Everything is a resource that connects to the future: ZERO activities in the Hoshino area

As the Obon festival passes and the evening breeze begins to carry a hint of autumn, the Karuizawa Hoshino area transitions from the bustling peak of summer to a more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.
With September (SDGs Month), a time when the world focuses on sustainability, just around the corner, we'd like to highlight our important commitment to "protecting and circulating the natural environment."

The environmental activities at Hoshino Area are based on three pillars: "EIMY," which promotes energy self-sufficiency; "Picchio," which conducts research and conservation activities on wild animals and plants and organizes eco-tours; and "ZERO Activities," which aim to reduce waste to near zero. This time, we will introduce the current state of "ZERO Activities," which Hoshino Area has been working on for many years, and the story of the cycle that we are cultivating together with you.

The ZERO initiative began in 1999 with the goal of achieving zero emissions (a state where no waste is simply incinerated or landfilled). In 2011, we achieved zero emissions and have maintained this level ever since. We do not call the items that have served their purpose "garbage," but rather "resources" that will connect to the future. We are working to minimize the environmental impact on the local community while returning the recycling process itself as "value" to our customers and the local community.

A pleasant cycle of food and nature

One easily understandable initiative is "composting food resources."

Food resources from each facility within the area operated by Hoshino Resorts (*) are not discarded but taken to nearby farms. There, over time, they are transformed into nutrient-rich "compost." Staff in the kitchens keep a close eye on things to ensure that operational precautions, such as draining moisture thoroughly and preventing the inclusion of foreign objects that will not compost, are strictly followed.

The resulting compost is used in farmers' fields, creating soil that nourishes abundant crops. At facilities in the Hoshino area, we sometimes serve sake made from rice grown with this compost. We are taking small steps, starting wherever we can, to cultivate a pleasant loop of "delicious recycling" within the community.
(※This applies to facilities operated by Hoshino Resorts, excluding tenant stores within Harunire Terrace.)

An attempt at Hoshino Onsen Tonbo-no-Yu to avoid disuse

We believe that this initiative is sustainable not only because it reduces resource emissions, but also because it enhances the customer experience. At Hoshino Onsen Tonbo no Yu, a day-trip hot spring facility, we are regenerating resources through ideas and design.

The "apple bath" is a quintessential autumn tradition. After serving its purpose, the many apples are transformed by staff into "apple soil (compost)." The finished soil is distributed to local residents and used in planting workshops, offering new experiences. By taking some home, the cycle continues in home gardening.

Furthermore, the bathtubs, which have acquired a rich patina from years of use, and the entrance curtain, which has served its purpose, have been carefully remade and repurposed as "post-bath chairs" where guests can relax after their bath. We received cooperation from a local woodworking shop.

For all who visit, and to connect with the future.

We will continue our efforts not only to maintain a 100% recycling rate, but also to minimize the resources we generate. Furthermore, we aim to create and give back "new experiences and value" that will bring joy to our customers and local communities, not just reduce and recycle.

Relax in the hot springs, enjoy a stroll, and take home some "apple soil." These individual moments of enjoyment contribute to a cycle that protects the local natural environment. Please sit on a chair after your bath and feel the story of this small cycle. We look forward to continuing to cultivate this pleasant cycle with all of you.