Rinet Japan and LINEヤフー have jointly launched a proof-of-concept for collecting used small appliances through Yahoo! Shopping as an e-commerce initiative. Customers request collection and enter a serial number when making a purchase, after which Sagawa Express visits to collect the item on the scheduled date.
Rinet Japan and LINEヤフー have jointly launched a proof-of-concept for collecting used small appliances through Yahoo! Shopping. The proof-of-concept began on 19 October 2026, with 7 stores participating in the collection service.
The proof-of-concept was selected for the Ministry of the Environment's subsidy program, the "Collection Demonstration Model Project to Increase Urban Mining Recovery Volumes," and is intended to verify a model for integrated management of collection and recycling. The initiative aims to expand collaboration across e-commerce marketplaces, with a view to promoting the circular economy and standardizing the use of urban mines.
Under this approach, e-commerce purchases are linked to collection. When customers request collection at the time of purchase, they can register the serial number on a dedicated website, and Sagawa Express visits their home at the specified date and time to collect the item. The initiative seeks to maximize the number and weight of collected items by compiling data on collection request and completion rates.
In addition to collaborating with local governments and manufacturers and distributors, Rinet Japan aims to expand the scale of resource circulation by establishing a system that makes it easier for consumers to use collection services when replacing appliances, through joint proof-of-concepts with e-commerce platform operators.