New eatery Mottainai Shokudo to tackle food loss in Shonan

Food sustainability is a growing trend in the food and beverage industry. Hopping on the bandwagon is a new eatery, Mottainai Shokudo (shokudou meaning cafeteria). Located in the Shonan region of Kanagawa prefecture, it is a sustainable eatery, an initiative launched by UPCYCLE JAPAN, to tackle the problem of food loss in Japan.

We are experiencing a global food waste issue. Food waste and food loss is a significant contributor to the world’s food problem. Unlike food waste, food loss refers to the disposal of food that occurs between farms and businesses. This usually occurs due to uncontrollable and unpredictable causes. Some examples include farmers overplanting to avoid production risks, farm incidents such as an outbreak of diseases, and unfavorable market conditions such as labor shortages that prevent produce to be transported to retailers, hence, ending up as waste.

Mottainai Shokudo serves dishes made from upcycled ingredients. Upcycling refers to the act of repurposing something that is no longer useful by giving them new value and function. This is reflected in the eatery’s name, which is based on the witty use of the word “mottainai,” meaning “what a waste!” They collect ugly and surplus vegetables from neighboring farmers that are ordinarily thrown out as waste and repurpose them into ingredients, managing Japan’s food loss problem, one dish at a time.

The eatery is only open when upcycled ingredients are available. This allows customers to enjoy a different seasonal menu at every visit. They also practice sustainability by using cups and containers made from recyclable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly materials. However, Mottainai Shokudo encourages customers to bring their own containers, cups, and chopsticks to prevent waste by offering discounts.

On top of Mottainai Shokudo, UPCYCLE JAPAN also promotes and supports upcycling through other activities, retailers and content. Its mission is to practice sustainable consumption and inspire others to do the same!