Environment– tag –

Have you ever heard the term fair trade? Translated literally it means "fair trade." It is an effort to pay fair compensation to producers in developing countries and support their improved livelihoods and sustainable farming practices. The items covered by fair trade include coffee...

We want to be a presence like a greengrocer, connecting farmers and you, the consumer. The brand name OYAOYA—adding a Kyoto-style "o" to "yaoya" (greengrocer) and letting the presence of "yasai" (vegetables) waft through—holds such a thought. Nice to meet you. We are Agriture, which operates OYAOYA...

The much-discussed "Gen Z." They're not merely a young demographic—thanks to their population size and strong power to disseminate information, their influence over society and the economy is rapidly expanding. Fluent in using the internet and smartphones as a given, sharing information instantly through social media, their behavior...

There are more chances to hear the term fair trade. You spot products with a certification mark at supermarkets and cafés, or see it featured in companies' sustainability reports—it is steadily spreading in Japan too. This article covers the basic definition of fair trade...

The coffee or chocolate you casually pick up every day. That one cup, that one piece, may be supporting the life of someone working hard on the other side of the globe. Have you heard the term fair trade? This effort, meaning "fair, equitable trade," is tied to our consumption...

The coffee and chocolate we consume daily. Behind them are producers in far-off countries. But whether those producers are earning fair compensation is hard for us consumers to see. Fair trade certification is such an "unseen..."

A vegetarian refers to someone who eats mainly plant-based foods and avoids animal meat and fish. Say "vegetarian" and the styles are varied; which foods one eats differs by individual belief and choice. The reasons for changing one's diet, too, range from health to the environment...

When you hear “a sustainable life,” you might picture eco bags or recycling, but one of the things with particularly great influence in our daily lives is the choice of “food.” Among these, what deserves attention is Kyoto vegetables, the heirloom vegetables of Kyoto. Kyoto vegetables are rooted in the spirit of “local production for local consumption”...

We’ve been hearing the term “fair trade” more and more often. You may notice fair trade labels on all kinds of products—coffee, chocolate, clothing, and more. But what exactly is a product that can truly be called “fair trade”...？

The reason Yamagata-grown apples are delicious lies in the climate. Yamagata Prefecture is a leading fruit-growing region representing the Tohoku area. Known nationwide not only for apples but also for cherries and La France pears. Why do so many kinds of fruit grow in a single prefecture? The answer lies hidden in Yamagata's distinctive terrain and climate...

The Ministry of the Environment announced that food loss generated within Japan in FY2023 (fiscal 2023) was about 4.64 million tons. This is an 80,000-ton reduction from the previous fiscal year (FY2022) figure of about 4.72 million tons, and a steady improving trend continues. However, reaching the government's FY2030 target still requires a large...

March 25, 2026

Hello, everyone. I’m Kojima of Agriture Inc. We work to transform unused resources—non-standard vegetables and surplus harvest—into new food raw materials through drying and powdering. Working daily to give new value to vegetables, across generations...

As companies work toward realizing a sustainable society, novelty goods too are increasingly required to reduce environmental impact and be sustainable. Among these, dried vegetables are sometimes used as a new kind of novelty that can contribute to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)...

With about 40% of the food produced worldwide being discarded, “upcycle foods” are drawing attention as a new solution that turns that waste into value. This article explains the idea of upcycling—breathing new life into ingredients and byproducts destined for disposal—and the Kyoto-born dried vegetable brand “OY...

The term health management has become one you hear often lately. This is not merely part of employee benefits but a way of thinking drawing attention as a corporate growth strategy. Health management refers to a management method that considers employees' health care from a management perspective and practices it strategically. In the US...

食事の際に野菜から食べる「ベジファースト」という食べ方をご存知でしょうか？最近では「野菜の先食い」とも呼ばれ、健康志向の高い人たちの間で実践されています。 野菜を最初に食べることには、食後の満足感や食習慣の見直しなど、さまざまなメリットが...

In Japan's long-standing food culture, dashi is the foundation of cooking and an important element that produces a delicate umami. Dashi of animal or seaweed origin, like bonito and kelp, is the basis of Japanese cuisine. It plays the role of adding rich flavor to a whole dish. However, with the diversification of food culture and the globa... of food