Osaka Expo 2025: A Glimpse into the future of sustainable innovation

Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” is offering visitors a chance to experience cutting-edge sustainable technologies.

In this article, we look at how Asahi Group is introducing our research and technology to create both environmental and business value on this global stage where knowledge intersects.

Approximately 50 units of the CO₂ absorbing, or “eating,” vending machines are installed at the Expo. These machines not only sell beverages but also absorb CO₂ in the air using special internal materials.

Vending machines, one of the key channels for soft drink sales, number about 10 million units worldwide, with Japan accounting for roughly one quarter of them. In Japan, Asahi Group owns around 250,000 vending machines nationwide and has been working to create new value through this channel.

The collected CO₂ is reused in collaboration with municipalities and companies—for example, as raw materials for concrete, asphalt, and tiles, or for coral reef conservation and seaweed bed creation (blue carbon).

Each unit can absorb up to 60 kg of CO₂ annually*——equivalent to the absorption of about 20 Japanese cedar trees aged 56–60 years. If just 0.1% of the concrete shipped annually in Japan were replaced with concrete using the CO₂ as raw materials, the resulting reduction in carbon emissions would be comparable to the forest area of about 3,600 square km. This initiative is a powerful step toward realizing the concept of “CO₂ as a resource. ”

We are also piloting the world's first vending machine equipped with a sodium-ion battery, called the 'Vending Machine for the Future.' It generates electricity through solar power and stores it in the battery, enabling an 'off-grid' system** that runs solely on natural energy.
Unlike conventional batteries, this technology does not rely on rare metals that could consume vast amounts of energy while mining and is designed to significantly reduce environmental impact.

*CO₂ absorption figure is calculated from material capability.
**Since it operates without using any power source, it may not function during inclement weather or other conditions.

“EXTRA BURST” is our breakthrough carbonation server that delivers an intense fizz and refreshing chill—something that is hard to achieve with PET bottles, cans, and glass containers. Powered by our proprietary technology, it unlocks a whole new way to enjoy sparkling drinks.

It is currently available for trial at the Food Court of the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion and the Digital Wallet Park at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

More than to replace the use of existing PET bottles and other containers, this initiative targets new market for those who want to enjoy higher carbonation levels. However, by using a reusable tumbler, the use of the server can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 56% per month and 96% per year (compared to using one 500ml PET bottle per day).
When we account for container recycling and transportation, it has been shown to reduce environmental impact by about 90% compared to using PET bottles***, making it a positive option for sustainability.

Looking ahead, the server will be introduced in various locations to promote new drinking experiences and environmental impact reduction, contributing to the creation of a sustainable society.


***Asahi Group study

Our technology is also quietly at work in the Grand Roof Ring plantings at the Expo. Our agricultural materials derived from beer yeast cell wall supports natural landscape on top of the roof.

Developed from years of Asahi group's research, the material is rich in β glucans—dietary fibers that deliver a gentle, positive stress to plants, activating natural immune responses.
As a result, the plants fortify their own defenses, weave finer root networks, and absorb nutrients and water more efficiently.

Trials show the potential of the material to reduce pesticides and chemical fertilizers, improve water management and soil conditions, boost yields, and strengthen disease resistance—all while contributing to GHG emission reductions. For these reasons, this agricultural material is gaining greater attention for its innovative contribution to landscape and crop health.

The wide variety of food available at the Expo is one of the highlights that visitors come to enjoy. The Expo marked about 180 thousand visitors at the end of August. Big crowds, however, mean a lot of food waste—and that’s where Asahi’s microbiology shines.

Leveraging the Bacillus subtilis C 3102 strain, we created THERVELICS ® , a compost accelerator that supercharges breakdown and drives off excess moisture through heat, making composting faster and more efficient—and supporting vegetable growing without chemical fertilizers.

When THERVELICS ® is paired with a special food residue fermentation unit, food waste can be reduced by about 90% in 24 hours, and reused as compost in around two months.

From markets and schools to food factories and hospitals, adoption is growing—and at the Expo, this process helps return leftovers to the soil, closing the loop and cutting waste.

Asahi Group’s initiatives—transforming CO₂ into a resource, reducing environmental impact in providing carbonated water, and promoting agriculture in harmony with nature—are powerful steps toward realizing a vibrant future society.

In addition, Asahi Group is actively involved in initiatives such as supporting and participating in the “Forest of Tranquility” Installation, which resonates with our conservation efforts of “Asahi Forest ,” and offering craft beers “SMILE ALE,” created by upcycling non-standard agricultural produce.

Through this Expo, we hope to inspire more people to engage with its vision for a sustainable future—and spark small realizations and big possibilities in their own choices.