Children can eat safely! Paper ice cream sticks are changing the global standard.

Our company endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day for announcing dreams. This press release is a dream of "ESTEC Co., Ltd." ESTEC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Japan) will accelerate its business development both domestically and internationally through the manufacturing and supply of paper ice cream sticks, offering a new alternative to wood, bamboo, and plastic. Our company will provide new value in "safety," "sustainability," and "supply stability," and will promote paper sticks as the next-generation standard material. ■ Background: The questioned risk of "import dependency" Sticks used in ice cream have primarily been made from wood, bamboo, and plastic. However, currently, many of these are imported from overseas, and the following issues have become apparent: Supply instability due to changes in international affairs Cost increases due to exchange rate fluctuations Transportation delays and logistics instability The premise that "they can be obtained cheaply and stably" has already begun to collapse. In addition, we believe there are issues with the materials themselves. Wood: Risk of injury from splinters Plastic: Environmental burden and sharpness when broken Bamboo: Variation in quality Against this backdrop, there is a demand for new materials that simultaneously satisfy safety, environmental friendliness, and supply stability. ■ Solution: A new option with domestic paper × patented technology Our paper ice cream sticks use domestically produced FSC® certified paper as raw material. Domestic procurement ensures a stable supply system independent of imports. Unique "Rounded Edge Processing Technology" (Patented) This provides value not found in conventional materials: it does not become sharp even if broken, and offers high safety even in the oral cavity. It is a material that simultaneously achieves "supply security" and "safety during use." ■ Application in the medical field: Development as a tongue depressor The characteristic "rounded edge" structure of this product is being developed for application not only in food but also in the medical field. Currently, we are considering its development as a tongue depressor used for oral examinations, and it has high suitability for medical applications where safety, hygiene, and uniform quality are required. ■ Product Strengths Domestically produced FSC® certified paper: Stable supply independent of imports Safety through patented technology: Structure that is less likely to cause injury even if broken High-quality domestic production: Uniform strength and precise processing ■ Future Development Our company will promote its widespread adoption in the domestic market and expand into the Asian, European, and North American markets. In the future, in addition to food applications, we will expand its application to medical and hygiene fields, aiming to establish its position as a "safe and stably supplied material." About ESTEC Co., Ltd. ■ Company Overview ESTEC Co., Ltd., a comprehensive paper product manufacturer, is a company that develops and manufactures sustainable paper products that replace disposable plastic, bamboo, and wood products, using its unique paper processing technology. Starting with the world's first paper toothbrush, the company offers a diverse range of paper amenity series, including paper cutlery and paper combs. Its paper toothbrushes and paper hangers are adopted in JAL (Japan Airlines) lounges, providing products that lead the plastic-free era from development. Headquarters: 27-21 Honcho, Wako City, Saitama Prefecture Representative Director: Manabu Sakamoto Business Activities: Development and manufacturing of paper products, precision press processing, slitting processing, laminating processing, and sauna business, including for automotive and medical industries. Making the future more interesting. This is our company's philosophy. Sustainability is both a challenge and an opportunity. We want to enjoy solving the environmental problems faced by the apparel industry, hotel industry, airline industry, and medical industry together. We want to be partners who think together, create together, and make the future more interesting, transcending industry boundaries. ESTEC Co., Ltd. Contact: CSO / Director Ryo Omura TEL: 048-485-1797 Email: omura@stec-ps.co.jp