Japanese Company Fighting Plastic Waste with Wooden Straws

Tokyo, June 17 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese company has developed a wooden straw to join the global efforts to cut back on plastic waste. The drinking tool, developed by Tokyo-based Aqurahome Co., a builder of custom-made wooden houses, uses wood from timber cut down to thin forests. The straw was used at the reception for the meeting of agriculture ministers from the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies, held in the central Japan city of Niigata last month. The Forestry Agency has also begun promoting the use of the wooden straw at government-related events. Timber is processed to be 0.15 millimeter thick using original Japanese wood-shaving techniques, such as with "kanna" planes, and then rolled into a tube with glue that is safe for exposure to the human mouth. The straw is best made with Japanese cedar, sources said. Although the wooden straws are expensive, at 50 yen apiece, they have higher water resistance than their paper counterparts, which have started to gain popularity as an alternative to plastic straws. The wooden straw is also expected to help reinvigorate the domestic forestry industry. Lumber collected through the thinning, or cutting down trees to reduce the density, of forests are not yet commonly used. "I hope it will serve as a catalyst to spur the use of domestic lumber," a Forestry Agency official said. Wooden straws are currently produced at so-called silver human resources centers, which promote work for elderly people, as well as employment facilities for those with disabilities. Production has so far been unable to catch up with demand, mainly from government agencies and major hotels, as the straws can only be produced at certain locations and are made by hand. "We want to prioritize safety over mass production, as it is something that people put in their mouths," an Aqurahome official said. With moves to restrict the use of disposable plastic products, including straws, gaining traction internationally, the wooden straws drew praise at the G-20 meeting in Niigata, government sources said. Aqurahome plans to gradually expand the production of the wooden straw while redoubling its efforts to raise the public recognition of the item, including its safety. END