A law requiring companies and others to reduce disposable plastic products will come into effect next month.
Paper manufacturers are developing various paper products to replace plastics, and their use is expanding in local governments and food and beverage chains before the law comes into effect.
Of these, the milk carton for school meals developed by Nippon Paper Industries has a new crease so that even children can easily open the spout, and can drink milk without using a straw.
It will spread to about 170 municipalities next month, and the company says it will reduce about 100 tons of disposable plastic, which is equivalent to 200 million straws a year.
A person in charge of Nippon Paper Industries said, "The use is expanding based on the educational effect of reducing plastic waste."
Daio Paper is also strengthening sales by developing paper hangers and spoons that are more durable against water and oil.
A stick called a muddler that stirs coffee etc. was also made from paper and adopted by a major coffee chain that is expanding nationwide.
A law requiring companies and others to reduce the number of disposable plastic products will come into effect next month, but the use of various paper products to replace plastics made by paper makers is expanding.