Abandoned mountain forests, which continue to increase, are the cause of the landslides that have become more frequent in recent years! Contributing to the circular economy with towelettes made from thinned wood

Mt. Blue (Head office: Kanzaki-shi, Saga Prefecture; Representative: Mami Aoyama), a limited liability company that plans and sells "MOKU-NUNO" fabric products made from wood from thinning that is no longer needed for forest maintenance, has launched a crowdfunding campaign (CAMPFIRE) for its "MOKU-NUNO Towel Kette" that won the Wood Design Award 2023.The project will run until December 18, 2023, so there are only about two weeks left until the end of the project.

CAMPFIRE sales website: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/707015

MOKU-NUNO" is a people-friendly and environmentally friendly choice

[Circular economy essential for forest maintenance

Artificial forests are neglected due to the stagnant forestry industry and abandonment of management by heirs, and continue to increase by approximately 60 million m3/cubic meter (about 48 times the size of Tokyo Dome) every year. When forests become degraded, they lead to ground erosion and collapse, and there is a danger that they may lead to the severe landslides that have been occurring frequently in recent years.

The national government has also begun to take action, and in April 2023, it began operating the "Inherited Land Vesting in the National Treasury System," under which the national government will take back unused forests and other lands from those who have inherited them. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has also announced that he will review the Basic Plan for Establishing a Recycling-Oriented Society in the summer of 2024. It is said that policies toward a circular economy, which will lead to regional development, will be a pillar of the plan. In addition to providing renewable resources, forests have public values such as carbon dioxide absorption, water source recharge, and biodiversity conservation, and proper forest management is essential to the realization of a circular economy.

Unnecessary forest thinnings are turned into healing towelettes.

Our company has created the MOKU-NUNO Towel Set, which can reuse thinned wood that is no longer needed due to forest maintenance as raw material. These towelettes are made of "MOKU-NUNO", a natural material woven with wood yarn and organic cotton. Wooden cloth is woven from Japanese paper threads (wood thread) made by extracting tree fibers from thinned wood hauled out of Japanese forests and woven into cloth. The fibers are biodegradable and return to the soil in the end. This product contributes to the maintenance and management of forests, reduces environmental impact, and contributes to the circular economy.

By utilizing the power of nature, it is gentle to the skin, has excellent humidity control and air permeability, and is highly antibacterial. In addition, the woody scent from the wooden cloth has a relaxing effect and helps you sleep comfortably. In the cold season, the product is also well-received as "lightweight and highly heat-retentive, so it is convenient to use inside a futon," and "babies seem to feel comfortable when it is used as a 'bunting'".

In the U.S. crowdfunding campaign held in July this year, we received support from people in 15 countries. Now they are looking for supporters on the Japanese crowdfunding site CAMPFIRE, where you can choose up to 30% off your return until December 18.

Wooden cloth and organic cotton, two nature's comforts.

Sustainable choices save children.

When Representative Aoyama was a university teacher, he felt a grave sense of crisis that children's health and a secure life would be threatened if environmental destruction continued at the current rate. Later, he came across "wood cloth," which was developed against the backdrop of the declining forestry and textile industries, and started his own business with the desire to pass on a "healthy earth where life shines brightly" to the future. He started his original brand "MOKU-NUNO" in order to promote products that support the health and vitality of the forests.

In recognition of these efforts, MOKU-NUNO Towel Ket was selected as a winner of the Wood Design Award 2023. The Wood Design Award is an award system to promote products and services that use wood to solve various social issues in Japan and abroad. From Representative Aoyama, "We would like to promote interest in environmental conservation and regional revitalization through the effective use of forest resources, and to spread the choice to take care of future generations. We will contribute to the effective use of wood from thinning and the maintenance of forests, as well as to the inheritance of the traditional techniques and culture of the textile industry."

*Wood Design Award 2023 Award details: https://www.wooddesign.jp/db/production/2044/

MOKU-NUNO Towel Ket Product Outline

Price ： 28,000 yen (including consumption tax and shipping costs)

　　　　*Limited quantity returns with up to a 30% discount from the above price

Size : 200 cm (length) X 140 cm (width)

Weight ：661g

Material ：40% non-classified fiber, 60% cotton

Ultimate relaxation with the blessings of nature

Company Profile

Company name ： Mt.Blue

Representative: Mami Aoyama

Headquarters: 4019-16 Tsuru, Kanzaki-cho, Kanzaki-shi, Saga 842-0007, Japan

Website ： https://moku-nuno.com/

Instagram ： https://www.instagram.com/moku_nuno/

Main Career : Former Professor and Head of the Department of Rehabilitation at the University of Nishikyushu,

　　　　　　　 Former occupational therapist at Kyoto Prefectural Mukogaoka Rehabilitation Center

　　　　　　　 D. in Disability Science (Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine)

Publications: Mechanisms of Occupational Therapy Practice (Kyodo Igaku Sho Shuppan),

　　　　　　　 Recommendations for Children's Studies (Saga Newspaper Co., Ltd.), etc.