The Voice of Shells Connecting Sea and Land When Discarded Shells are Reborn as Detergent in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, Japan (December 2008)

The Voice of Shells Connecting Sea and Land When Discarded Shells are Reborn as Detergent in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, Japan (December 2008)
In the late 2000s, interest in environmentally friendly products was growing in Japan, and there was a search for non-petroleum-based products in the lifestyle field. Attempts to link the waste problem and the creation of new industries were being made nationwide. In the midst of this trend, the problem of the mass disposal of scallop shells in Hokkaido was a serious issue unique to the region. Although the shells were a resource, they were expensive to dispose of, and the fishing industry was burdened with the cost, resulting in both an environmental burden and economic loss.
The scallop shell cleaner Kurihorg, developed by Hokuei in Yakumo Town, is a practical solution to this situation. Scallop shells are treated with high heat to convert them into calcium hydroxide, which is then combined with enzymes to achieve both cleaning power and safety. The specification to reduce foaming and to rinse only once led to more efficient washing not only for home use but also for commercial use, and the system contributed to reducing the environmental impact of laundry wastewater and reducing water consumption. At the time, the environmentally friendly detergent market was attracting attention, but petroleum-derived surfactants were the mainstream, and the alternative detergent market had not yet been fully developed.
On the other hand, it is also worth mentioning that the raw material, shells, were available in large quantities in the region and could be supplied stably. The conversion of a material that was once a waste product into a local resource and the creation of a new value-added structure from a byproduct of the fishing industry were also new pathways to the economic stagnation that primary industry regions were facing. Although the price of the 120g package is higher than that of ordinary detergents (1,250 yen), the natural ingredients, reduced irritation to the skin, and environmental friendliness of the product have helped it penetrate the market.
The shell detergent had multiple values, such as saving resources, reducing waste, and creating new markets, and was an example of how to simultaneously promote local industry and reduce environmental impact, a move that was in line with the recycling-based society policy of the time. Yakumo Town can thus be regarded as one of the pioneering regions that have ventured into the field of environmental technology based on its fishery resources.