The modern environmental movement urges us to assess the environmental impact of everything in our lives, including day-to-day items like school supplies.

In an attempt to reduce waste and introduce sustainability to children at a young age, Japanese company Mizuiro, Inc., has figured out a way to use vegetable waste and other natural ingredients to produce a more sustainable crayon. The company calls them Oyasai Crayons and uses a recipe that relies on rice bran oil and rice wax from rice bran, both of which are byproducts of the rice polishing process.

To give the crayons their color, Oyasai Crayons collects and utilizes the often-discarded parts of vegetables, such as the outer leaves and stems. The food waste is gathered and converted into colors, along with the same pigments used to further enhance colors in food. The final product is comprised of 100 percent all-natural ingredients, which is a win for the environment but also relieves parents from worrying about their children putting crayons in their mouths.

Naoko Kimura, a proud mother, and founder and graphic designer of Mizuiro, Inc., was inspired by the vivid colors produced by vegetables while working from home. Her idea expanded as she learned about how much vegetable waste is generated from harvesting, as well as from produce that doesn’t meet aesthetic standards.

Currently, the company has 10 colors available, created using waste from Japanese yam, green onion, long potato, burdock, corn, snow carrot, apple, cassis, purple potato, and takesumi (bamboo charcoal).

Oyasai Crayons meet the JIS standard, an inspection that ensures a benchmark for crayon strength, and they also earned the European standard toy safety EN71-3:2013 certificate.

Source Image: Yanko Designs