Momentum for business transformation is growing against a backdrop of geopolitical risks and soaring resource prices, but fewer than 10% of companies are actively advancing such efforts. AI-using companies have implementation rates for PaaS transitions and cross-industry collaboration approximately twice those of companies not using AI.
According to the 2026 Survey of the State of the Circular Economy in Japanese Companies, growing geopolitical risks and soaring resource prices are creating momentum for business transformation. However, fewer than 10% of companies are seriously advancing such efforts, indicating that progress remains sluggish. This highlights the difficulty of advancing the long-term reconfiguration of supply chains and introducing resource reuse models. Companies using AI, meanwhile, show higher rates of implementation of PaaS transitions and cross-industry collaboration than companies not using AI.
Companies using AI are reportedly implementing moves toward PaaS and cross-industry collaboration at levels approximately twice those of companies not using AI, suggesting that differences in technology adoption may be translating into differences in execution. External factors such as geopolitical risks and soaring resource prices are helping drive the use of digital platforms and the advancement of collaboration.
At the same time, the low overall level of progress is seen as an obstacle to the full-scale adoption of the circular economy. Future efforts may require the demonstration of new business models based on resource circularity, as well as appropriate investment decisions. The potential for wider AI adoption to accelerate cross-industry collaboration and the creation of new services is attracting attention.