Plastic straw alternatives go tropical with Okinawa’s pineapple leaf straws
The effort to reduce plastic waste around the globe is grand in scale, but small steps in everyday life such as using non-plastic and reusable…
Environment
Japanese maker releases bamboo toothbrushes in campaign against plastic waste
As part of what appears to be a growing trend to embrace Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, last month Japan saw the release…
Japanese store Muji announces switch from PET bottles to aluminum cans
Japanese retailer Mujirushi Ryouhin, often shortened to Muji, sells a wide range of items that include stationery, furniture, and even food, with a theme of…
Japanese maple Kit Kats fight plastic waste with paper packaging and animal artwork
While Japanese Kit Kats are often lauded for their wide variety of flavors, such as some aged in Scottish whisky barrels for 180 days, since…
Bandai’s new Gunpla Recycling Project aims to make reusable Gundam model kits
Referred to as Gunpla (a portmanteau of “Gundam” and “plastic model”), plastic Mobile Suit Gundam models have been a mainstay of Bandai’s contribution to the…
Nissin Cup Noodle develops leftover soup hardening powder for quick and eco-friendly disposal
Usually, Nissin adds twists and upgrades to their flagship instant ramen star Cup Noodle by introducing new flavors such as french fries and chicken nuggets,…
Muji to sell candy and snacks by weight, each individually plastic wrapped
Muji is a retailer where customers can get everything from food to stationery to curry. It’s quite popular for offering “minimalist” no-logo (the store’s full…
Museums join forces across Japan to restore exhibit damaged during July floods
A number of museums from across Japan are joining forces to support the rescue of a number of specimens that were damaged during the heavy…
Starting small to make big changes; environmentally friendly wooden straws
Paper straws need to take a seat and make way for these all new environmentally friendly shaved wood straws that can be made at home!…
Wakeup Call: Japan’s Smoking Problem is Bad for Health, Worse for the Environment
Robert D. Eldridge, PhD, for JAPAN Forward As readers who have lived here for any length of time will recognize, Japan has been slow to…
Okinawan city begins ocean cleaning program to jumpstart tourism and heal the reefs
Okinawa – a tropical paradise, complete with year round sunshine, pristine beaches, perfect pineapples and the cheerfulness of Ryukyun locals just to the southwest of…
Get your hands on an environmentally friendly DIY daruma set
With entertainment just a click of a button away these days, it can be hard for us to connect with our more creative and traditional…
PET Bottles Abolished at Sumitomo Riko in Attempt to Improve Environmental Issues
PET Bottles Abolished at Sumitomo Riko in Attempt to Improve Environmental Issues Rubber manufacturer, Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd made the decision to abolish sales of…
Eating Crickets to Save the World? Japanese Brand Muji’s Insect-filled Crackers to Scurry onto Shelves Next Year
With climate change becoming more and more of a hot issue these days, ecologically-conscious citizens are always on the lookout for ways ordinary people can…
Japanese Kit Kats Promote Switch To Paper Packaging With Sending Them As Origami Messages
While Japanese Kit Kats have gained a favorable reputation for their exciting variety of region and season exclusive flavors, sometimes it’s the actual packaging of…