Japanese Newspaper That Transforms into Plants Promotes Sustainability
Technology
May 4, 2025
The Mainichi Shimbun, a leading Japanese daily, introduced the “Green Newspaper,” a fully sustainable publication that can be planted to grow flowers or herbs after reading. Launched on May 4, 2016, to coincide with Japan’s Greenery Day, the initiative highlights the country’s advancements in eco-friendly innovation.
Developed in collaboration with Dentsu Inc., a major advertising agency, the newspaper is made from recycled and vegetable-based paper embedded with seeds, printed with plant-based ink that doubles as fertilizer.
How It Works and Environmental Impact
The Green Newspaper is composed of recycled paper mixed with water and seeds of flowers like poppies and daisies or edible herbs. Readers are instructed to tear the paper into small pieces, plant them in soil, and water them, resulting in sprouting plants within weeks. This process promotes recycling and reduces CO2 emissions compared to traditional waste disposal.
Japan, with an 80.7% paper recycling rate in 2023 according to the Paper Recycling Promotion Center, leverages such initiatives to enhance sustainability. The concept of plantable paper, available in Japan for years, aligns with global trends in eco-friendly products like seed-embedded packaging seen in countries such as the United States.
Success and Educational Outreach
The Green Newspaper achieved a circulation of over four million copies and generated 80 million yen (approximately $700,000) in revenue. The Mainichi Shimbunsha extended the initiative to schools, conducting lessons to educate children on recycling and environmental stewardship, reaching an estimated 4.6 million people through public events.
The newspaper builds on The Mainichi’s prior environmental efforts, including a water donation campaign for drought-affected regions. The initiative’s success has sparked discussions on platforms like X, with users praising its creativity and calling for similar efforts globally, reinforcing the role of media in advancing ecological awareness.
