 |
|
|
|
| The process of making tofu from soymilk produces some byproducts, including okara, or soy pulp. Okara is the fiber, protein and starch left over when soy milk has been extracted from grinding soaked soybeans. Okara, in fact, has increasingly become a social problem, as it creates unfavorable industrial waste |
| - |
Disposing okara costs between $100 to $200 per ton on average, which imposes a burden on many tofu and soymilk businesses. |
| - |
Okara is sometimes used as animal feed, but the majority becomes industrial waste and is incinerated. As a result, large amounts of fossil fuels are consumed, and carbon dioxide is emitted into the air. |
| - |
Okara produces some odor during the tofu making process, and can pose problems, including pollution, within neighboring communities. |
|
| To address these social issues responsibly and to contribute to considerate, sustainable tofu production, Banrai has developed equipment that does not produce any Okara.
With this equipment, we use every part of our soybeans to make soymilk and tofu. It not only helps to address various problems, but also allows our products to maintain freshness and flavor that are lost during the usual process of making tofu.
|
|
|
| Banrai’s packaging is made of recyclable paper, and its uniquely designed layers safely secure each part of BANRAI-Nabe pot when being shipped.
It is known that the recycling rate of the paper we use, corrugated board, is one of the highest. Corrugated board is made from a large supply of natural, sustainable materials and is fully recyclable, which means it can be pulped down to make more paper for more board once it has been used up. We use it because it is a very ecological-friendly material. |
|
|
| Along with a research team at Mie University as well as various other stakeholders, Banrai is at the forefront of industry research, developing innovative, sustainable ways to grow soybeans - cultivation of fertile soil, reduction of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and improvement of seed without genetically modifying soybeans. And we take our endeavor even further, turning research into action. Banrai resolutely pursues cross-industrial coalition and applies the latest research developments in multiple ways. It is Banrai’s commitment to contribute to all our responsibilities: the social, the environmental, and the economical. |
|
