A startup in Minami-Soma, has developed prototypes of 100% plant-based straws and other products that will decompose into soil over time. Toresyoku Co. utilizes its recently developed technology to efficiently extract cellulose, a raw material for certain plastics, from vegetable scrap.

　南相馬市のベンチャー企業が、野菜くずからプラスチックの原料となる「セルロース」を効率的に取り出す技術を開発し、試作品として植物由来１００％の土に返るストローなどを作った。

　Each day, three tons of vegetable waste, such as tomato leaves and broccoli stems, arrive at the factory. The company buys the scraps from local supermarkets and farms, which discard them during processing.
　Cellulose is extracted by passing the scraps through a special machine, with the resulting substance then turned into powder.

　トレ食の工場にはトマトの葉やブロッコリーの茎などが毎日３トン集まる。市内のスーパーや農家から、加工の際に出る端材を買い取ったものだ。特殊な機械に通してセルロースを抽出し、粉末に加工している。

　The company's prototype straws and plastic bottles are brownish in hue due to the color of the ingredients.
　"We can make them transparent by using bleach, but we don't want to use chemicals," said President Satoshi Okimura, 45.

　試作したストローとペットボトルは素材の色みから茶色がかっているが、社長の沖村智さん（４５）は「漂白剤を使えば透明にできるが、薬剤は使いたくない」と話す。

　Originally from Nagano Prefecture, Okimura started the business in Minami-Soma in 2018. He and his wife had moved to the city from Tokyo, hoping to launch a business that would benefit society while living in an area affected by the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　He has been actively hiring locals, and more than half of his 20 employees live in the city.

　長野県出身の沖村さんが南相馬市で起業したのは２０１８年。東京電力福島第１原発事故で傷ついた地域に根を張り、社会のためになる事業を起こそうと、妻と共に東京都から移住した。地元雇用にも力を入れており、社員２０人のうち半数以上を市内から雇っている。

　Okimura said he is planning to work with companies in the prefecture to promote decarbonization and reduce food waste.
　"I want to create a society where people, animals and the planet can all live in harmony," he said.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　今後は県内企業と協力しながら、脱炭素や食品ロス削減への取り組みを進める考えだ。沖村さんは「人と動物、地球、みんなが共生できる社会を目指したい」と語った。

　【　２０２３年２月９日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】