Food Waste Washi

Overview

Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture is a major center for washi paper production. There, papermaker Igarashi Masami created "Food Paper," combining produce like potatoes or onions – mainly discards and scraps from the food industry – with paper mulberry, the traditional material for washi. Her aim is to raise awareness of food loss using traditional crafts. The paper also reflects the natural color of the ingredients; another part of its appeal. It's a new page in the 1,500-year history of Echizen washi.