The Signs

Eliminating Plastic Waste

The rapid increase in the use of disposable masks and to-go containers during the pandemic has made the problem of plastic waste go from bad to worse. But some Japanese companies are working to alleviate the issue. Environmentally friendly masks made of fibers used for traditional Japanese paper, which decompose in 3 months when buried in soil. Also underway is the development of plates made from recycled food waste, and an initiative to compost them after use.