One of the most useful items to stockpile in the event of a disaster is food. It is recommended to stockpile at least three days to a week’s worth of emergency food, depending on the length of evacuation. Emergency provisions such as dried...
It’s been a wild year. Japan hoped to see the end of COVID in 2021, especially with its implementation of vaccinations. It has affected all aspects of life, which pains us with each news of loss and pain. But certain local governments have been...
Zenbird Media has covered a myriad of topics in 2021. While changes in Japan are slow, the editors of Zenbird do see positive changes and have identified possible solutions (even though, we hoped for more speed). Despite the 2nd year of...
In recent years, more people have started going green in their daily life. Now that consumers must pay for plastic shopping bags in Japan, many are making an effort to reduce their plastic use. For instance, making a change in one’s hair and...
Japan is known for its excessive plastic waste. Food products often come with more plastic packaging than in other countries. Fruits and snacks, in particular, are wrapped in layers of plastic, with individual pieces being individually plastic...
A newly opened zero-waste supermarket in Kyoto aims to bring packaging-free shopping not just to Japan’s ancient capital, but to the entire country. Interest from customers and other retailers is pushing the company’s expansion plans along faster...
Japan takes another big step towards addressing waste in the fashion industry. Last week, eleven fashion and textile companies cofounded the “Japan Sustainable Fashion Alliance.” This alliance will look at its manufacturing processes, supply chains...
Veg Out cafe lies along Shichijo-dori street in Kyoto, looking out to the famous Kamogawa River. It is not quite the area for tourism, yet many still visit the cafe for meals. The menu is healthy and varied, offering also volume for a satisfactory...
In recent years, the idea of circular economy has been gradually attracting attention in Japan. Circular economy refers to the closed circuit of consumption, where waste is not produced and additional resources are not introduced. To realize...
Following Day 1’s exploration of the potential of SMEs in shaping a sustainable society, participants learned why businesses should shift towards sustainability. But what are the next steps? The guest speakers, Harumi Komura from UDS Ltd...