Refinverse, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Akira Ochi) is rolling out solutions business to solve the waste plastic and marine plastic problems that have become major social issues in recent years. We are doing this by utilizing various areas of knowledge relating to the effective use of waste that we have built up over the years. We participate in the Recycling Meets Design Project. We provide our expertise as an advisor. This is a co-creation project to produce new applications for recycled materials with the power of design. It is organized by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo / President: Yoshinari Kitajima; hereinafter “DNP”).

What Is the Recycling Meets Design Project?

Initiatives to solve plastic problems exemplified by marine plastic waste and to realize a recycling-oriented society are accelerating in pace around the world. Many plastic packages have been sorted, collected, recycled and then used in Japan. However, there was an issue with this in that the applications of recycled materials were limited because the quality deteriorated in the recycling process. The Recycling Meets Design Project was launched in response to this issue. Its purpose is to produce ideas to convey the appeal of recycled materials with the power of design, to increase added value and to expand the applications of recycled materials. We also endorse this initiative and participate in it as an advisor.

Activity Achievements

The Recycling Meets Design Project began in July 2020. In addition to study sessions, participants tour recycler sites where recycling is performed and hold discussions among themselves. This has allowed them to produce ideas and stories relating to the utilization of recycled materials. A presentation event was hold to introduce eight of the ideas that have been produced in December 2020. It was attended by 63 companies and organizations with the business development departments and sustainability related departments of companies, designers, universities and NPOs among those invited to participate. Many comments were received from participants expressing their sympathy for the initiative of this project and a desire to give shape to the ideas.

We optimize waste processing and reduce costs through undertaking contracts to develop technologies and applications and through consulting on business plan formulation to effectively use waste. We do this based on our various areas of knowledge about waste in a wide range of fields. This allows us to provide value to our customers and to contribute to the construction of a sustainable society.