Agri-Future Joetsu, a venture company based out of Western Japan, is selling a special kind of plastic without using oil but rather rice and wood in the production process.
Although Japan is (rightfully) known as one of THE rice-crazy nations in the world, Agri-Future is the only company in Nippon offering “rice plastic”. Agri-Future is even able to use perished rice and powdered wood, material that would otherwise be thrown away. As a result, there is virtually no increase in CO2 emissions, less garbage and the plastic can be manufactured with reasonable costs.
Among other things, the plastic, which is strangely called “agri wood”, is used for making plastic bags, kitchenware and school lunch trays.
“…without using wood but rather rice and wood…”
I think you meant “without using OIL.”
Uh, didn’t we learn any lessons from using our corn food for ethanol? I can see it now… HEADLINE: Millions starve to death so China can export plastic toys to the US.
Uh, didn’t we learn any lessons from using our corn food for ethanol? I can see it now… HEADLINE: Millions starve to death so China can export plastic toys to the US.
I agree with gasboy.
Prime farmland being diverted to growing grapes for wine, biofuels and now plastics. This doesn’t bode well for a happy ending.