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The article reports that a technology to create bioethanol from waste paper and other organic residuals using a special kind of bacteria is underway by a package material manufacturer in western Japan called Shingoshu Co. According to Japan for Sustainability, joint research is being conducted with two universities and the Energen company that sells biomass energy. Some countries have already been blending gasoline with bioethanol produced from such materials as sugar cane. In Japan, a blended fuel containing three percent bioethanol was introduced in 2004.

Reports on the commercial recycling activities in Hokkaido, Japan. History and background information on Hokkaido; Development of neighborhood waste collection system; Waste collected in Furano Recycling Center; Discussion of composting process and statistics; Recycling of and marketing paper and plastic wastes; ; Education of newcomers on proper waste separation; Features of Furano waste education.

The article reports on the revision of the Biomass Nippon Strategy by the Japanese government. The Biomass Nippon Strategy is a national project to promote biomass use policies as transportation and resources. Definition of biomass includes animal waste, food residuals, wood chips and rice chaff. The statistics of unutilized biomass in Japan are given. They include 80 percent food waste, over 40 percent of paper waste, 70 percent of nonfood farm crop residues, most wood waste from forestry and 36 percent of sewage sludge.

The article discusses the promotion of biomass plastics in general food container production in Japan. With this, voluntary industry standards for the use of polylactic acid products are being evaluated for poly butulene succinate. Biomass plastics are used in containers for blister packs for batteries, disposable cups and egg packaging. In addition, such materials are now being used in various home appliances or car interior parts. Using biomass plastics can improve heat proof, impact proof and crystallization speeds and that they are considered as carbon neutral rather than biodegradable. The Biomass Nippon Strategy outlines some specific goals for biomass plastics while details on the CarbonNeutral system are also discussed.