The majority driftwood generated by rivers and dams is incinerated (generating heat equivalent to that of about 230,000 households each year). Driftwood can be used as an inexpensive fuel, but the problem is that no one is willing to work on it as a business due to the inconsistency in quality and low profits. As a separate issue, it is estimated that there are more than one million people in Japan who are withdrawn from society. In order for them to reintegrate into society, places for employment training are indispensable, but they are currently insufficient in both quantity and quality. The production and supply of wood fuel (firewood) provides excellent conditions for employment training, and because it is for employment training purposes, it does not need to be highly profitable. This project will aim to bring together these two issues - the conversion of driftwood into wood fuel and employment training for socially withdrawn people - to create a sustainable, win-win situation for both parties. [No. K19-0086]

Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund FY2019 Activity Grants List (PDF 470KB)