#Japan #Tokyo #Kuradashi #Green Table #Green Dolce

Turning Food Waste into Exquisite Sweets

Kuradashi, a Tokyo-based company dedicated to reducing food waste, has announced the launch of a new initiative known as 'THE GREEN TABLE'. The project aims to utilize surplus ingredients, often overlooked and discarded, such as irregular vegetables, by-products from food production, and leftover scraps, transforming them into value-added products with the help of food specialists.

The Motivation Behind 'THE GREEN TABLE'

With a clear mission to be a 'social good company' and a vision to become 'the leading company in Japan for reducing food waste,' Kuradashi has made it its business to contribute to solving sustainable social issues. According to estimates from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan produced approximately 4.72 million tons of food waste in the fiscal year 2022. However, the total amount of waste generated from food sources reaches around 22.32 million tons. This staggering figure includes approximately 17.6 million tons of by-products from food processing that can still be consumed but are often wasted, referred to as 'hidden food loss.'

Until now, Kuradashi has largely focused on visible food waste reduction through their social good marketplace, Kuradashi. With the new 'THE GREEN TABLE' project, the company aims to tackle the hidden food loss encountered upstream in the food supply chain by developing and selling products made from unused materials.

Understanding the 'THE GREEN TABLE' Project

The 'THE GREEN TABLE' project defines unused material, such as leftover sake lees from rice wine production and wine sediment, as ‘new materials,’ which will be continuously developed into various food brands. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries' program supporting urgent countermeasures for food waste reduction for the fiscal year 2024.

Introducing 'GREEN DOLCE' - The First Initiative

As a kickoff to the 'THE GREEN TABLE' project, Kuradashi will launch a brand named 'GREEN DOLCE' that focuses on creating exquisite sweets from these hidden food loss materials, expertly crafted by award-winning pastry chefs. The first theme for GREEN DOLCE revolves around utilizing ingredients related to alcoholic beverages.

On May 22, a limited number of orders for these unique sweets will be available for reservation, showcasing the special materials being employed.

Featured Ingredients:

• - Sake Lees: The residue left after pressing sake, often considered a Japanese superfood. Despite its high nutritional value, only about 30 tons of the 136 tons generated annually can be sold, leading to over 100 tons that remain unused.
• - Wine Sediment: Composed of tannins, polyphenols, and proteins, this sediment forms during wine aging and must be removed to avoid cloudiness and potential negative impacts on taste. It contributes to around 2,500 to 3,000 kg of waste annually, about 25%-30% of total grape processing by-products.

Collaborating Pastry Chefs

Two talented pastry chefs are collaborating on the GREEN DOLCE initiative:

• - Toshihiro Tanaka: After training at renowned patisseries, he opened VERT, a specialized restaurant focusing on Japanese tea-inspired courses.
• - Midori Matsuda: Known for her unique themed desserts inspired by nature, she plans to launch her brand, amazoonia, in 2024 and has a strong track record in competitions.

As Kuradashi continues its mission with 'THE GREEN TABLE,' they are committed to bringing new value to unused materials, fostering innovation in the food industry, and contributing to a sustainable society.

What is Kuradashi?

Kuradashi is a social good marketplace aimed at reducing food waste by offering potentially discarded food items for sale at reasonable prices while donating part of the proceeds to various social welfare organizations focused on environmental protection and disaster relief, thus supporting the SDGs.

About Kuradashi Inc.

• - Founded: July 2014
• - Headquarters: 3-2-1 Kamioosaki, Shinagawa, Tokyo
• - Kuradashi Website

By promoting enjoyable shopping experiences that yield social benefits, Kuradashi aims to create an entirely new model for sustainable supermarkets. With innovative projects like 'THE GREEN TABLE,' food waste can be transformed into delectable treats, contributing to a healthier planet for everyone.