a new eco movement

The convenience store chain Lawson will start a new eco campaign "Keitai Ohashi" (carring chopsticks). They will give original non-disposable chopsticks to Lawson members in exchange for their member's point. The chopsticks are made from unfit wood which is used for baseball bats. In 2005, Lawson used 500 million chopsticks at stores  (When we buy obento, they give disposable chopssticks together). They plan to reduce that by 20%, 400 million chopsticks.

This kind of movement will increase (I hope so). One reason is the Containers and Packaging recycling law will change from next month April 2009. The biggest change will be that formerly free polyvinyl bags from supermarkets will require a fee. Maybe it will be 5 yen or so. That's nice! 60% of waste in Japan consists of "containers" and "wrapping." I always hate too much wrapping.

For example, I bought a pair of short socks at a 100 yen shop. The one sock has a small hanger like this and four small silver clasps at the toe and top to combine two socks like this, and then the package is sealed with a paper tag. All of this is unnecessary and I have to throw it away before I wear the socks. I don't like the big size of game packages too. This is PSP, this is Gameboy. I need that video-game size package. Why does it have to be DVD size?? I wrote this post "Mottainai" two years ago, and finally the government will start doing something about the waste issue. It's too late, but of course welcome.

Anyway I found rahmen's crazy chopstick movie, Onigiri movie, Origami movie, and tea movie. related link : Rahmens movies, sushi, dogeza, relationship.

Comments

[Mari]

Hi there
yes, that will be true, manual need to be big. But usually we can play without manual. Or it can be install inside the game.

[Jo]

Hi Mari,

You will have to start knitting your own sox ;-)
No packaging needed then.

[Garrett]

Good point, Mari. The excess packaging is out of control. Take Oreo cookies, for example: each cookie is individually wrapped in a plastic foil pouch, then the cookies are placed in a molded plastic tray, then the tray is placed in a plastic bag, which is then put in a glossy virgin paper box. When you go to a store, the default practice is to then put that box of cookies into a plastic bag.

What exactly are those cookies being protected from?

Drinks seem to be the only thing that is not double-packaged. It's insane.

[jack]

I think an issue with games for handhelds is the instruction manual. You have to be able to read them. Especially for an old man like me!

It would be nice if Nintendo's packages didn't include all the repetetive information, however. That is wasteful, because it comes with the unit.