Fibrillated cellulose materials (FCMs), such as cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibers, and microfibrillated cellulose, are produced from bleached kraft pulp for papermaking, with or without chemical or enzymatic pretreatment, via mechanical disintegration or downsizing in water. Therefore, FCMs were prepared from wood cellulose fibers based on crystalline cellulose microfibrils with widths of approximately 3 nm, which were originally biosynthesized from CO₂ and water by plants and abundantly accumulated with hemicelluloses and lignin in plant cell walls. Two-layered sheets consisting of a cellulose nanofiber-containing foam-rubber layer and a base sheet were developed as attachable/detachable sheets with super-deodorant functions against H₂S, methyl mercaptan, and NH₃ gases. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that copper counterion-containing CNF aggregates were located at the air/rubber interfaces. When the CNF surfaces were chemically modified to alkyl amide groups, the CNFs improved the nano-dispersibility in epoxy or polyacrylate resins, resulting in better mechanical, optical, and thermal properties. Stable Pickering silicone oil/water emulsions were prepared by the high-pressure homogenization of silicone oil/CNF/amino-silicone/water mixtures. CNFs containing protonated carboxyl groups formed ionic linkages with the amine groups of amino-silicone molecules, resulting in stable o/w Pickering emulsions with small and homogeneous emulsion particles with mean diameters of 0.3-0.6 μm. When the as-prepared silicone oil emulsion was coated onto glass plates and dried, transparent, water/moisture-resistant, and strongly water-repellent films were obtained.

In an era in which digital platforms have become the dominant medium for information consumption, printed materials are increasingly expected to provide sensory and experiential value beyond conventional two-dimensional reproduction. This paper frames embellishment techniques, including spot UV coating and foil stamping, as multimodal experiences and examines the design philosophies and quality control methodologies that are required for their effective implementation. The study argues that achieving high-value-added printing depends not only on hardware capabilities, but also on “soft power”: the ability to interpret consumer psychology and the human desire for ownership, and to translate these insights into substrate selection and process design. Furthermore, through case studies on commercial print product development, this study analyzes how materials-science-based research and development contributes to experiential value creation. The findings suggest that integrating traditional printing expertise with digital technologies provides a promising framework for expanding the possibilities of physical media.

To enable the production of acrylic goods using standard Chinese manufacturing methods within Japan, Parachute Co., Ltd. has started sales and support for its NKL-480 acrylic UV adhesive lamination machine. With the cooperation of a Japanese digital printing machine manufacturer, producing acrylic goods using PET film printed with a digital printing machine is now possible, enabling high-quality products and reducing manufacturing lead times without requiring outsourcing to China.

Our company has developed a structural color inkjet technology that produces vivid colors with angle-dependent optical effects. This technology forms multilayer structures in transparent ink at the light-wavelength scale, generating colors without pigments or dyes. By digitally controlling the ink deposition, the reflected wavelengths can be precisely adjusted, allowing a wide range of colors in the visible spectrum. The printed layer is highly transparent, resulting in color variations influenced by the background color. It also exhibits glossiness and a three-dimensional visual effect, with the colors changing depending on the viewing angle. These features open up new possibilities for creative and striking designs. We developed a simulation technology to predict the color and gloss under various lighting and background conditions, thereby improving the inkjet design accuracy and efficiency. This technology offers potential as a design tool for adding beautiful appearances and textures. It can be combined with conventional finishing methods for richer color expression, and is suitable for unique designs and small-lot, high-mix production that is typical of inkjet printing. We aim to expand the use of this technology to various fields in the future.

This study aimed to observe and analyze the implementation trends of packaging in yogurt products distributed in the United States, and to comparatively analyze and present their characteristics. Given that a segment of consumers in the United States is known to tolerate price increases for sustainable products, this study examined how packaging in yogurt—a category where environmental considerations are expected—is designed under such market conditions. Single-serve products from four major brands were systematically collected and compared in terms of container composition, material selection, printing, design expression, and information presentation, supplemented by online sources, including official websites and historical materials, to obtain information on brand philosophy and past packaging. The analysis revealed that each brand adopts diverse packaging strategies without converging on a single approach, reflecting individual brand philosophies, prioritizing material waste reduction, and sometimes implementing monomaterial solutions. Some packaging partially sacrifices user-friendliness and product distinguishability, suggesting the potential for consumer tolerance of trade-offs between ease of use and environmental considerations in addition to cost. Although these observations do not provide quantitative proof, they offer valuable insights for future packaging development, highlighting the importance of engaging consumers collaboratively and considering regional characteristics when further strengthening environmental initiatives, and providing a novel perspective on how environmental priorities and consumer cooperation intersect in packaging practices, which can serve as a reference for researchers and practitioners exploring sustainability in packaging design.