Recycled plastic is inferior in appearance and strength as compared to virgin plastic because it contains impure substances. In addition, extra costs are needed for sorting garbage before recycling plastic waste. As a result, even though the process of collecting and recycling plastic waste is technically feasible, the whole recycling system can’t be sustainable as the demand for recycled plastic aren’t strong enough to make business sense.

I participated in a project called RMD, which aimed to create demands for recycled plastic from the viewpoint of design. Although there isn’t much benefit in recycled materials, one thing stands out as a unique feature of recycled plastic: Gradations of olive color emerging unevenly on its surface as if to leave traces of the original plastic waste. That’s normally regarded a negative characteristic, but in our project, we tried to turn it into an advantage with the help of design.

This project was conducted in collaboration with designers outside our company. Recycling in this project is aimed at being friendly to natural environment as well as using plastic waste as something representing modern civilization. The combination of these two meanings resulted in a proposal of a planter used for bonsai, which was based on the concept of plant cultivation in ruins. The essence of the work is to enjoy the contrast between a falling civilization (ruins) and a vibrant life of plant. The message of ruins, or the comfortably degraded look and feel of recycled plastic, was a fascinating feature unique to recycled plastic.

In this RMD project, 12 teams of designers presented proposals. The teams including GK members made proposals about creating positive values in recycling plastic waste of hotel amenities as well as producing a relaxing space by using recycled plastic. Their appeals lie in the uniqueness of their points of view.

Please visit here for more details. We look forward to working with a production partner.

Takane Mitomi

HAI-BON（ planting by［yomi］emi ota ）