Wave Yokohama

Wave Yokohama is a non-profit organization based in Aoba-Ku, Yokohama. They intend to raise awareness of reusing things with their rental service of reusable cutlery and dishwashing trucks and aim to make social gatherings all over Japan eco-friendly.

They initially organized the Yokohama Halloween festival in Aoba Ward and have became aware of the garbage associated with the event. They then started the tableware rental business in 2008 with the hopes of making all the social gatherings in Yokohama eco-friendly and spreading the wave of reuse nationwide. They offer their services at various events such as local festivals, seminars, BBQs, concerts, and other seasonal events.

Wave Yokohama’s reusable plates and cups are made out of durable, lightweight, and easy-to-handle plastic. They are rentable for 26 yen per plate (*as of December 2021), and does not require washing after use. To prevent equipment loss, they charge a security deposit to assure the plates and cups and returned when used at large events. Through Wave Yokohama’s service, users can reduce waste and CO2 emissions along with the life cycle assessment (LCA) method.

1.Reduce waste and CO2 emissions using reusable tableware

Reusable cutlery significantly reduces waste compared to disposable ones. Reducing waste means reducing CO2 emissions at the same time. Generally speaking, reusable plastic cups can be used over 20 to 30 times, and reusable plastic plates can be used for more than five decades unless broken. LCA results show the environmental impact of reusable cups is lower than paper cups when: more than 4.7 times used in the amount of waste, more than 2.7 times used in CO2 emissions and water consumption, and more than 6.3 times used in energy consumption. (*Reference: Reuse Network).

2.Create local employment by running the whole service within the area

Wave Yokohama has a washing and sanitizing facility in Aoba-Ku, where the NPO is based. They have one of the best washing equipment in the country, which can wash a massive number of dishes for large-scale events. They employ people with disabilities at the facility and create employment for a diverse range of people in Yokohama.

Raise locals environmental awareness through organizing events

Wave Yokohama’s service tells people the importance of reusing things at an event. They help organizers get involved in renting and collecting the cutlery and encourage people to take action for the environment.