Workshops Conducted to Promote the Transition to a Circular Economy
The IHI Group recognizes the realization of a circular economy as a critical issue in the environmental field. In fiscal year 2024, a “Circular Economy*1 Subcommittee” was established under the Group-wide Environmental Committee to promote internal awareness and understanding of circular economy concepts.
In fiscal year 2025, the subcommittee produced educational videos linking circular economy concepts with the IHI Group’s Life Cycle Business (LCB)*2, which provides long-term services such as maintenance, refurbishment, regeneration, and upgrades after product delivery. In addition to sharing these materials with employees who play central roles in this initiative, a series of workshops was held to discuss the transition toward a circular economy.
The workshops were conducted between November and December 2025 with the participation of external experts, as outlined below. For each theme, participants first assessed the current situation from a circular economy perspective and identified key issues. Based on these findings, they discussed how resource circulation processes could be restructured and explored potential opportunities for new business models. As a result, participants reaffirmed that certain manufacturing processes already align with circular economy principles and recognized that LCB contributes to advancing circular economy practices. At the same time, challenges within the value chain related to promoting a circular economy were also identified.
The workshops covered a range of topics, including:
・Remanufacturing*3 of vehicular turbochargers
・MRO*4 business for aero engines for civil aircraft
・Bridge and water gate businesses in the Social Infrastructure
・Advanced waste management initiatives
Going forward, the IHI Group will continue to incorporate circular economy concepts into its products and services, expand its Life Cycle Business, and accelerate the transition toward a circular economy.
- *1 A circular economy is a sustainable economic model that aims to maximize the use of resources by shifting away from the conventional model of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal, and toward a system in which resources are continuously circulated.
- *2 The IHI Group’s Life Cycle Business (LCB) refers to a business model that provides long-term services such as maintenance, refurbishment, regeneration, and upgrades after the sale of products and equipment.
- *3 Remanufacturing refers to the process of collecting used products or components and restoring them for reuse as parts or products in order to promote a circular economy.
- *4 MRO refers to Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul.