Tag - plastic

 
 

PLASTIC

Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Nov 28, 2022
Fukushima firm turns vegetable waste into eco-friendly plastic
The technology could enable cellulose to be mass-produced at a fraction of the usual price.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / Longform
Nov 21, 2022
Polluted waterways: Examining the health of Japan’s rivers
The functional use of Japan's rivers has severely impacted water quality and public health, drawing intense scrutiny over the years.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Nov 7, 2022
‘Plastic-free’: Fukuoka man's monthlong project highlights wider waste issue
A Fukuoka man has shared his quest to buy products in reusable containers to avoid single-use plastic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 17, 2022
Toilet-maker plans to recycle plastic waste into sidewalks
Only 9% of plastic is currently recycled globally, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 13, 2022
In Nigeria, finding value in waste recycling
Some entrepreneurs are working hard to tackle the rubbish mountain, despite the many challenges.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 28, 2022
Inedible delights: Food sample artisans serve up imitations of grand feasts
With fewer restaurants buying plastic menu items, craftspeople are getting creative with their molded meals.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jul 27, 2022
Faster growth may help bacteria remove lake plastic waste, study says
Chemicals leaking from plastic waste make bacteria grow faster in European lakes, which could provide a natural way to remove plastic pollution from freshwater ecosystems.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jul 3, 2022
'They're everywhere': Microplastics in oceans, air and the human body
Millions of tons of plastic produced every year, largely from fossil fuels, make their way into the environment and degrade into smaller and smaller pieces.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health / FOCUS
Jul 2, 2022
What it’s like to try living green in China
It's not easy for Chinese consumers to make informed choices about their carbon footprint because the country lags behind in requiring and policing product information.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jun 13, 2022
How fashion giants recast plastic as good for the planet
An explosion in the use of inexpensive, petroleum-based materials has transformed the fashion industry, aided by the successful rebranding of synthetic materials into hip alternatives.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 25, 2022
Microplastics found in blood for the first time, study says
Scientists found 17 out of the 22 healthy people they took samples from had quantifiable amounts of plastic particles in their blood.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / Longform
Mar 14, 2022
Plastic love: Proliferation of PET bottles in Japan complicates a sustainable future
Japan recycles and reuses its ubiquitous plastic container more than almost any other country — but some say it's still not enough.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 4, 2022
Big Oil's plastic boom threatens U.N.'s 'historic' pollution pact
When the U.N. agreed on a deal to create the world's first ever global plastic pollution treaty, every party was quick to claim victory, but that could spell trouble.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 22, 2022
Ban on single-use plastics favored by 75%, global survey finds
Governments will meet in Nairobi this month to press ahead with an ambitious treaty on tackling plastic waste.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 18, 2022
A U.N. pact may restrict plastic production. Big Oil aims to stop it.
U.N. members are set to meet this month to draft the blueprint for a global plastics treaty. That's a problem for Big Oil, with the plastic industry set to double output within 20 years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2021
Trash and burn: Big brands' new plastic waste plan faces skepticism
Experts say that burning plastic in cement kilns, a practice firms are promoting, emits harmful emissions and amounts to swapping one dirty fuel for another.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 3, 2021
The circular economy grows up
If we do not abandon the “take-make-waste” consumption pattern by 2050, we will need the equivalent of almost three Earths to provide enough natural resources to sustain current lifestyles.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 2, 2021
The recycling myth: Big Oil’s plastic waste solution littered with failure
While residents have dutifully packaged up their trash, expecting it to be put to a green use, many have been left disappointed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 21, 2021
Private equity falling out of love with plastic packaging
Many buyout firms are steering clear while some holding assets are struggling to offload them at palatable prices, as environmental factors become dealmakers and breakers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Apr 24, 2021
In COVID-19's wake, Japan faces a bleaker future
A 'baby shock' now threatens Japan, according to one journalist. Meanwhile, older residents could be shipped off to China?

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji