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Japanese newspaper with seeds embedded sprouts flowers when planted

5 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: YoshinakaONO.com

One of Japan’s most famous national dailies prints a 100% sustainable newspaper which, if you plant it, will bloom!

AMAZING JAPANESE NEWSPAPER THAT BECOMES PLANTS WHEN DISCARDED

Japan once more demonstrates to be an advanced country. Its latest invention consists in a newspaper made of recycled and vegetable paper that you can plant after you’ve read it. 

It has been on the market since 2016 and is a mixture of recycled paper, water and small flowers or herbs seeds (it can also be easily made at home). And it can be re-used in a creative way: once you’ve finished with it, don’t throw it, rather tear it into small pieces, plant and water it and within a few weeks you’ll unexpectedly have plants and flowers.
The Paper that can be planted is not news. It has been on the market since 2016 and is a mixture of recycled paper, water and small flowers or herbs seeds (it can also be easily made at home). And it can be re-used in a creative way: once you’ve finished with it, don’t throw it, rather tear it into small pieces, plant and water it and within a few weeks you’ll unexpectedly have plants and flowers. Source: MainichiShimbunsha

ECO-FRIENDLY JAPANESE NEWSPAPER HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCC-SEED

It’s because printed newspapers are anything but environmentally friendly that many news sites have gone online (that, and because internet media reaches an audience at a much faster pace). One of the biggest daily newspapers in Japan, however, figured out a solution to the gargantuan amount of paper waste involved in printing the periodicals.

Because there’s an element of class and comfort in reading a print book or pamphlet, the Japanese “Green Newspaper” is made entirely of recycled and vegetable paper that can be composted after it’s read. Best of all, when planted, sprouts of plants will bloom! As LifeGate shares, the concept isn’t exactly ‘new’, but it is fascinating nonetheless.

Source: YoshinakOno.com

THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN POPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC

The publisher encourages people to tear the newspaper into small pieces once it has been read, plant the shreds in soil, and then water the container. Within a few weeks, plants and flowers will present themselves as sprouts!

The concept was invented by Dentsu Inc, one of Japan’s largest advertising agencies, which works with “The Mainichi”. The motto of the paper is “The Mainichi doesn’t take action only through information, but also by solving global issues.” 

Clearly, this is the case. In the past, the advertising company proved its commitment to environmental protection by collaborating on a campaign that raised donations for populations suffering from thirst.

The initiative has been so popular with the public, the paper has generated over $700,000 for its publishers. And, with over four million copies circulated each day across the country, it’s become clear that not only is recycling helpful for the environment, it’s a concept many can support.

See below for closeup detail of the sprouting newspapers, and a video report on the story.

This article, by Amanda Froelich for TrueActivist (Japanese Newspaper With Seeds Embedded Sprouts Flowers When Planted) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons licence with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.com  

Published for
The Mainichi Shimbunsha. Published for “Greenery Day” on May 4, 2016, the special edition dedicated to environmental news was printed on 100% biodegradable paper with plant-based ink, and embedded with seeds that, when planted, would grow into flowers to attract butterflies and other pollinators, or herbs to eat. The publisher instructed people to tear the discarded newspaper into small pieces, plant the shreds in soil, and then water the container as they would any plant. Source: YoshinakOno.com
The publisher gave lessons on environmental issues in schools throughout Japan, using the Green Newspaper as the central learning tool. It also held public events that demonstrated how to plant the paper, and held discussions and lessons on recycling and sustainability.
The initiative included an educational and events components, as well. The publisher gave lessons on environmental issues in schools throughout Japan, using the Green Newspaper as the central learning tool. It also held public events that demonstrated how to plant the paper, and held discussions and lessons on recycling and sustainability. Source: YoshinakOno.com
With over four million copies circulated each day across the country, the initiative underscored the newspaper industry’s ability to reach vast swaths of the public, and to influence attention to environmental issues.
The plantable newspaper initiative reached 4.6 million people, and generated over $700,000 for the publisher, as well as over 80 million yen worth of press that went far beyond newspapers alone, causing a sensation, and much inspiration, on the internet. With over four million copies circulated each day across the country, the initiative underscored the newspaper industry’s ability to reach vast swaths of the public, and to influence attention to environmental issues. Source: YoshinakOno.com
Other initiatives have sprouted elsewhere in the world including India, while several companies in the United States have begun to manufacture plantable paper for various purposes: notecards, stationery, wrapping paper, etc. Source: YoshinakOno.com
Meanwhile, the internet has dramatically impacted how people consume the news, and print readership has declined rapidly.
95 million trees are consumed for newspapers every year. Meanwhile, the internet has dramatically impacted how people consume the news, and print readership has declined rapidly. Source: YoshinakOno.com
Reimagining and reinventing the newspaper industry’s environmental impact could be transformative not only for the environment itself, but for the publishing industry as well. Source: YoshinakOno.com
Source: YoshinakOno.com
Source: YoshinakOno.com
The paper is bio-degradable, so it leaves no waste behind, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional card stocks.
Seed paper is made from post-consumer material that is infused with seeds in the pulping process to grow either wildflowers, herbs or vegetables when planted either indoors or outside. The paper is bio-degradable, so it leaves no waste behind, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional card stocks. Source: YoshinakOno.com

The Japanese newspaper that gives back to the Earth – literally Japanese newspaper grows into herbs and flowers when planted. Source: Vimeo/OneEarth
Make an Impact

HOW TO MAKE PLANTABLE SEED PAPER

Seed paper is literally paper with seeds embedded into it. When this paper is placed on top of soil and watered, it will germinate and begin sprouting seedlings. Eventually the paper will decompose and leave the seedlings to grow into mature plants. Seed paper is simple to make and can be used as invitations (wedding invitations seem to be a very popular use for seed paper), birthday cards, or other crafts with a gardening or flower theme. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to make seed paper!