Eco-Product Navigator

2007-02-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

We have updated our English Guided Tour Report page!
Please check it out!

JFS English Guided Tour Movie Project 2006
English Guided Tour Movie Project

Eco Product 2006 Staff Review -Movies and Article(Personal opinion about the tour from English Guide Tour staff)
Staff Review

JFS English Guided Tour Report Page

2006-12-25T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hello folks, sorry for leaving this blog blank for long time.
At this time, I am constructing two blogs that consists highlights of Eco Product Exhibition!

I will post the information when its ready!
(I will sure finish it, before the year ends!)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Picture from English Guided Tour 2006(12/15/2006)
Guests from England and tour staff members

2006-11-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

Topic 10

"New Wave"

1. E-Mobile Co. LTD
Small Automobile company with strong ethics of:

prevent the growth of global warming
Vehicle for future (aging society in Japan)
For people with physical disabilities

With unique designs!

The size of the vehicle is very efficient, since Japan has population in high density.

The roofing will also suitable for tropical weather in Japan

Very efficient battery(At this time, we do not have so much information)

But it is worth seeing it at the Eco Product Exhibition!

2006-11-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

Topic 9
"This Year at the Exhibition!"

Eco Product 2006 is going to be really exciting!
At the JFS Enlgish site, they have linked this blog!
as you scroll down, you will see the link for this page.

http://www.japanfs.org/en/jfs/event/eco-pro2006/#updates

On this page,(I actually wrote it)
There are updates about eco products and services.

Do you have products that you are interested?
Do you think it is efficient product/service in your country?
Do you have any other comments?

2006-11-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

Topic 8
"Food companies' environmental efforts at Eco Product Exhibition"

I like to introduce you to green packaging trend in Japan.

Ajinomoto, Co.
- a major food and seasoning company

Nissin

-a major food producing company

a) Environmental efforts in eco-friendly containers and packaging

The company established its original index (The Eco-Index for Containers and Packaging) to make food products containers and packaging greener. In the index, six evaluation items are set to examine the environment-friendliness of containers and packaging, including efficient resource use, recycling and disposal adaptability, CO2 emissions and labeling.

Efforts in environmentally friendly containers and packaging include;

- reducing weight of bottles by reducing the volume of materials such as glasses and plastics. (e.g. By reducing the amount of glasses by 12 %, the total amount of glasses for bottles can be decreased by 117 tons per year, which can also cut CO2 emissions by 132 tons per year.)

- reducing the size of carton packs, which leads to a 55-ton reduction in annual paper use.

- adopting biomass and/or biodegradable plastics for some packages

- improving the designs of containers so users can easily compress them when disposing or separate recyclables and non-recyclables.

Questions:

What is the perspective of packaging in the future?

What can company do to prevent unnecesary packaging?

Tell me what is unnecessary packaging that you see on the store?

2006-11-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

November "This year and last year at Eco-Product Exhibition"

Topic 7
"Last Year's Ecological Product with great attention"

Last year was my first year to join 3 day giant ecological product exhibiton
held in Tokyo Big Site Center. I was amazed with the numbers of big corporation,
government sector, NGO, and College organizition. Last year, I worked as a guide for
English Guided Tour by JFS (Japan for Sustainability). We had introduced our guests to
6 booth from big company to small organization.

I will introduce you to some of the lookout products and service I saw at Eco Product 2005

First, I like to introduce you to biomass plastic in Japan.

In total, 192 million tons of plastic are consumed in the world and Japan consumes about15million tons. But if Japanese inhibit the trends of bioplastic, we can cut down CO2 by 1.5 million tons! Thats 10% of Japanese plastic consumption.

Fujitsu "Bioplastic Computer cover"
Fujitsu is the world's third -largest IT services provider and Japan's market leader.

Fujitsu develops World's first bioplastic computer cases.
In August 11, 2005 Fujitsu LTD and Toray industries jointly developed a large case made of bioplastics. Notebook FMV-BIBLO NB80K". This is the first bioplastic made form corn starch were used in computer parts. This new technology can reduce by about one liter the consumption of petroleum in the production of a notebook personal computer.
Cost of new biomass plastic computer is somewhat higher than conventional materials and the toughness is one of structural difficulties

But, it is beneficiaries to the environment!

The material contains polylactic acid and is a bioplastic made for lactic acid derived from fermented starches and sugars from corn and potatoes
About 50 percent of the newly-developed plastic consists of natural materials, if used in the case of notebook computers, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 15 percent compared to conventional petroleum based resins.

Question:

What is your opinion regarding the bioplastic material?

What is the major contribution of bioplastic in your country?

What kind a role can bioplastic has abilities to play other than computer cases?

2006-10-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

Topic 6
“Cool Biz, Warm Biz”

First, what pops into your mind when you hear “cool biz and warm biz”?
When I first heard “cool biz”, I thought the government of Japan was trying to change image of “straight” Japanese businessman to “cool” image. I was wrong in the way I defined “cool”. Well “cool biz and warm biz” has relation to prevent the growth of global warming by changing the way we dress in formal occasions.

Cool biz

The old traditional business style in Japan, majority of workers is encouraged to wear shirts, jacket, and ties. For many years, Japanese workers screamed and sweated enormously under business uniform during summer that reaches beyond 30℃ with high humidity.

In 2005, Japanese Ministry of the Environment began advocating the Cool Biz Campaign. The goal is to limit the use of air conditioning. The workers were encouraged to wear short sleeved shirts, without ties or jackets. With Cool Biz style, the work environment can reduce the usage of air conditioning and when cool air condition system comes to use, we can increase its temperature and reduce its energy use.

Due to its sudden trend, many workers were confused about whether they should follow the new trend or the old ways. It was either to follow the new approach of the government or the stick with the old custom from the company. The workers became very self-conscious and felt impolite when their boss and business partner was following the old ways of wearing jackets and ties to work. I think cool biz is still in a trial stage, and as years adds up, the tradition of cool biz will fade over the old custom.

Warm biz:
By reading cool biz, you probably have guessed what warm biz is. Many large corporations are starting to support to its act. But, warm biz is not supported by Japanese government. So, no one really knows what “warm biz” is going to be like. One example is to wear turtle neck under the jacket? What we know is that, we have to keep ourselves warm and reduce the usage of heating system.

Questions:

So, what do you think about this cool biz and warm biz system?
Would this system be beneficial, if government supported this act in your country?

Tell me, what kind of support government can do to encourage citizen to change their habits in order to reduce growth of environmental problems?

2006-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

First of all, I am very sorry for the delay in updating the topic.

October:”Environmental Activities in Japan”

Topic 5 “NGO and New Wave of Environmental Activities”

Do you know anything about NGO in Japan?
What is current trend of environmental activity in Japan?

Past several years, the numbers of environmental NGO are rapidly increasing in Japan. But, the number and reliance of NGO are still weak compared to other countries.
Here are the interesting organization from Japan, approaching in different ways of ecological contribution:

1. Be Good Café:

Non-profit organization, “Be Good Café "is founded in 1999. This organization is very unique where promotes an information regarding goodness of environment through workshops, live music, and healthy organic food. The aim for this organization is to build a sustainable society throughout the world. Be Good members are young activists with variety fields of expertise. With multi-skilled members, Be Good Café is filled with activities like Steiner, macrobiotic, permaculture, and developments of eco-village..

Be good Café will participate in this year’s Eco-Product Exhibition and serve traditional Japanese food “okayu” (rice in soup) in organic style!
http://begoodcafe.com/english.php

2．Uchi-Mizu Project
What is “uchi-mizu?” “The old custom of sprinkling water with a ladle on streets and garden….People sprinkle water, especially in the summer time, in their house entranceand garden or in front of their shops to lay the dust or to ease the heat” (Uchimizu Daisakusen HP). The main purpose of uchimizu is to cool down your surrounding territory. Since there was no air conditioner 100 years ago, Japanese citizen splashed cool water on the surface to entrance of the house, verandahs, and walls of the house., This splash of water forms cool breeze entering through your house in humid summer. In my youth, I remember my grandmother and I would be splashing water on the road front of our house and I always thought she was just having “play in outside”.
The custom of uchimizu has faded away over the decade, and JWF (Japan Water Forum) with strong effort of reviving the old tradition of “uchimizu” use especially in urban cities (prevent heat island effect). It is necessary for all Japanese citizens to keep its custom and realize little chores can make big contribution for our future.
http://www.uchimizu.jp/eng/index.html

3. Think the Earth Project

Think the Earth is artistic and unique organization with a concept to form “ecology and economy in Coexistence”. The projects are focused on development of ecological products and services targeted from young audiences to expertise in various field. The organization has broad range of services and it even has a learning place for companies and NPOs.

Their representative projects are:
Watch Project: WN-1
Wn-1 is one of famous project done by Think the Earth. Wn-1 watch is very unique with a small earth dial (a dome shaped hour hand makes one revolution every 24 hours, rotating clockwise around the North Pole.) This project is a collaborative work of Think the Earth and Seiko Instruments in a concept “acknowledge importance of our time by seeing the earth from the outside”. Wn-1 watch is eye catching for fashionable teenager in Japan, and Think the Earth is targeting young people to percept “to be environmentally conscious is a cool thing”.
http://www.thinktheearth.net/

Think the Earth has several other interesting projects such as “Peaceball Campaign –deliver soccer balls (collect used soccer balls) to kids in undeveloped nations. You can also purchase Peaceball package and portion of the sale will be donated to Peacball project. http://www.thinktheearth.net/ball/about/index.html

Questions:

Do you know any organization in your country that are approaching in environmental activity from different angles compared to other organization? Can you tell me environmental organization that are attractive to young people in your country?

What is your enviromentally friendly product that has abilities to change habits of future citizens in your country?(in a good way, i hope..)

風呂敷の包み方〜1〜:How to FUROSHIKI wrapping

2006-10-05T00:44:00.000-07:00


This is furoshiki movie I found through google video. Soon, I will also post movie of myself challenging the various furoshiki wrapping technique!

2006-09-18T01:12:00.000-07:00

topic 2 "Furoshiki"

“Furoshiki” is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to wrap gifts, clothes, and other goods. Furoshiki means “bath spread”, deriving from the usage of bundling clothes at public baths in the Edo Period (1603-1867). Its usage have then extended to protect goods when transporting and decorating goods for presents. Furoshikis are made of silk, cotton, rayon, or nylon. Furoshiki requires numerous wrapping techniques; there are many ways and many things that are wrapped with furoshikis. The wrapping methods vary in size and shape.
Check the link that I pasted below, if you are interested in wrapping techniques!
http://www.shimojima.co.jp/English/wrapping/wrap03.htm

Furoshiki was very common since the Nara period (AD 710-794), known as "Hirazutsumi" back then, but the usage of it has declined since the postwar period due to the introduction of plastic bags. Many of the young Japanese people today have negative images about furoshiki as “bag for old people”. Most of theyoung people tend to favor convenient plasticbags .

Recently, Japanese minister of environment and various environmental organizations have been promoting active usage of furoshiki. With rising awareness and environmental trend, many brands in Japan are collaboratively producing furoshikis with trendy design and easy instruction where young people can easily wrap in their own unique style. Little by little, furoshiki is becoming labeled as "cool traditional eco-friendly product".

Furoshiki is an ecologically friendly 3R product (reuse, recycle, and reduce) with abilities to cut down enormous wastes and CO2 in Japan.

Globally, Japan is an industrial giant and big waste emitter. We are required to reduce the quantity of industrial wastes for which we are responsible of, to reuse and recycle waste, and to dispose of them in an environmentally-sound manner .

Furoshiki has the potential to replace:
- Plastic shopping/grocery bag
-Back pack
-Hand bag/purse
-Suitcase
-lunch box
and more....

Discussion:

Do you have an ecological product like Furoshiki in your country? Or do you know any ecologically friendly products like Furoshiki?

What do you think about the future of plastic bags? Do you think it is necessary?
If not, how can we prevent society as a whole to stop using plastic bags?

What are other methods to make young Japanese people to become more attracted to "Furoshiki"? Are you interested in owning one?

other information about furoshiki

neo- furoshiki
http://assiston.co.jp/?item=231

Furoshiki with new design
http://www.recruit.co.jp/GG/exhibition/2006/g8_0604.html

2006-09-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

topic3
"Jinrikisha"

Jinrikisha or also known as rickshaw is known to be around in other parts of the world since 17th and 18th century. Jinrikisha, literally meaning "human powered vehicle" has been popular in Japan since the Meiji period (1868) as a mode of transportation. Nowadays in Japan, these jinrikishas can only be found in tourist attraction places such as Kyoto and Otaru serving sight-seeing tourists. However, in other southeastern Asian countries, jinrikishas are still major forms of transportation. Needless to say, but this vehicle is so ecologically friendly!!

The name itself is self explanatory, "JIN"=human, "RIKI"=power "SHA"=vehicle. This means no production of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants! Reducing greenhouse gas emission and other air pollutants are critical in our generation, yet we are struggling to meet this goal. People in the old days have come up with various ways to improve life with limited technology and resources. What other things can you think of??

Is there vehicle in your country that are ecologically friendly?

Human powered vehicle is criticized for its image of "human toture", would you rather have
other animals to power the vehicle?

One of the problem of human powered vehicle are distances are limited. How can we prevent problems?

How can we prevent automobile industry to depend on enormous mass of fossil fuels?

What is your ideal mobilization society?

2006-09-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

Septemember
"Tradional lifestyle and ecological product in Japan"

Topic 1 "Kimono"

Have you heard of Kimono?

You may seen Kimono in movies like "Last Samurai" and “Sayuri”. Kimono is a well-known traditional dress (mainly for women) from the Edo Period. Kimono is a very expensive dress and it is traditionally passed down through generations. Since Kimono may come with very expensive tags (I don't know if they had price tags!), people from the Edo period preferred to purchase Kimono from the used Kimono dealer . When a Kimono becomes no longer needed, it will be recycled back to the Kimono dealer. Kimono is a valuable product where every little bits of pieces are used. For example, an old Kimono can be used to patch similar Kimonos, and often handbags are made from them too.
Kimono is very unique in a way that it requires no space for storage. It can be stored in a closet like a flat paper! (since houses in Japan are a lot smaller than western houses!)

In the summer people wear summer type kimono called "yukata". It is very soft in texture, and made for nightclothing (pajamas). The worned out yukata is also recycable, and it will eventually be used for diapers for baby and rags to wipe the floor.

Today, Kimono is commonly worn on special occasions. Examples are: Weddings, Seijinshiki (coming age ceremony, celebrate passage to adulthood (age 20)) and summer fireworks (Yukata). But recently Kimono is becoming popular scene in young age, and famous department stores are selling Kimono in affordable price.

So, many of green activist in Japan are hoping for the revival of Kimono scene in Japan.
I am not saying being too westernized is a bad thing, but keeping goodness in our tradition is really important and at the same time, it is ecologically friendly.

So, what is a similar product (kimono) in your country?
Or do you know any clothing product that has historical background like Kimono?
If you are invited to Eco-Product 2006, would you want to try on the Kimono? (they have one for the guys too! Do not worry!)

PS: the picture above is mine, and I know its awful, but please be nice on me this time!)

2006-09-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

I am your host, Shiro Hosojima from Japan for Sustainability!!
First, I like to thank my commentators for participating in this blog project. I hope we can find our ways by sharing our thoughts regarding current ecological product across the globe. I will be sharing you some of the interesting product from Japan. I will appreciate your comments and sharing us your thoughts will be much appreciated!

Ms. Onishi (blog supporter) (Japan)
Risa will be commentating and supporting on the topics

Another purpose of the blog is to announce information about the giant ecological
exhibition called "Eco Product 2006" .
This exhbition is scheduled from December 14-16 in Tokyo Japan (happens once every year)

I want to have discussion with my commentators regarding the ongoing/past ecological product issues in Japan, and attaining feedbacks will give us knowledge to make the exhibition more comfortable place for international guests.

Remember, this blog is very "relaxed" and "open".
I hope we all can attain great information by sharing our ecological values.

Here are the schedule for the next 3 month.

schedule (I will post one topic per week)
September
Tradional lifestyle and ecological product in Japan

October
Current trend of ecological issue in Japan.

Novemember
Last year's Ecological Product, and this year's lookout for Ecological Product

December
News and Updates about the 2006 exhibition (timely!)

We have about 6-8 outstanding commentators!
(thank you very much for your support!)

Professor Harty (Kansas, US)
Dr. Moiseev (Russia)
Ms. Hsu (New York, US)
Mr. Olivares (Los Angeles, US)
Mr. Olsen (Utah, US)
Mr. Supachai (Pakistan)
Jen (Colorado, US)
and more!

I would appreciate if our commentators can make little introduction!

Thanks!!
Shiro Hosojima
JFS