environmental issues

Japan’s newest vending machine absorbs CO2 from the environment

Eco-friendly system turns vending machines into metallic trees. 

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Garbage-collecting samurai keep Japanese streets clean, but what’s their real story?

We sit down with the environmentally conscious Gomihiroi Samurai to find out what they’re really about. 

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No more plastic cups — Starbucks Japan aims to get rid of plastic in stores with new initiatives

Coffee giant proposes four new initiatives to reduce plastic waste.

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Starbucks waste reduction initiative to start in Tokyo: borrow a cup, use it, then return it

Take your cup home, then hand it back in at any participating Starbucks café.

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Uniqlo Japan will pay you for your old clothes with new recycling project Re:Uniqlo

You know what’s even better than buying Heat Tech? Recycling your Heat Tech.

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The pros and cons of Starbucks Japan’s new reusable straws

Convenient design or more of a hassle than they’re worth?

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Starbucks starts selling cute reusable straws in Japan

Looking after the environment while looking after your need for the perfect Frappuccino straw.

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New environmental regulations considered for Seto Inland Sea because it has become “too pretty”

That’s one way to sum up the situation.

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Japanese student criticised for campaign against excess plastic packaging

Some people in Japan just don’t want to part ways with individually wrapped candy.

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Tokyo Governor joins Piko Taro for new version of PPAP 【Video】

The surprising collaboration aims to draw attention to a new environmental initiative.

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Hong Kong Tourism Board resorts to some unusual tactics to get around China’s smog problem

As many of you may be aware, China has had some serious pollution problems in recent years with contamination spreading far and wide, affecting people’s health and everyday lifestyles. With all this negative publicity, it is of no surprise that China’s tourism industry has seen a decline in visitors to the country.

However, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has come up with a rather clever and, shall we say, peculiar scheme that guarantees to get rid of the smog, at least for all the tourists who want to capture a special photo for the occasion. It comes in the form of a picturesque banner of the Hong Kong landscape that is substituted for the real, polluted background. It’s just a case of standing in front of it, saying cheese and you’re done. Granted the picture may look good but it still doesn’t solve the actual problem of pollution.
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