Upcycling waste wood into handmade paper by people with disabilities The project, called "Meguru, Handmade Paper. won the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2024 Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2024

Kotobuki Printing Co. (Location: Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture; President: Katsumi Sofuji) has won the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2024 sponsored by the Social Products Promotion Association. The project, "Meguru, Handmade Paper", won the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2024 hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products.

Meguru, handmade paper.

What is "Meguru, handmade paper"? What is "Meguru, handmade paper"?

There are 11 kinds of products in total.

Meguru, handmade paper is a project that aims to recycle resources and support the independence of people with disabilities by upcycling waste materials that used to be thrown away into handmade paper at welfare facilities. By transforming waste materials generated daily at companies and factories into new paper, we hope to contribute to an environmentally friendly, recycling-oriented society. We also want to solve the social problem of the wage gap that afflicts people with disabilities by asking users of welfare workplaces to make paper to increase their wages. This initiative was started with this in mind.

Fuchu City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a town where manufacturing of denim, furniture, miso (fermented bean paste), and other items thrive. Local companies engaged in traditional industries have provided us with scrap wood from their manufacturing processes, and we have developed and launched "Indigo Denim Paper," "Furniture Wood Scrap Paper," and "Miso Paper" as our original products.

Each sheet is made by hand.

We receive cooperation from facilities for people with disabilities that are engaged in the papermaking business for the blending of materials and the handmaking process. Through each sheet of paper carefully made by hand, we aim to convey the stories behind the waste materials and create a "cycle of joy" between the people who use the paper, the handmade paper, the companies working on the SDGs, and the earth where children live. As a first step toward the recycling of resources in the region and the creation of employment for people with disabilities, we have begun collaborating with a self-support facility in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

We also sell handmade paper made at welfare facilities across the country that share our passion for handmade paper under the name "Meguru, Handmade Paper. We will continue to add new products to our lineup. We plan to add new products in the future.

*"Meguru, handmade paper. URL: https://meguru-tesukigami.com/

Comments from the judges

This is a very significant initiative that focuses on both the environment and society. The environmental aspect of making effective use of corporate waste materials and the social aspect of bringing new possibilities into the field of sales, which is a weak area for welfare facilities and the issue of wage disparity for the disabled, are well integrated. The story of a company that produces waste materials and reuses them as business cards creates a sophisticated brand worldview. The waste material is truly the seed and starting point of the story. It is hoped that the story of this product will be conveyed to society in the future.

What is the Social Products Award (SPA)?

What is SPA?

SPA is the first and only system in Japan to award social products with the aim of realizing a sustainable society through the promotion and dissemination of social products. SPA SPA provides information on excellent social products to consumers and supports companies and organizations that are working to create a sustainable society through social products.

https://www.apsp.or.jp/socialproductsaward/

What are social products?

Social products are products and services that are friendly to people and the earth, such as "eco-friendly," "organic," "fair trade," "with donations," and "rooted in local communities and traditions," and that enable purchasers to connect with actions and organizations related to the creation of a sustainable society.

https://www.apsp.or.jp/socialproducts/

◆"Meguru, handmade paper. About the products of "Meguru, handmade paper.

A total of 11 types of recycled paper made by upcycling waste materials from various genres such as denim, furniture, miso, soy sauce, old newspapers, coffee, and origami cranes. You can choose the product that best suits your industry, product concept, and corporate message. We can also provide consultation regarding size and thickness adjustments. We also offer paper wholesaling services.

Indigo Denim Paper (Indigo, Middle Indigo, Light Indigo, Beige Indigo)

▲Furniture wood waste paper

◆Our own waste wood into paper for our own use

Development with cooperating companies

We support companies nationwide in the development of original recycled paper using their own waste wood as raw material. By upcycling thread, scraps, wood waste, foodstuff shells and squeezed lees generated at factories, and used paper, flyers, catalogs, etc. generated at offices into handmade paper for use in business cards, pamphlets, etc., we create a cycle of "reusing our own waste materials by ourselves".

◆"Meguru, handmade paper. Advantages of using "Meguru, handmade paper

Letterpress Case Study

(1) Contribution to SDGs

This project, which upcycles waste wood in collaboration with facilities for people with disabilities, contributes to the SDGs [8: Work satisfaction and economic growth] [10: Eliminate inequality among people and countries] [12: Responsibility to create and produce]. Handmade paper is a way of life. The more people use Meguru handmade paper, the closer we are to realizing a better society.

(2) As a tool for communicating the company's philosophy and stance

Paper made from upcycled waste materials is an effective sales and PR tool that communicates the company's philosophy and attitude toward society. It can also be used for branding and strengthening customer relationships. We can produce business cards, pamphlets, product tags, store cards, direct mail, coasters, etc. according to your request (trial production required).

(3) Create communication with the recipient

Each piece is handmade by hand, preserving the texture and color of the scrap wood. The one-of-a-kind texture of the "scrap wood" and "handmade" material attracts the interest of the recipient and creates an opportunity to communicate the product concept and corporate philosophy to customers and business partners.

About Kotobuki Printing Co.

Kotobuki Printing Co.

We started our printing company in Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and have done many design and printing jobs. Thanks to your support, 40 years have passed and we have been approached by many customers to do business with them. From now on, we will continue to think about what we can do by utilizing our design and printing technologies to address the issues facing the community and society so that we can leave the earth cleaner than when we were born.

Kotobuki Printing Co.

Address: 840-2 Takagi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Hiroshima 726-0013

Representative: Katsumi Sofuji

Establishment : October 1990

Capital: 10 million yen

Business description: Planning, design, and production of various advertisements, sales promotion materials, and printed materials

URL ： https://co-tobuki.co.jp/