Eco-friendly vending machine SALAD STAND dispenses sustainable salad in Akihabara

The popular vending machines in Japan has found another purpose. Today in Tokyo, there is a “SALAD STAND” vending machine that sells salads 24 hours a day.

It is developed by KOMPEITO Inc. in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, which specializes in a vegetable delivery service called “OFFICE DE YASAI (vegetables in the office).” As a result of the growing need of employees who want to stay healthy at work in their offices, their service has recently experienced an increasing number of new requests. In response, the company decided to start a new business—setting up SALAD STAND vending machines—hoping to create an environment in which people can eat healthy wherever they are.

Utilizing their know-how of product sales and cold food delivery, they installed their first salad vending machine in mid-November at co-working space “DMM.make AKIBA” in Tokyo’s Akihabara district. The venue is where hardware and manufacturing start-up companies gather to solve various business issues and form problem-solving communities. KOMPEITO hopes it can receive new ideas on their SALAD STAND vending machine and meet companies that can cooperate.

SALAD STAND is no ordinary vending machine. It is a vending machine with a sustainable twist. Firstly, their salad uses domestic organic and pesticide-free vegetables full of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber that people tend to lack. The salad packaging uses FSC compatible paper as well as biomass ink for printing. The attached fork to eat the salad is wooden too. Moreover, it dispenses in an eco-friendly manner without the use of disposable materials.

Secondly, the vending machine itself is a non-CFC vending machine that does not emit CFC gas, which is harmful to the ozone layer. KOMPEITO hopes to build the next-generation of vending machines in the future that reduces food loss by optimizing demand. It aims to use AI ​​sensors to calculate the number of people passing by or standing close by. Combining that information with time, purchase data and expiration date, KOMPEITO wants to build a “dynamic pricing” device, with patent pending.

KOMPEITO even hopes to develop an app in the future so users can check salad stocks and make purchase reservations on their app. The new SALAD STAND vending machine could very well change the concept of vending machines altogether soon, as something that cares for our health and our environment.