakeholder behavioral analysis, in order to promote circular economy policies and to respond to social changes such as population decrease in Japan.
Global Resource Sustainability Research Section
Sustainability Assessment and Future Vision Design for Material Use Our laboratory works to advance the sustainable use of resources by analyzing resource flows, structural characteristics, and related risks. Furthermore, focusing on resource‑intensive and environmentally harmful consumer behavior, we analyze behavioral and psychological data and develop simulation models grounded in life‑cycle thinking. Through these efforts, we help promote more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
Sustainable Circular Science and Engineering Research Section
We conduct research based on fundamental measurement, assessment, and modeling techniques to elucidate the environmental behavior and impacts of persistent substances such as micro- and nanoplastics and PFAS, while developing advanced technologies that promote decarbonization in the field of resource circulation. Through these efforts, we contribute to advancing the scientific understanding of sustainable resource circulation and enhancing environmental management.
Testing and Assessment Research Section
Our laboratory is engaged in activities for developing measurement methods to grasp the content of POPs and valuable/hazardous metals in recyclable resources and waste. We will also develop leaching tests for recyclable resources and contaminated soil and evaluate natural purification methods using recyclable resources.
Waste Management Design and Engineering Research Section
We focus on the design, development, and evaluation of social/technological systems for waste management and resource circulation. Our work addresses local challenges such as living environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and disaster preparedness and response, while also contributing to global solutions, including carbon neutrality and the prevention of marine plastic pollution. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we pursue practice-oriented research with a systems design perspective.
International Research Facilitation Unit for Material Cycles
An agile hub that advances international research in the field of material cycles and waste management. We catalyze cross‑border collaborations and provide seamless support throughout the research lifecycle—from shaping ideas and navigating funding pathways to agreements, compliance, delivery, and outcomes. By building partnerships with overseas universities, research institutions, government bodies, and industry—and by amplifying visibility through strategic communications and curated events—we enable researchers to tackle global challenges with confidence and accelerate the division’s international research agenda.

Our Researchers

Research Staff - Material Cycles Division

Database / Tool

Database on municipal solid waste management in the Asia-Pacific Region (DaMSAR)
Database related to the SDG Indicator 11.6.1 on municipal solid waste management in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
Database on Sustainabiligy Indicators (SDI) adopted by national governments, etc.
Scope of the database covers 28 countries, regions, and international organizations listed and 1,848 types of indicators.
Embodied Energy and Emission Intensity Data for Japan Using Input-Output Tables (3EID)
Database compiling embodied environmental burden intensities for approximately 400 sectors of economic activity in 1990 and 1995.
Lifespan database for Vehicles, Equipment, and Structures: LiVES
The Lifespan database for Vehicles, Equipment and Structures (LiVES) is a database based on lifespan and usage data for commodities, containing information collated from a variety of sources, such as national statistical surveys; research papers; and reports by industrial bodies.
Decarbonized Lifestyle Options for 52 Japanese cities
This database provides the carbon footprints by the average citizen of 52 major Japanese cities; 65 decarbonized lifestyle options related to mobility, housing, food, leisure, and consumer goods; and city-wise greenhouse gas reduction potentials.