Suzuki san, an elderly Japanese gentleman of my acquaintance, used to recount the following anecdote. In years of poor harvest, the Japanese government has occasionally, and rather reluctantly, imported some rice from abroad. The country normally prides itself on being self-sufficient in this staple food, and domestic production is staunchly protected. During one such year my friend received a packet of rice from Thailand which, he was proud to say, he threw out uneaten. While some (particularly Thais!) might find this mildly offensive, he felt he was doing his patriotic duty by eschewing non-Japanese rice.
I was reminded of this incident when reading a report in the Japan Times on the Eco Products Fair held recently at Tokyo’s Big Sight venue. More than one of the 721 exhibitors had come up with novel ways to put to use rice from Japan’s vast stockpile that had become too old for human consumption. If such technology had been available at the time, rather than simply throwing out his unwanted rice Suzuki san could have had it turned into a biodegradable plastic for use in carrier bags, fans or folders.
Other new products on show included ‘bio-silica’ firewood made from rice husks, tatami mats made from used green tea leaves and machines that recycle used diapers (including the adult diapers that are increasingly common in Japan’s ageing society) into odourless fuel pellets.
One interesting aspect of all this is the way in which the 180,000 visitors to the three day event demonstrate the high environmental engagement of Japanese consumers. Our GfK Roper Reports Worldwide consumer trends study shows that 27% of Japanese consumers cite global climate change as one of their top three concerns; the joint-second highest result worldwide.
The second interesting aspect is that many of the innovations mentioned above do not involve the purchase of expensive equipment on the part of the consumer. Instead, the focus is on recycling and minimising waste. At the beginning of last year, when the global recession was at its height, GfK Roper Consulting predicted that the predominant green trend for the year would be ‘green + simple’, where consumers would be more inclined to choose environmentally safe options that did not require extra outlay or even saved them money. It seems that many of the innovations from the Eco Products Fair are very much in the spirit of this idea.
Incidentally, you may be interested to know that we’ll be sharing our predictions for 2010 at a seminar and web conference in February. Click here for more details.
Going against the grain? On the contrary, Japan’s latest green innovations are right on trend
Suzuki san, an elderly Japanese gentleman of my acquaintance, used to recount the following anecdote. In years of poor harvest, the Japanese government has occasionally, and rather reluctantly, imported some rice from abroad. The country normally prides itself on being self-sufficient in this staple food, and domestic production is staunchly protected. During one such year my friend received a packet of rice from Thailand which, he was proud to say, he threw out uneaten. While some (particularly Thais!) might find this mildly offensive, he felt he was doing his patriotic duty by eschewing non-Japanese rice.
I was reminded of this incident when reading a report in the Japan Times on the Eco Products Fair held recently at Tokyo’s Big Sight venue. More than one of the 721 exhibitors had come up with novel ways to put to use rice from Japan’s vast stockpile that had become too old for human consumption. If such technology had been available at the time, rather than simply throwing out his unwanted rice Suzuki san could have had it turned into a biodegradable plastic for use in carrier bags, fans or folders.
Other new products on show included ‘bio-silica’ firewood made from rice husks, tatami mats made from used green tea leaves and machines that recycle used diapers (including the adult diapers that are increasingly common in Japan’s ageing society) into odourless fuel pellets.
One interesting aspect of all this is the way in which the 180,000 visitors to the three day event demonstrate the high environmental engagement of Japanese consumers. Our GfK Roper Reports Worldwide consumer trends study shows that 27% of Japanese consumers cite global climate change as one of their top three concerns; the joint-second highest result worldwide.
The second interesting aspect is that many of the innovations mentioned above do not involve the purchase of expensive equipment on the part of the consumer. Instead, the focus is on recycling and minimising waste. At the beginning of last year, when the global recession was at its height, GfK Roper Consulting predicted that the predominant green trend for the year would be ‘green + simple’, where consumers would be more inclined to choose environmentally safe options that did not require extra outlay or even saved them money. It seems that many of the innovations from the Eco Products Fair are very much in the spirit of this idea.
Incidentally, you may be interested to know that we’ll be sharing our predictions for 2010 at a seminar and web conference in February. Click here for more details.
Location Wars:The secrets of country brand marketing www.themarketer.co.uk Forget postcard clichés, country brand marketing has become big business as nations battle it out for top billing on the world stage to attract business and tourism. Muireann Bolger looks at what makes a strong country brand and the winners and losers of 2011
’Tis the season to be frugal www.economist.com THANKSGIVING DAY, which this year falls on Thursday November 24th, is fast approaching and retailers in America are getting ready to lay out their wares in the hope that the annual stampede by shoppers wi
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Attention Marketers: AMA TV brings you another great episode of marketing news and insights. Hear about big brands, networking and customer loyalty! This week hear how Gap is going back to basics and expanding their international presence, just in time for the holidays-networking, GfK Custom Research's 3 keys to help ensure a successful customer loyalty program and more!
AMA TV: Gap Goes Back to Basics videos.marketingpower.com Attention Marketers: AMA TV brings you another great episode of marketing news and insights. Hear about big brands, networking and customer loyalty! This week hear how Gap is going back
Younger Automobile Buyers Not as Brand Loyal as Older Counterparts www.marketwire.com NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Oct 26, 2011) - During the past decade, automobile manufacturers have experienced a steady decline in customer loyalty for specific brands. This change signals the need for a new approach to marketing automobiles in the future according to a new survey conducted by GfK Au...
Holiday 2011 Trend: More Gifts Under the Tree ... For Me - DailyFinance www.dailyfinance.com Recession-scarred shoppers are tired of cutting back, and they're ready to give in to their pent up spending impulses, experts say. So after a few years of austerity, this holiday season, many people are going to be splurging a bit more on presents for themselves.
