Kagoshima University's Environmental Project Marketing "Eco-Sweets" Made from Pumpkins Grown with Kitchen Compost

Copyright Kagoshima University

The Sustainable Campus Project (SCP), an environmental group at Kagoshima University, produced an event called the "Eco-Sweets 2012," which ran from October 18 to 31, 2012, where they sold desserts made from pumpkins that had been grown using composted kitchen waste.

To start with, the SCP had first developed and promoted a recycling system to turn food waste from the university canteen into compost for growing vegetables, which in turn are used as ingredients to make food products and then sold in the same canteen.

Once that system was established, the SCP went on to encourage households and companies to use the "Poit-maru," a cardboard box composter, and then citizens grew pumpkins using the compost. Confectioners and restaurants purchased the paste made from the pumpkins to make the desserts sold at the Eco-Sweets 2012. The desserts made by each participating shop were quite original and unique, and included pumpkin pudding, pumpkin "Mont Blanc" cake, and bread rolls with pumpkin paste inside.

A total of 1,018 Poit-marus were used for the project, with 52 companies participating, either to produce or sell the desserts. This sustainable system was also supported by various other partners, such as farmers, distributors, and public relations specialists. Included in the price of every Eco-sweet sold at the event was a donation of 10 yen (about U.S.13 cents), which went into a green citizens fund that will be used for next year's activities.