精米する過程で出た廃棄予定の“くず米”を買い取って加工し、ストローに生まれ変わらせている上官ゆいさん。以前、夫の実家が営む製紙工場で製造していた紙ストローが、実用性に欠けるなどの理由から返品され在庫を抱えていることを知り、環境への配慮と使い勝手を両立させるストローを作れないかと取り組みをスタート。今後は、地域の社会課題を解決する循環モデルとして日本全国に広げていきたいと語る上官さんの思い描く未来とは？
Ms. Yui Joukan purchases and processes broken rice, waste rice grain otherwise destined for disposal during the polishing process, and transforms it into drinking straws. Her initiative began after she learned that a paper straw product, manufactured at her husband’s family’s paper mill, was being returned for its lack of practicality and such, leaving the company with excess inventory； she sought to create a straw that balanced environmental friendliness with ease of use. Ms. Joukan says that she is looking to expand this initiative, a circular model designed to solve local social issues, all across the country. What kind of future does she envision?
