A textbook to eliminate bread waste expands to 47 bakeries

Quagga LLC, operator of the bread mail-order and waste reduction platform rebake, announced that its network of supporter bakeries for the “Rosupan no Kyokasho” (The Textbook of Surplus Bread) has expanded to 47 establishments across Japan. This initiative aims to eliminate “rosupan,” the surplus bread that remains unsold at the end of the day and faces disposal.

The 11-page A5 guidebook was first launched in February 2024, explaining the reasons why surplus occurs at bakeries based on surveys of both shop owners and consumers. By March 2026, the total distribution reached 20,000 copies. The publication serves as an educational tool to bridge the gap between bakers and customers, and moved together towards a waste-free society.

Over 40 per cent of the participating bakeries source local agricultural products. While major metropolitan areas like Kanagawa and Tokyo have the highest number of supporters, significant participation is also seen in Gunma and Fukuoka prefectures, which are leading wheat-producing regions in Japan.

Interviews with participating bakers suggest that using ingredients from known local sources increases the sense of responsibility towards the final product. Megumi Yakigashiten, a bakery in Kawasaki City, uses local vegetables, fruits, and eggs. The owner noted that direct transactions with farmers make them reluctant to discard bread, as they are intimately aware of the quality of the raw materials.

Similarly, Pan Atelier Crescent in Ryugasaki City began using Ibaraki-produced wheat after connecting with local growers through community events. The bakery joined the initiative to heighten its own awareness and ensure that the availability of waste-reduction platforms does not lead to overproduction. The owner stated that using local materials has fundamentally changed their perspective on how ingredients are handled compared to when they relied solely on imported wheat.

Feedback from readers indicates that the guidebook helps consumers understand the reality of the bakery trade while providing a meaningful way to support local businesses.