Soka University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering’s Shinsaku Maruta Seminar presented their bioplastic products made from Hachioji-grown rice flour, developed as part of their industry-university collaboration, at the “Hachioji Manufacturing EXPO” (11th~12th November) during the Tama Future Trade Fair.
Maruta Seminar’s work has been selected for the Student Planning Project Subsidy, which the Consortium of Universities in Hachioji uses to help subsidize costs for students working on local contributions, surveys, and research. Soka University’s Important Research Promotion Project and SDGs Promotion Program were also selected for subsidies.

Aiming to contribute to SDGs regarding food loss and the plastic environment problem, the rice flour created as a by-product during the “Takao no Tengu” ginjo sake brewing process was used to produce a biomass plastic clip that’s 51% rice, which was made in cooperation with Seiho Ltd., a Hachioji plastic molding company.

The student working as the project leader said, “Our idea to make use of the rice flour that until now was simply thrown away was given shape by the company (Seiho). Now that we’ve actually shown it, we’ve received lots of precious opinions and support. We’ll continue to work towards SDGs and do the things we can do thanks to being university students.”