Karino AyakoTakeout plastic and paper lunch boxes produce a considerable amount of waste. It’s bad enough for one person to buy one portion. Groups are seen purchasing lunch boxes in stacks on occasions of outdoor events like the “hanami” cherry blossom viewing event approaching in just a few weeks.
To tackle this issue, the Committee of Lake Biwa Project for Plastic Waste in Shiga Prefecture recently produced a reusable lunch box called “REPACO.” It is now in test trials for this month at three shops in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Customers return the empty REPACO lunch boxes to the shops after their meals, resulting in reducing the amount of container waste.
REPACO is a word combining “re” meaning “to repeat” and “hako” meaning “box” in Japanese. The boxes are made of bioplastic mixed with cypress wood meal (or fine saw dust), and have a heat resistance of -20°C to 140°C. It is also microwave and dishwasher resistant. 187mm wide, 119mm long, and 50mm high, the lunch box holds a capacity of 0.8L.
REPACO requires LINE app to use it. You can visit one of the three shops taking part in the test trial, pay a deposit fee of 1,000 yen—which will be returned to you when you leave your account—and register as a REPACO member. The procedure will go smoothly if you print out the application form sent to you via LINE, fill it in and bring it with you.
After completing registration, purchase a menu that is available for REPACO. One usage is estimated to reduce plastic waste by approximately 25g and CO2 by approximately 132g (calculation based on the “3R Output Level Calculation Method” put forth by the Ministry of the Environment.)
Returning the container is simple: wash the container after your meal and take it with you the next time you visit the shop. You can return it to any of the three participating shops, but returning it should be done within two weeks from your purchase. Points are provided on your LINE account upon purchase. Ten points gives you a 50 yen discount. In the future, accumulated points will be exchangeable for certain rewards.
REPACO is presently available at the following three shops:
●Tsunagu Kitchen in Motomiya, Otsu City, is a bento shop that uses vegetables of Omi and sells curry and hamburger lunch boxes. REPACO lunch boxes are available every Monday and Friday.
●Mikazuki Cafe, which is also located in Motomiya, Otsu City, is a cafe where you can enjoy home-roasted coffee and simple home-cooked menus. Open from Tuesday to Friday.
●Sotoko in Kyomachi, Otsu City, sells boxed lunches with black rice and seasonal vegetable dishes made with homemade fruit wine and seasonings. Open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Living in the busy modern world, purchasing a boxed lunch is extremely convenient. Many people enjoy it during office lunch breaks and outdoor events. However, throwing away the lunch box container does come with a certain sense of guilt. But not anymore! REPACO lunch boxes have provided a solution. So, look forward to seeing these reusable lunch boxes in your town in the near future.
