An increasing number of corporations have begun producing biodegradable plastics and other materials less harmful to the environment, reflecting rising environmental consciousness.
Unlike conventional petroleum-based plastic, biodegradable plastic is broken down by microorganisms when placed in the ground.
According to the Biodegradable Plastics Society, a Tokyo-based body made up of more than 200 private companies, it costs 300 yen to 350 yen to produce 1 kg of plastic from plants, three to four times as much as it costs to produce the same amount of petroleum-based plastic.