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COVER STORY: Sustainable Cities

Eco-Products 2010 attracted about 183,000 people over the three days of the fair.
Credit: WATARU MUKAI

Eco-Products 2010

Eco-Products 2010, one of the largest environmental fairs in Japan, was held December 9–11 at Tokyo Big Sight, drawing about 183,000 visitors. This twelfth edition of the fair featured exhibits of products, services, and environmental technologies from 745 enterprises and organizations, in areas including home appliances, daily products, automobiles, houses, energy and food.

Credit: WATARU MUKAI Solar Recharger for Mobile Phones One of the most popular exhibits was a small solar recharger that enables mobile phones to be recharged by sunlight. After recharging by exposing the panel to the sunlight, all that is needed is to connect to the mobile phone using the dedicated connector. It can be used just like a battery-operated recharger. The new recharger is compatible with a wide range of products, from the iPhone and other cutting-edge smartphone products to mobile game machines. Among the exhibits, the Deko Recharger created by Links International for the exhibition attracted particular attention.

Credit: WATARU MUKAI Wall and Roof Afforestation System Demand for wall- and roof­surface afforestation has grown, as a measure to make urban areas more verdant. Suntory Midorie has developed Pafukaru, a spongy new material shaped like a pot that can be used to replace soil. Lighter than soil, this product allows more plants to be placed on walls and roofs. Pafukaru also reduces the need for cleaning, as it generates no dust.

Credit: COURTESY OF SHINODA Soundproof Wall Using Thinnings The importance of forests that can absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide has risen, as a mechanism for preventing global warming. Although thinning is indispensable for improving forests, a lack of ways to effectively use thinnings has been an issue. The soundproof wall developed by Shinoda, a construction company in Gifu Prefecture, creates not only environmental effects by utilizing thinnings but also enhances landscapes.

Credit: WATARU MUKAI Pocket Book Terminal of the Future by Sony Sony exhibited the Pocket Book Terminal for the Future, which is being studied for future applications. Information and electricity can be supplied to the equipment wirelessly. The thin, lightweight organic EL display with a main body made of plant-derived plastic is easy to carry and hard to break, even when dropped. The blue wall behind the terminals is made of tiles equipped with a power storage function, which is also under development.