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

nicolas@wiithaa.com

+33 6 64 13 44 32

w w w . w i i t h a a . c o m

Brieuc Saffré

brieuc@wiithaa.com +33 6 43 44 14 58

design + circular economy