Blink:

I was researching upcycled foods which are made from ingredients otherwise destine for food waste when I learned about Biomass Resin Holdings. The company, located in Japan takes irregular rice normally discarded and turns the waste into a bioplastic. An innovative product which crosses two hurdles with one leap.

Read On:

Hurdle #1 (Upcycled Product): Their innovative manufacturing process which was first conceived 20 years ago, starts with irregular rice normally thrown out by farmers. The rice utilized is old or considered inedible due to bad flavor thus not suitable to sell at Retail.  The rice is then mixed with a small amount of polypropylene which is considered an environmentally conscious form of plastic since it is biodegradable, does not release toxins, and has a relatively low carbon foot print. The result, is a bioplastic material which can be used for cups & table ware, bento boxes, everyday trash bags, toys, and smartphone covers.

Hurdle #2 (Plastic Replacement): Being a food futurist (a.k.a. planet earth wellness advocate), I am concerned mankind is choking on plastic. Macro stats (primary source: IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature):

• Approximately 400 million tons are produced every year. Without changes in regulations and innovation some environmentalist project plastic waste to triple by 2060 exceeding over one billion tons.
• Globally only 9% is recycled.
• The plastic produced is used for a wide variety of applications – an estimated 50% are created for single-use items (e.g., shopping bags, cups, and straws).
• At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year and comprise 80% of all marine debris both in surface waters and deep-sea sediments.

Relevancy: In an old post I referred to a 2019 study by WFF International which concluded we ingest approximately 5 grams of microplastic per week which is the equivalent weight of one plastic credit card. Imagine adding one American Express card to your weekly diet!

In closing, thanks to being a food futurist specializing in food-away-from-home marketing, I am bullish about the upcycled food movement, thus monitor its progress closely. Learning about Biomass Resin Holdings, an innovative company in Japan transforming repurposed rice into a product which is a solution to curb plastic wastes’ negative toxic impact on planet earth’s environment, excites me! Validates one organization can make a difference, plus makes me optimistic if we add up all the environmental innovation being implemented globally, we are on the right path to nurse planet earth’s wellness back to manageable levels.

Opinions Welcomed!