Japan produces over 6 million tonnes of food waste each year, a portion of which is vegetable produce. More often than not, “ugly” vegetables are discarded for their imperfect appearances, ending up as a significant contributor to food...
Companies that specialize in disposable hygiene products are at the forefront of Japan’s progress toward adopting circular economy approaches. With the largest proportion of elderly adults in the world, Japan is experiencing an increasing amount of...
In Japan, waste disposal is managed at a municipal level. As in most Japanese cities, residents of Kamikatsu are responsible for sorting their household waste, but this town has 45 categories of garbage. Kamikatsu is a small town of 1,500 in Shikoku...
Did you know that a considerable amount of fabric gets wasted to make one fashion item? So what you’re wearing right now is a result of a handful of fabric that gets discarded. Shocking, right? Roughly 30% of fabric gets wasted in...
Zero waste is an approach that helps us redesign our life and society to significantly reduce, and eliminate the use of materials that eventually end up in landfills. To actualize this shift towards sustainable consumption patterns, efforts and...
About 80% of consumers are willing to buy more eco-friendly and ethical products in Japan. Yet, when we want to eat an organic or plant-based diet, or purchase plastic-free or zero waste products in Japan, we might have difficulties discovering...
Progress towards a circular economy should include not only individual efforts through better consumption habits. Systemic change at a policy level is vital too. For example, the South Korean government banned dumping food waste in landfills in 2005...
Recycling is one of the most beneficial waste management practices. It saves resources, energy and the environment while reducing landfill usage. Take plastics, for instance, the versatile yet problematic material at the center of the global waste...
A circular economy is a set of sustainable economic practices. It is driven by the efficient use of finite resources and the minimization of waste. This involves keeping products and materials in use, in contrast to the linear economy where...
Early last month, OGICO has released Japan’s first body scrub made from upcycled ingredients. The HUG BROWNE Espresso Body Shot (170g, 2500 yen) is a locally produced body scrub made from upcycled coffee beans. These beans are used espresso...