Registration open now: DWIH Tokyo Symposium

Sustainable Consumption and Production

© DWIH Tokyo

The DWIH Tokyo Symposium convenes leading experts, business innovators, and policymakers to examine forward-thinking approaches to sustainable consumption. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and evidence-based debate, the event seeks to identify actionable strategies that promote responsible resource use, reduce environmental impact, and drive long-term behavioral as well as policy transformation. In line with its objective to explore innovative approaches to sustainable consumption, engage diverse stakeholders, and assess policy implications for a more resource-efficient future, the symposium brings together insights from both research and practice to address pressing global challenges.

Participants will explore emerging trends and exchange best practices related to sustainable food systems and packaging, regulatory frameworks, sustainable agriculture, circular-economy solutions and food-waste reduction. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and showcasing innovative pathways toward sustainability, the symposium provides a unique platform for generating new ideas, building partnerships, and shaping effective policy and practice.

The symposium is part of Sustainability Week, a broader initiative dedicated to advancing solutions for a greener economy. Among its highlights is TechBIZKON, a dynamic pitch event where startups present cutting-edge innovations for sustainable manufacturing and resource efficiency.

Event Information

December 1 to 2, 2025

Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba, Port Studio (8F)
Organizer(s): DWIH Tokyo (German Centre for Research and Innovation Tokyo)

Dates & Times: Day 1: Monday, December 1, 2025, 10:00–17:45 / Day 2: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 09:30–12:45
Venue: Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba, Port Studio (8F) Access
Language: English
Participation Fee: Free
Registration: Required
Program: here
Event Report: here

Program Schedule (More Information)

Day 1: December 1

9:30

Registration and Welcome Coffee

10:00 – 10:30

Welcome Words

  • Mr. Yoshihide Hirao (Ministry of the Environment, Director, Environment and Economy Division)
  • Mr. Makoto Sakashita (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Director of the Global Environmental Affairs Office)
  • Mr. Bastian Semmel (Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan)
  • Mr. Axel Karpenstein (Director of the DWIH Tokyo / DAAD Tokyo)

10:30 – 11:45

Thematic Panel I: Consumer Behavior and the Transition to Circular Consumption: Sustainable Consumption / Consumer Decision-Making / Circular Economy / Climate Chage Awareness

Moderator: Dr. Alexandra Pehlken (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, DFKI)

  1. Prof. Hoe Chin Goi (NUCB Business School – Nagoya University of Commerce and Business)
  2. Prof. Carsten Herbes (Nürtingen-Geislingen University)
  3. Prof. Carola Hommerich (Sophia University)
  4. Mr. Bastian Semmel (Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan)

11:45 – 13:00

Lunch Buffet

Thematic Panel II: Sustainable and Responsible Food Systems:
Sustainable Food (Production) / Business & Consumer Responsibility / Consumer Awareness / Citizen Engagement / Food Labeling and Certification / Food Authentication / Reducing Food Loss

13:00 – 13:30

Impact Statement (Moderator: Mr. Ugo Bataillard, GourmetPro)

Mr. Hirotaka Tanaka (UnlocX & Co.)

13:30 – 14:45

Thematic Panel Discussion

Moderator: Mr. Axel Karpenstein (Director of the DWIH Tokyo / DAAD Tokyo)

  1. Mr. Ugo Bataillard (GourmetPro)
  2. Prof. Markus Fischer (University Hamburg)
  3. Mr. Robin Takashi Lewis (Social Innovation Japan and mymizu)
  4. Prof. Hayato Masuda (Osaka Metropolitan University)
  5. Mr. Hirotaka Tanaka (UnlocX & Co.)

14:45 – 15:45

Coffee & Poster Session

Leading researchers and practitioners will showcase innovative “project pitches” that address a wide spectrum of sustainability challenges, including sustainable and ethical consumption, circular-economy solutions, novel sustainable business models, AI-driven sustainability performance, sustainable energy technologies, sustainable production systems, sustainable packaging, sustainable agriculture, waste prevention, and the development of sustainable materials.

Poster Presenters:

  • Dr. Ekrem Ayna (Epsilon Bioanalytics)
  • Mr. Won Kwon Kim (Epsilon Bioanalytics)
  • Prof. Markus Fischer (University Hamburg)
  • Mr. Koichiro Fukasawa (Camino)
  • Prof. Hoe Chin Goi (NUCB Business School)
  • Prof. Casten Herbes (Nürtingen-Geislingen University)
  • Dr. Azizul Moqsud (Yamaguchi University Japan)
  • Ms. Eri Otsu (O2 Farm, Kumamoto)
  • Dr. Alexandra Pehlken (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, DFKI)
  • Dr. Sebastian Polak-Rottmann (German Institute for Japanese Studies, DIJ)
  • Tamara V. Teschner (Heidelberg University)
  • Dr. Naoki Wada (Keio University)

Thematic Panel III: Sustainable Agriculture: Organic Farming Methods / Regenerative Farming and Soil Health / Agroecology and Biodiversity Conservation

15:45 – 16:30

Impact Statement (Moderator: Dr. Markus Heckel, DWIH Tokyo)

Prof. Shunsuke Managi (Kyushu University)

16:30 – 17:45

Thematic Panel Discussion

Moderator: Prof. Hoe Chin Goi (NUCB Business School)

Speaker:

  1. Ms. Eri Otsu (O2 Farm, Kumamoto)
  2. Mr. Benedikt Reifenrath (Agriclue LLC)
  3. Dr. Denis Pastory Rubanga (KimPax)
  4. Prof. Dieter Trautz (Head of Department at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences)

17:45 – 19:30

Dinner Buffet

Day 2: December 2

09:00 – 09:30

Reception and Welcome Coffee

Thematic Panel IV: Sustainable Production and Consumption: Bioplastic / Sustainable Packaging / Circular Economy / Waste Reduction

09:30 – 10:45

Thematic Panel Discussion

Moderator: Prof. Carsten Herbes (Nürtingen-Geislingen University)

  1. Dr. Ekrem Ayna (Epsilon Bioanalytics)
  2. Mr. Bernd Barkey (Syntegon Technology)
  3. Mr. Koichiro Fukasawa (Camino)
  4. Dr. Alexandra Pehlken (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, DFKI)

10:45 – 11:00

Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00

Future Policy Implications and Action Planning

Moderators: Dr. Markus Heckel (DWIH Tokyo) and Dr. Barbara Holthus (German Institute for Japanese Studies, DIJ)

  1. Mr. Koichiro Fukasawa (Camino)
  2. Prof. Carsten Herbes (Nürtingen-Geislingen University)
  3. Ms. Eri Otsu (O2 Farm, Kumamoto)
  4. Dr. Denis Pastory Rubanga (KimPax)

12:00 – 12:45

Closing Keynote (Moderator: Dr. Markus Heckel, DWIH Tokyo)

Prof. Norichika Kanie (Keio University)

12:45 – 13:45

Lunch Buffet

13:45

End of Event

 

Sustainability Week 2025

November 27 – December 4, Tokyo
This event will be held as part of Sustainability Week 2025.
Join us for a full week dedicated to driving sustainable innovation, connecting industry leaders, startups, researchers, and policy shapers from Japan and Europe. Explore three flagship events, countless networking opportunities, and exclusive sponsorship possibilities.

Read more