[Award] "LIFE SYRUP," a herb syrup born from "plants that were meant to be discarded," receives the "Social Products Award" at the Social Products Awards 2026
issow Inc. has received the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2026 for its "LIFE SYRUP -Akamatsu / Echinacea-," a self-care product made from unused resources like thinned wood. The product was recognized for its successful upcycling, environmental consideration, and high-quality design that integrates plant therapy into daily life.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 21:10
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (1h 46m after Published)
issow Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ai Manabe) is pleased to announce that its herb syrup made from unused resources, "LIFE SYRUP -Akamatsu / Echinacea-," has received the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2026, hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products (APSP).
This product is a self-care item developed from the perspective of plant therapy, using plants that were previously unused, such as thinned wood. Designed as a herb syrup that can be enjoyed in hot water or your favorite beverage, it is crafted to be easily incorporated into daily life.
■ Award Overview
The herb syrup "LIFE SYRUP -Akamatsu / Echinacea-," developed by issow, received the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2026. This award is a recognition system hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products (APSP) that evaluates both social impact and product quality.
The product was highly evaluated for its upcycling of unused resources, its connection between environmental consideration and daily self-care, and the high level of perfection in its design and brand architecture.
■ Jury Comments
The product is highly regarded for upcycling materials that would otherwise be discarded and utilizing them without waste. It is particularly excellent in its use of leftover fabric from apparel brands for packaging, which goes beyond environmental consideration to create product differentiation and added value. The label design intuitively conveys the product's characteristics and value, resulting in a brand design that appeals to a wide range of people regardless of age or gender.
There is uniqueness in positioning red pine, an unused resource, as something that can be easily incorporated into daily life. The natural connection between environmental awareness and health consciousness is also significant.
The high level of design and the branding that evokes empathy are also impressive. The commitment to taste, which uses the "delicious" experience as a starting point to expand interest in natural materials and unused resources, is also commendable. The setting of usage scenarios and the story behind the development are concrete, supporting the persuasiveness of the product as a whole.
■ Development Background
"LIFE SYRUP" was born from an encounter with red pine in Nagano Prefecture, which is cut down for thinning and pruning but is often discarded without being utilized.
While the utilization of unused resources has been addressed in various ways, we believed that sustainable and diverse approaches were still needed. We found a new way to utilize these resources through the lens of plant therapy (*).
Representative Ai Manabe, who is also a phytotherapist, blended five types of herbs while drawing out the charm of red pine. We also focused on a warm, comforting flavor by adding ingredients familiar to the Japanese palate.
By creating it in the form of a syrup, it is easy to incorporate into daily life, making it accessible even to those new to plant therapy. It is designed to be a sustainable form of self-care that attends to the small discomforts felt in daily life.
(*) Plant therapy (phytotherapy) is a traditional therapy that utilizes the bioactive components of plants to support daily physical and mental health, disease prevention, and recovery.
■ Product Features
- Utilizes red pine (unused resource) from Nagano Prefecture that was no longer being used due to thinning and pruning.
- Carefully selected and blended by a phytotherapist for optimal self-care.
- Syrup type designed for easy incorporation of plant therapy.
- Genderless label design suitable for all ages and genders.
■ Future Outlook
Although plant therapy is not widely familiar in Japan, the country has a long history of wisdom regarding the use of plants for health, supported by its four distinct seasons and rich natural environment. Furthermore, everyone shares the fundamental desire to "live healthily."
"LIFE SYRUP" is not only a self-care product that helps with daily health, but also a product that leads to the utilization of unused resources through purchase. We also aim for it to be an opportunity for people to encounter new aspects of plants they were previously unaware of.
Encouraged by this award, we will continue to create new value from unused resources and propose self-care that fits into daily life.
---
■ About the Social Products Awards (SPA)
The Social Products Awards is an award system hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products to realize a sustainable society through the popularization and promotion of social products. As Japan's first and only award specializing in social products, it widely promotes excellent initiatives and supports the activities of companies and organizations.
https://www.apsp.or.jp/socialproductsaward/
■ About issow Inc.
Based on the philosophy of "utilizing the power of plants to the fullest to create a healthy future for people and nature," we develop products that combine plant therapy with unused resources. We also aim to contribute to the overall health of society by applying our knowledge of plant therapy to a variety of products and services. We will continue to expand the possibilities of plant therapy through initiatives with companies and organizations that share our vision.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: issow Inc.
Location: Nihonbashi Mizuno Bldg. 7F, 1-11-12 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Established: March 2024
Representative Director: Ai Manabe
Business Description: Product development, supervision, recipe development, and individual consultation related to plant therapy, etc.
URL: https://issow.co.jp/
This product is a self-care item developed from the perspective of plant therapy, using plants that were previously unused, such as thinned wood. Designed as a herb syrup that can be enjoyed in hot water or your favorite beverage, it is crafted to be easily incorporated into daily life.
■ Award Overview
The herb syrup "LIFE SYRUP -Akamatsu / Echinacea-," developed by issow, received the Social Products Award at the Social Products Awards 2026. This award is a recognition system hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products (APSP) that evaluates both social impact and product quality.
The product was highly evaluated for its upcycling of unused resources, its connection between environmental consideration and daily self-care, and the high level of perfection in its design and brand architecture.
■ Jury Comments
The product is highly regarded for upcycling materials that would otherwise be discarded and utilizing them without waste. It is particularly excellent in its use of leftover fabric from apparel brands for packaging, which goes beyond environmental consideration to create product differentiation and added value. The label design intuitively conveys the product's characteristics and value, resulting in a brand design that appeals to a wide range of people regardless of age or gender.
There is uniqueness in positioning red pine, an unused resource, as something that can be easily incorporated into daily life. The natural connection between environmental awareness and health consciousness is also significant.
The high level of design and the branding that evokes empathy are also impressive. The commitment to taste, which uses the "delicious" experience as a starting point to expand interest in natural materials and unused resources, is also commendable. The setting of usage scenarios and the story behind the development are concrete, supporting the persuasiveness of the product as a whole.
■ Development Background
"LIFE SYRUP" was born from an encounter with red pine in Nagano Prefecture, which is cut down for thinning and pruning but is often discarded without being utilized.
While the utilization of unused resources has been addressed in various ways, we believed that sustainable and diverse approaches were still needed. We found a new way to utilize these resources through the lens of plant therapy (*).
Representative Ai Manabe, who is also a phytotherapist, blended five types of herbs while drawing out the charm of red pine. We also focused on a warm, comforting flavor by adding ingredients familiar to the Japanese palate.
By creating it in the form of a syrup, it is easy to incorporate into daily life, making it accessible even to those new to plant therapy. It is designed to be a sustainable form of self-care that attends to the small discomforts felt in daily life.
(*) Plant therapy (phytotherapy) is a traditional therapy that utilizes the bioactive components of plants to support daily physical and mental health, disease prevention, and recovery.
■ Product Features
- Utilizes red pine (unused resource) from Nagano Prefecture that was no longer being used due to thinning and pruning.
- Carefully selected and blended by a phytotherapist for optimal self-care.
- Syrup type designed for easy incorporation of plant therapy.
- Genderless label design suitable for all ages and genders.
■ Future Outlook
Although plant therapy is not widely familiar in Japan, the country has a long history of wisdom regarding the use of plants for health, supported by its four distinct seasons and rich natural environment. Furthermore, everyone shares the fundamental desire to "live healthily."
"LIFE SYRUP" is not only a self-care product that helps with daily health, but also a product that leads to the utilization of unused resources through purchase. We also aim for it to be an opportunity for people to encounter new aspects of plants they were previously unaware of.
Encouraged by this award, we will continue to create new value from unused resources and propose self-care that fits into daily life.
---
■ About the Social Products Awards (SPA)
The Social Products Awards is an award system hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Social Products to realize a sustainable society through the popularization and promotion of social products. As Japan's first and only award specializing in social products, it widely promotes excellent initiatives and supports the activities of companies and organizations.
https://www.apsp.or.jp/socialproductsaward/
■ About issow Inc.
Based on the philosophy of "utilizing the power of plants to the fullest to create a healthy future for people and nature," we develop products that combine plant therapy with unused resources. We also aim to contribute to the overall health of society by applying our knowledge of plant therapy to a variety of products and services. We will continue to expand the possibilities of plant therapy through initiatives with companies and organizations that share our vision.
■ Company Overview
Company Name: issow Inc.
Location: Nihonbashi Mizuno Bldg. 7F, 1-11-12 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Established: March 2024
Representative Director: Ai Manabe
Business Description: Product development, supervision, recipe development, and individual consultation related to plant therapy, etc.
URL: https://issow.co.jp/