Zero waste mindset in repurposing 300-year-old Kiso Hinoki byproducts

Japan’s traditional artisans offer lessons in zero waste that have been practiced for centuries. Seeing the collaboration between Omoros and Iwata Sanpou Seisakusho, a manufacturer of ceremonial offering stands (also known as sanpou) reveals another hint we can use for this new age of sustainability. They have found a way to repurpose byproducts of the 300-year-old sacred Kiso Hinoki trees, used in their traditional craftsmanship, into a fragrant cushioning material.

The wood, Kiso Hinoki, comes from trees that are as much as 300 years old. Grown near sacred trees and revered for their spiritual significance, Kiso Hinoki is typically used in creating items for religious ceremonies in some of Japan’s most important shrines and temples. But rather than allowing the byproducts of this precious resource to go to waste, artisans at Iwata Sanpou Seisakusho have found a way to extend the life of the material. What would have been discarded is now being transformed into aromatic cushioning material that can protect delicate items or reused in homes as sachets to scent closets or shoe boxes.

This practice reveals a mindset that sees nature’s resources as finite and thus precious. The artisans embody a respect for natural resources, as they maximize the use of every part of these 300-year-old trees and ensuring the longevity of materials. It is a huge contrast compared to today’s wastefulness, especially through mass production. It is truly zero waste on a manufacturing level.

Furthermore, hinoki, with its natural fragrance, moisture-absorbing qualities, and insect-repelling properties, has long been valued in Japan for both its utility and spiritual significance. Utilizing the byproducts of sacred Hinoki trees in a manner that both preserves their aromatic qualities and makes them accessible to consumers offers a suggestion to consumers on how traditional craftspeople understand the balance between manufacturing and respect for the environment.

This example also hints how other artisans create their products while thinking carefully about the source of their materials. This is why we often advise travelers to Japan to consider buying traditional items as souvenirs, because of this respect for nature’s resource, making them worthy sustainable products.