By Shingo Sugime

8:00 JST, December 6, 2025

Drawing a massive circle around the central grounds of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the majestic wooden structure called the Grand Ring shaped the memories of millions of people who visited the event this year. Now those visitors have gone home, and another circle is becoming part of the Expo’s legacy — the circular economy.

Much of the modern economy is predicated on “mass production, mass consumption and mass disposal.” But the dismantling and reuse of the venue’s structures and materials will serve as a large-scale experiment symbolizing the shift away from this wasteful model. The aim is to help realize a society that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition aims to reuse over 20% of the total materials in the pavilion structures. While nonreusable items, including exhibits, will become waste, the association also aims to recycle 98% of this waste. An association official stated, “Achieving the [recycling] targets is important, but reducing waste in the first place........

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