Following the 2019 G20 "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" declaration, ZERI JAPAN decided to participate in the Osaka-Kansai Expo. "BLUE OCEAN DOME," which is exhibiting at the Expo, is the only private pavilion with an ocean theme. Under the banner of "Resuscitating the Ocean," it is aiming through a variety of exhibits to prevent plastic marine pollution, utilize the ocean sustainably, and promote understanding of ocean climate change.

ZERI JAPAN is the only private organization exhibiting at the “Japan International Exposition 2025 (hereinafter, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan)” with an ocean theme.
There is no waste in the natural world. ZERI JAPAN was established in 2001 with the aim to create a zero-waste society by following nature's example. ZERI is an abbreviation for Zero Emissions Research and Initiative*¹, where “Emissions” refer to waste generated through production and consumption. The concept involves researching and taking action to realize a circular society that approaches zero waste by reusing this waste as resources. ZERI JAPAN is actively working through various awareness-raising activities to establish this concept in Japanese society.
As an example, we implemented technology in Japan that had been successfully tested in Swedish cities. We provided consulting for a scheme in which food waste is collected, dried using a cement drying line, then mixed with the raw materials for concrete, and sold as eco-cement. Additionally, as global warming-induced climate change continues unabated, we established the “Climate Emergency Declaration and Carbon Neutral Society Support Network”*² in 2020, centered around Professor Emeritus Ryoichi Yamamoto of the University of Tokyo, an authority on global warming research. ZERI JAPAN serves as the secretariat and works toward realizing a decarbonized society. In recognition of this activity, the company received the Minister of the Environment Awards for Climate Action in 2021. Since 2023, we have been working with local governments and fisheries cooperatives in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, to restore seaweed beds with the aim of solving regional issues, preserving biodiversity, and creating blue carbon.

While continuing these activities, ZERI JAPAN, in response to the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" declared at the G20 held in Osaka in 2019, aims to provide a platform for activities towards achieving ocean sustainability, including, (1) prevention of marine plastic pollution, (2) sustainable use of the oceans, etc. We aim to create and spread “Blue Innovation” as a business model that realizes the sustainable economic model “Blue Economy,” which is a deepened version of ZERI. To powerfully realize this movement, we receive cooperation and support from many companies and organizations. To protect our earth by reviewing our current lifestyles and mode of activities, leading to behavioral changes that would restore a healthy global environment, we applied to the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Upon understanding of our organization's activities, we were selected to participate in the exhibition.
The pavilion "BLUE OCEAN DOME" (Figure 1) currently being exhibited at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan aims to become the hub of a network for resuscitating the ocean by promoting worldwide the understanding of the need for plastic marine pollution prevention, the sustainable use of the ocean, and ocean climate change.

Located on the left side of the "Nishi-dori" (West Street) continuing from the West Gate where it meets the Grand Ring.

Visitors to the pavilion are greeted by a large, intricate, and clear “water” spectacle. It circulates over a pure white surface, which is coated with superhydrophobic paint, where water changes shape, rolling, sloshing, glissading. This represents the water cycle that drives the movement of the Earth. Water evaporates from the oceans, falls as rain on the mountains, flows through rivers, forms lakes and ponds, and eventually returns to the sea. Observing the entire life process of water, visitors can experience something akin to the ritual spiritual ablutions known as ‘misogi.’ Next, visitors enter a cosmic-black theater resembling outer space. Projected on a 10-meter diameter high-definition LED screen is Earth, our shining blue water planet. From the birth of life to dynamic schools of fish, rich ecosystems of coral reefs, little-known deep-sea creatures, and even the plastic waste that invades the oceans. Visitors will have their first visual experience of immersing themselves in the sea with its countless pulsating lives, and also trembling at the pollution of the environment..
At the exit, an automatic hand sanitizer dispenser "PROTEGATE EXPO2025" (Figure 2) has been installed, developed by Saraya Co., Ltd., which is cooperating in business operations as part of “TEAM EXPO 2025”*³. Today, environmental issues facing our oceans are becoming increasingly serious, and the impact of marine plastic waste on marine life and ecosystems is one of the most pressing concerns. It is said that there are already 150 million tons of marine plastic waste, with an additional 12 million tons of new plastic waste flowing into the ocean each year. Saraya Co., Ltd. believes that as a company responsible for manufacturing products, PROTEGATE EXPO2025 should use marine plastic waste in addition to recycled plastic. However, marine plastic often contains impurities like salt and sand or risks degradation of the plastic itself, presenting many challenges when reused, such as difficulty in forming shapes properly or having effects on appearance, like color. Therefore, they commissioned TerraCycle Japan LLC, which has experience in the handling of marine plastics. The gray body portion is extruded using raw materials mixed with marine plastic provided by the company. This marine plastic was processed into pellets by collecting, sorting, washing, drying, and crushing waste that had washed up on the shores of Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture. The blue nozzle part was produced using a 3D printer from 3D Printing Corporation, which has the technology for manufacturing products using marine plastic as raw material. Raw materials combining recycled polypropylene with marine plastic were used.
ZERI JAPAN is planning and implementing various Blue Ocean projects in parallel with these exhibitions. We will strive to expand our activities into a movement to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

*1 In 1994, Gunter Pauli proposed the “Zero Emission Research and Initiative” at the United Nations University (Tokyo, Aoyama), and in 1996, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss government established the ZERI Foundation. ZERI JAPAN shares the same philosophy as this foundation. Gunter Pauli is also the proponent of “Blue Economy.”
*2 Climate Emergency Declaration and Carbon Neutral Society Support Network (Climate Emergency Network: CEN)  https://www.zeri.jp/cen/
*3 Participatory program "TEAM EXPO 2025" promoted by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition  https://team.expo2025.or.jp/en/index