Japanese ceramicist Hiroko Nakano revolutionized single-use packaging through "Mugwort Mugs," biodegradable cups made from fermented rice paper and mugwort extract. Collaborating with Kyoto's coffee cooperatives, her design allows consumers to eat the cup after use, with flavor-enhancing seeds embedded in the material.

Nakano's process involves fermenting rice bran with koji mold for 14 days, creating a water-resistant material that decomposes within 48 hours. Each cup features hand-painted blueberry motifs using natural pigments, with edible soy ink instructions printed on the base. The project diverted 12 tons of plastic waste from landfills in Kyoto within six months.

"Coffee culture should nourish both body and environment," Nakano explained. Her work inspired Taiwan's coffee chains to adopt similar edible packaging, reducing single-use plastics by 35% in Taipei's Ximending district.