Japan Turns to Rice-Based Bags After Naphtha Supply Disruptions

The use of biomass plastic derived from renewable resources such as plants to make garbage bags is spreading in Japan in response to supply disruptions of naphtha due to the Middle East conflict. Japan Times reported that the naphtha shock exposed risks of relying on Middle East crude oil for industrial and daily goods materials.

Rice Resin, a manufacturer of bioplastic made from rice in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, has seen requests for consultations increase three to five times since the conflict began.

The company annually produces some 500 metric tons of bioplastic containing up to 70 percent rice unsuitable for consumption, such as old government-stockpiled rice, and sells garbage and shopping bags made from the material to municipalities and retailers.

The city of Fukagawa in Hokkaido decided to switch from polyethylene bags after its supplier said it could not procure raw materials. No organization participated in a bidding to supply garbage bags there in April.

Rice Resin bags are expected to be introduced on a trial basis as early as November. An official of Fukagawa said the city wants to make the most of its local uniqueness by using bags made from rice as it is one of the biggest rice-producing areas in Hokkaido.

Convenience store operator FamilyMart doubled the proportion of biomass materials, mainly sugarcane, used in shopping bags at its stores to 50 percent in mid-June.

The move is expected to reduce the company’s annual consumption of petroleum-derived plastic by some 1,100 metric tons. The price gap between Rice Resin bioplastic and petroleum-derived materials has shrunk from up to twice due to naphtha price increases that stemmed from the Middle East conflict.