Japanese graphic designer Naoko Kimura was inspired by the vibrant colors of vegetables and created the Oyasai Crayon, which makes the most of vegetable waste and by-products of the rice production process. The edible crayons are made from solid rice bran wax and liquid rice brain oil, which are used to polish rice, and colored with fruit and vegetable powders. Each crayon is named after the fruit or vegetable that matches its pigment—Carrot or Purple Potato, for example.
The food-based, waste-reducing crayons are now available in Japan and they are being introduced on Kickstarter to expand their reach globally. The vibrantly colored crayons inspire appreciation for the natural world with bright shades of green, red, purple, orange and yellow.
Eco-Friendly Edible Crayons
The Oyasai Crayon is Made from Vegetable Waste & By-Products
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Crayons - The trend towards more sustainable art supplies using waste products and natural ingredients, such as the Oyasai Crayon made from vegetable waste and by-products.
2. Food-based Art Supplies - The trend towards incorporating food-based materials into art supplies, such as the Oyasai Crayon made from solid rice bran wax and liquid rice brain oil colored with fruit and vegetable powders.
3. Natural Color Inspiration - The trend of using nature and natural products to inspire art, such as the Oyasai Crayon named after the fruit or vegetable that matches its pigment.
Industry Implications
1. Art Supplies - There is an opportunity for sustainable, food-based, and nature-inspired art supplies that use waste products and/or natural ingredients, such as vegetable waste and fruit and vegetable powders.
2. Education - There is an opportunity to incorporate sustainable and natural art supplies into educational programs, fostering appreciation for the environment and reducing waste.
3. Food Waste Reduction - The use of vegetable waste and by-products in the Oyasai Crayon provides an opportunity for reducing food waste and creating sustainable products in the food industry.