Yashinomi Detergent Paper Carton Refill Becomes the First Paper Carton Certified Under Japan's Plastic Design Program
Refills are meant to cut waste, yet the pouches they come in are often still plastic. SARAYA's Yashinomi Detergent 1400 mL refill takes a different route: a paper carton. On September 30, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) certified its design under the national certification for plastic-containing products, making it the first paper carton container in Japan to receive this certification.*
The certification is part of Japan's Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics, which encourages manufacturers to design products that use less plastic and are easier to recycle. Household detergent containers are one of the product categories the program covers. The Yashinomi carton was certified in that category (certification no. PLA000051).
Compared with the previous Yashinomi Detergent 1500 mL refill pouch, the new carton uses 34% less plastic. The carton is made with FSC-certified paper, sourced from responsibly managed forests. It also stands upright on its own, so it is easier to pour from and to store, and it folds flat after use for compact disposal.
Refills have been part of Yashinomi from early on. The brand launched in 1971 as an unscented, color-free dish detergent made with plant-derived cleaning ingredients. In 1982, SARAYA introduced refill packs for its kitchen detergent, ahead of most of the industry. The paper carton is the next step in that same effort to use less plastic.
Paper Refills Across SARAYA Brands
Yashinomi is not the only SARAYA brand moving refills from plastic to paper. Other products, such as the arau.baby Foam Body Soap 800 mL and 1400 mL refills, have also switched to carton refills, using less plastic than standard plastic refill pouches.
The carton also connects to SARAYA's work far from the kitchen. Since 2004, SARAYA has supported environmental conservation in Borneo, Malaysia, a source region for the palm-derived ingredients in Yashinomi Detergent. Part of the sales of Yashinomi products goes to this work, which includes wildlife rescue and purchasing private land to connect protected areas, creating green corridors for animals.
SARAYA will keep looking for ways to reduce the plastic in its packaging, one bottle and refill at a time.
*The certification is granted by the competent minister for each product category. For household detergent containers, this is the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The "first in Japan" claim is based on the list of certified products that Japan's Ministry of the Environment publishes for the program, as of September 30, 2026.