2024 Impact Highlights 💪

Message from our Co-founders

Celebrating five years since our launch, 2024 has been a landmark year in our journey towards a more sustainable society, thanks to your invaluable support!

This year, the mymizu app surpassed 400,000 downloads, driven by growing interest from tourists embracing sustainable travel and domestic users trying to avoid heatstroke in the summer heat.

In Spring, we launched the mymizu ‘Local Government Alliance’, and are now partnering with many cities, towns and Prefectures across Japan to expand refill spots and engage citizens in creative ways.

We've enjoyed taking part in events from Kamakura to Osaka, and hosted over 35 lectures and workshops, including co-organising the second ‘Campus Changemakers Summit’ at the University of Tokyo, which continues to empower young leaders.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support and look forward to driving even greater positive change in 2025!

Mariko & Robin

Impact Stories

400,000 Downloads!

〜Milestone for Downloads & Doubling Monthly Active Users〜

We surpassed 400,000 downloads of the mymizu app, and our Monthly Active Users has doubled compared to last year. Each new member of the mymizu community is helping to reduce plastic waste and co-create the future!

 

Deepening Collaborations with City and Prefectural Governments

〜Launching the mymizu Local Government Alliance〜

In April, we launched the "mymizu Local Government Alliance" to accelerate urban sustainability and reduce reliance on single-use plastics nationwide. Cities such as Chiba, Kameoka, and Hakuba Village have joined our alliance and are leading the way in becoming more reusable-friendly. The efforts of our alliance members already benefit over 5 million residents across 8 municipalities, paving the path for a more sustainable future.

 

Nagoya & Okhotsk Campaigns

〜Engaging Citizens Through Fun & Creative Challenges〜

As part of the mymizu Local Governmet Alliance, we teamed up with Nagoya City and the Okhotsk General Promotion Bureau to engage their residents in fun ways through gamified campaigns. In Nagoya, some 400 participants saved 6,300 plastic bottles from going to waste in October—a remarkable team effort!

We’re also conducting a six-month joint campaign in Hokkaido's Okhotsk region that is already building community engagement and driving regional revitalization. We look forward to the final results, which will be unveiled in February!

 

Empowering Students For Climate Solutions

〜 Campus Changemakers Summit, Volume 2 ~

Building on last year’s success, we partnered with the Tokyo University GX Student Network to co-host the ‘Campus Changemakers Summit 2024’ at the University of Tokyo. The event brought together students from across the Kanto region for an inspiring day of learning and collaboration. The morning featured insightful lectures on plastic waste, while the afternoon was dedicated to the interactive "Climate Fresk" workshop, where participants explored the root causes of climate change.

 

LUSH Charity Pot Event

〜Three Years Running Collaborating with LUSH Japan! 〜

This summer, mymizu was once again fortunate to be a beneficiary of LUSH’s ‘Charity Pot’ initiative. For the first time, we hosted event booths simultaneously at four major Tokyo locations, including Shinjuku and Shibuya, where we had the privilege of connecting with LUSH’s passionate staff and customers. 

 

Going Beyond Water: Experimenting with Juice & Tea

We partnered with Sumitomo Corporation on a groundbreaking pilot project to broaden refill options to include tea, juice, and other beverages in reusable bottles. This initiative was met with enthusiasm and marks a major advance in fostering a hydration culture and promoting the widespread adoption of refilling practices.

 

Sutehaji EXPO

Our strategic partner, OSG Corporation, recently launched the "Sutehaji" project—a collaborative initiative uniting businesses and municipalities across Osaka to promote innovative solutions for waste reduction. We were lucky to participate in this event, setting up a booth and meeting many like-minded allies.

 

Yoshimoto Comedians x mymizu?!

mymizu was featured on a TV comedy show! Comedians from the famous "Yoshimoto" agency explored the SDGs in Suita City, Osaka, including visiting a mymizu Refill Partner. We loved watching them refill at one of our partners, Alle Plant-based Cafe, in hilarious ways—without creating plastic waste!

 
 

Talks & Workshops

〜Sharing Knowledge, Facilitating Discussions & Promoting Co-Creation~

This year, we held 36 lectures and workshops for over 1,720 participants at universities, high schools, and companies. These included:

  • Events: Nikkei SDGs Festival, a webinar hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nagasaki Peace-preneur Forum, and Hack Osaka (International Innovation Conference) among others

  • Universities: The University of Tokyo, Rikkyo University, Sophia University, Tohoku University, Okayama University, Niigata University of International and Information Studies, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University

  • Companies: Adobe Inc., PADI Asia Pacific Japan, Visa Worldwide Japan & Richemont Japan, as well as the Sustainable Business School (Alterna)

 

Impact in Numbers

Since launching in 2019, we’ve hit the following milestones:

  • 400,000+ Downloads: As a free hydration app used in over 50 countries, we have helped reduce millions of plastic bottles!

  • mymizu Refill Partners: Expanded to 2,500+ partner stores across all 47 prefectures of Japan and worldwide

  • Refill Spots across Japan: 13,000+ locations

  • Refill Spots across the World: 205,000+ locations

  • Government Partners: 8 towns, cities and prefectures joined the mymizu Local Government Alliance

  • Refill Spot Contributions: 4,500+ people have posted water spot information on the app

  • Event, Talk & Workshop Participants: 50,000+ participants to date!

 

Media Highlights

mymizu has been featured in over 70 media outlets, including Nikkei and Condé Nast Traveler’s "Bright Ideas in Travel 2024".

Supporters, Donors & Partners

Below are some of the amazing people and organisations who have supported our work in 2024 (listed in alphabetical order). Our huge gratitude and thanks to all those (including those not named below) who have supported our activities this year.

Strategic Partners

Grant Givers & Organisational Donors

mymizu Monthly Supporters

Many of our activities, including the Campus Changemakers Summit and initiatives supporting students and children in Miyakojima, have been made possible through donations from our monthly supporters. We express our heartfelt thanks to the over 90 monthly supporters who are helping us to do the work that we do.

Want to help us grow our impact?

Actions You Can Take Today:

  • Donate: Contribute to our cause by becoming a monthly supporter or making a one-time donation.

  • Follow and Share on Social Media: Boost our presence by engaging with us on social media and sharing our mission.

  • Add Refill Spots: Use our app to find and register new water refill locations.

  • Register a Refill Partner Store: Encourage your favorite store to join us as a water refill partner.

  • Organise a Lecture or Workshop: Ask us to conduct an educational session for your company, school, or university.

  • Get your own mymizu Bottle: Show your support by buying and using a mymizu bottle

    👉For more, visit here the TAKE ACTION page

THANK YOU!

my mizu