Zero Ring

Zero Ring is a project to reuse takeout bento boxes in the Minato Mirai area. The project began with the notion that meals in a plain takeout container do not look as tasty as them on a fancy plate.

Zero Ring wants to solve the problem of the increasing use of disposable containers as the demand for takeout food rises. They aim to contribute to the environment by making mealtime more enjoyable and by reusing the bento box.

The word “Zero Ring” came from zero-waste, and the ring represents the circular economy. With the cooperation of haishop cafe, orders are accepted as a minimum of ten meals and delivery is limited within the Minato Mirai area as of May 2021. The project is expected to expand to the Kannai area in the future.

What Makes the Project Circular

1. A zero-waste system

In recent years, the demand for takeout food has been dramatically increasing due to the pandemic. However, most takeout containers are single use, so a large amount of waste is an issue. Zero Ring offers a circular system in which people can use takeout bento boxes repeatedly by returning the containers and cleaning them at the restaurant for reuse, thereby contributing to waste reduction.

2. An environmentally friendly cycle with local produce

Zero Ring’s bento box uses organic and pesticide-reduced vegetables grew within 80 kilometers from Yokohama so that it helps revitalize the local produce and reduce CO2 emissions from transportation. To reduce food waste, they also use outdated ingredients in good condition but no longer be sold in the market. Furthermore, they minimize the use of meat as much as possible, and leftovers are composted at haishop cafe to reduce an environmental impact.

3. Creating opportunities to learn about social issues through bento boxes

Zero Ring aims to create an opportunity for people to take environmentally conscious actions in a “fun” way. Their bento boxes are in Japanese traditional wrapping cloths “furoshiki.” It makes the Zero Ring bento look stylish and luxurious. In addition, each rice ball in the bento boxes is 139 grams which is the same weight as the amount of food waste that Japanese people discard each day. Zero Ring considers not only the mechanism of circulation but also the menu of the bento box. In this way, the whole project leads people to be aware of environmental and social issues.

Project Overview

organization Zero Ring project
Category Waste reduction
Introduced May, 2021
Business Hour Every Wednesday and Friday(except for holidays)
Delivery area Minato Mirai
Detail https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pxQAR8Jd7fUBrnH6P7Zpc0vU0Qq_Ex6FtxazMm5r8Ok/edit(Japanese)
Contact Mail: yokohama.zeroring@gmail.com

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