case study / how to upcycle to start a japanese company?
DESCRIPTION
Here is a brief sum up of one of our case study with a Japanese company. Initially, the company wanted to find new applications for its product, Wiithaa want a bit further in its propositions.TRANSCRIPT
July 2014
How to startto upcycle
a Japanese company?
Methodology
Context
Research
Resultat
Methodology
Context
Research
Resultat
v
Some key elements
Vegetables of Koka include kanpyo (cucumber for maki), carrot, eggplant, hahigana salad. Also rice, mochi, sake (10 centers of fabrication).
There are also 6 main onsens in the area in the mountains and forest.Well known for the Lake Biwa and wood industry. There is an interesting moss and vegetable culture close by the lake.
Reed, rice and tea culture and a reliable source of water around the factory.
Region, history, culture
v
Local, ecosystem, energy
Some key elements
Industry in Koka begins around 750 (Emperor Shomu) with leather and metal.Medicine and plants were well-know in the region, and also clay work.Shigaraki pottery is very famous.Also the Tanuki (symbol of prosperity) is made in the region.
The region between Kyoto and Osaka / Nagoya is a crossroad.Very active industrial region in Japan.
Today, the petrochimical (36%) and pharmaceutical industry are dominant.Automobile and electronics are other industries present in the area.
Factory
Granule Plastic traitment ProductRaw material
$
Clients
Oil
Y
Context about the company
Orders are decreasing because of more efficient and competitive new products, therefore the company is looking at diversifying and releasing its own product.In the same time, oil price is regularly increasing.
PP or PE. Based on oil. The company can make some mix with recycled plastics but the results are not good enough.
A drying room would be needed to use more biomass plastic to remove the water drops and to avoid moss.
PlaRainMachine
The heated plastic is turned into liquid with an extruder. The liquid (or plastic rain) falls into a waterpool underneath. The effect is an irregular plastic mesh that is used as filter.The irregular shape of the material collects bacteria inside the material. It acts as a great filter.
What’s the product?
• It is an excellent filter and shock absorber.
• The material can be mixed with recycled plastic.
• Micro organisms grow in the water, they eat waste and water is purified.
• It can absorb repetitive shocks and get back to its initial form.
• It is sensitive to UV depending on the thickness of the product and it is sensitive to heat as well (around 60°C).
• Quality of the recycled material is bad and can deteriorate the machine.
Main observations
Methodology
Context
Research
Resultat
> Search and investigations about the company, its region, product and factory
> Document and photo analysis
> Interviews with the company
> Tests and prototyping
Methodology
Methodology
Context
Research
Resultat
Research & tests
Which fonctions ?
With Biodegradable
plastic
Shock absorber in packagings
In matress
Interior Decoration
Air plant support
Green wallsGreen sculptures
MattressGardening
HorticultureUrban gardens
Help rooting with bioplastic
Filter
Green wallsRoof gardens
Potential functionsfor the product
Help rooting with bioplastic
The need to focus on bioplastic
As the oil price is growing, we insist on looking for different kind of plastics. The company’s ecosystem is interesting and offers several opportunities to use less and less oil, and finally avoid it.
These opportunities offers different advantages : > the raw material is cheaper> the raw material comes from companies waste close to the factory> the plastic from biomaterial is much less toxic than traditionnal ones
Plastic made from tea : tests by the companyCleaning properties of tea (good for interior design especially thanks to catechine)
Plastic made from reed (available near Lake Biwa)This plastic is patented in France (Biomiscanthus)
Plastic made from algaeLargely available plastic & algae culture in Japan
Produce bioplastic
Other materials
With reeds
With algaeWith tea
Methodology
Context
Research
New application propositions
?Interior decoration
Interior Decoration
Air plant support
Green wallsGreen sculptures
Mattress
Interior decoration
Interior Decoration
Air plant support
Green wallsGreen sculptures
Mattress
Interior decoration
Application / Game for children
PlaRain is a great shock absorber, we believe it could be perfect for children to play with it.
Interior Decoration
Air plant support
Green wallsGreen sculptures
Mattress
2nd application / Game for children
The squared design has 12 animals and do not lose any PlaRain production.
It could become a nice mattress for a nap. When the child wake up, he can easily play with the animals that formed his temporary bed.
2nd application / Game for children
For B2B clients like nurseries, it could be interesting to propose them a leasing offer.
The company would be able to reuse all the plastic initially produced to lower its production cost and have regular clients.
Factory
Transport
Mattrass
Customers
Recycling propositions
Urban gardening
Gardening
HorticultureUrban gardens
Help rooting with bioplastic
Filter
Green wallsRoof gardens
Roof gardens : a growing market in main Japanese cities
Since 2000 and the Tokyo experience, the number of roof
gardens is growing in Japan.
As roof gardens enable to solve many problems like the city
climate, city air contamination, isolation for buildings, many
japanese cities encourage now to create roof gardens.
Fukuoka City
Urban gardens
Plants
Substrat
Filter membrane
Drainage
Waterproof/root repellant
Thermal insulation
Vapor control
Roof
Usually, drainage is oftendone with stones, which is very heavy and not convenient to set up.The material could filter the water plants do not need. It is less heavy and easier to set up.
Together,let’s transform your waste in
new opportunities
Nicolas Buttin
+33 6 64 13 44 32
w w w . w i i t h a a . c o m
Brieuc Saffré
[email protected] +33 6 43 44 14 58
design + circular economy