Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Green Life 21 Project - Red Objects
Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Green Life 21 Project - Red Objects Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Green Life 21 Project - Red Objects
from the perspective of easy recycling; the procurement of safe and harmless raw materials was taken into account; and the stacking shape was reflected in the design in order to improve road efficiency for transport. The GL21 set environmental considerations as its design guidelines, and these are expressed in the following key words: pure, elegant, simple and brilliant. Re-shokki/Oliva designed by Prue Venables are shown in Figure 9. Fig. 8 Re-shokki ・Saisei-001 Fig. 9 Re-shokki・Oliva 6. Creating an Eco-Market for Ceramic Ware Recycled tableware has built its sales by means of collaboration between a wide range of actors, including manufacturers and users, and it has created an eco-market for ceramic tableware. The following causes are behind these results: increasing consumer interest in eco products based on the increase in society’s environmental awareness; widening activities related to corporate social responsibility; and the purchase and procurement of eco products based on the increased number of companies registered in Environmental Management Systems. Above all, it is the introduction of the eco goods certification system for ceramic tableware that has contributed the most to creating the eco market. This system is known as Type I Ecolabelling, which is called an Eco Mark in Japan, examined and certified by the Japan Environment Association. This Eco Mark Certification was established in 2004 for ceramic tableware. The Japan Environment Association introduced this system with the support of local governments where the GL21 exists in order to establish ceramic tableware recycling in society. At the same time, the Act on Promoting Green Purchasing came into effect in 2005, which requires public institutions, etc., to work proactively to procure eco goods. The reinforced porcelain tableware for school food services that is procured by local governments also became subject to green purchasing, so the companies participating in GL21 developed Eco Mark certified products and sold them proactively. Today, recycled reinforced porcelain tableware has become a major part of the procurement of porcelain tableware for school food services. As for other markets, markets targeting consumers and businesses with a sizeable interest in the environment and health are dominant. One market involves cooperation with a company selling organic vegetables using a membership home-delivery system. The collection of tableware and the selling of Re-shokki is set as one. This company is the biggest business partner of the GL21 for developing in-home demand, disseminating tableware recycling activities to approximately 100,000 household members and taking a role in transmitting user feedback and opinions to manufacturers. Another is the business use of Re-shokki in cafes and restaurants where meals using organic vegetables and crops are served. These places communicate customer reactions to manufacturers and use Re-shokki as a tool for environmental communication. RED Objects⏐⏐Collaboration in Experimental Design Research 80
7. Future Development Ceramic ware recycling activities began in 1997. To create a more sustainable ceramics industry and to promote manufacturing that improves environmental value, answers must be found for the following issues. 7.1 Commercialization of High Combination Recycled Tableware The combination ratio of recycled materials in recycled tableware was 20%; however, today, it is possible to produce recycled green body with a 50% combination ratio that can be used for manufacturing with the existing mass production technology. When compared with 20% combination ratio green body (hereinafter referred to as 20% body), the recycled material combination ratio is 2.5 times more than 20% body, the firing temperature is approximately 200 degrees Celsius lower than for 20% body, and greenhouse gas emission from firing process can be reduced by a maximum of 33%. Therefore, the physicality of the 50% combination green body shows excellent environment efficiency (Tateishi et al. 2010). The bending strength is 1.5 times (120MPa) greater than 20% body. It is possible to improve product performance. In the future, our aim is not only to conduct recycling, but also to commercialize ceramic tableware that can be adopted by a lower carbon society. 7.2 Commercialization of Used Tableware In the section on the Network, we mentioned the significance of users promoting reuse before recycling the collected used tableware. This movement relates to the unique Japanese spirit of “Mottainai,” which means to cherish objects. The movement indicates that consumers require objects that are reusable even if they are used items. The author and other members conducted a survey and obtained the result that if disposable porcelain containers that are used for desserts, and other items were changed into types that are returnable five times, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the entire product life-cycle to one-fifth of previous emissions because returning the container requires no energy (Hasegawa et al. 2008). The results suggest that the environmental impact would be smaller if the tableware had high usability and a long-life in usage. The spread of reuse activities among users will develop into repair and cleaning services using firing technology among manufacturers. It indicates a new direction in sustainable business for production areas. 8. Conclusion Recycling activities for ceramic ware are also activities that involve many people through waste collection and separation and that cultivate communication among members of the community. A recent exhibition with the title “The Attraction of Tableware Recycling” was organized mainly by citizens for an environment fair in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The exhibition explained the attraction as the pleasure of engaging in activities that practice the spirit of “Mottainai” that is rooted in Japanese life and culture, and the development of communication among members of the community. In the past, in Japan, the traditional lifestyle saw people support each other in their daily lives through community festivals and seasonal events. In our modern world of weakened social ties, establishing relationships where people can come face to face with each other has now become a social issue. During the recovery from the great earthquake that struck Eastern Japan, human ties were once again recognized as a great basis for regenerating the area. Cultivating ties between people in the community through tableware recycling activities and improving community capabilities by means of these ties are also important roles of that tableware recycling in order to create a sustainable society. References Nobuaki MIYACHI, Yoshikazu HASEGAWA, 2009, ‘Approach to Construction of Recycling System for Porcelain’, CERAMICS JAPAN, vol.44, pp. 31-36. RED Objects⏐⏐Collaboration in Experimental Design Research 81
- Page 1 and 2: Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Gree
- Page 3 and 4: The physicality, safety and environ
- Page 5 and 6: 4. Tableware Recycling Networks Fig
- Page 7: In this network, the collected ware
from the perspective of easy recycling; the procurement of safe and harmless raw materials was<br />
taken into account; and the stacking shape was reflected in the design in order to improve road<br />
efficiency for transport. The GL<strong>21</strong> set environmental considerations as its design guidelines, and<br />
these are expressed in the following key words: pure, elegant, simple and brilliant. Re-shokki/Oliva<br />
designed <strong>by</strong> Prue Venables are shown in Figure 9.<br />
Fig. 8 Re-shokki ・Saisei-001 Fig. 9 Re-shokki・Oliva<br />
6. Creating an Eco-Market for <strong>Ceramic</strong> Ware<br />
Recycled tableware has built its sales <strong>by</strong> means of collaboration between a wide range of actors,<br />
including manufacturers and users, and it has created an eco-market for ceramic tableware. The<br />
following causes are behind these results: increasing consumer interest in eco products based on<br />
the increase in society’s environmental awareness; widening activities related to corporate social<br />
responsibility; and the purchase and procurement of eco products based on the increased number<br />
of companies registered in Environmental Management Systems. Above all, it is the introduction of<br />
the eco goods certification system for ceramic tableware that has contributed the most to creating<br />
the eco market. This system is known as Type I Ecolabelling, which is called an Eco Mark in Japan,<br />
examined and certified <strong>by</strong> the Japan Environment Association. This Eco Mark Certification was<br />
established in 2004 for ceramic tableware. The Japan Environment Association introduced this<br />
system with the support of local governments where the GL<strong>21</strong> exists in order to establish ceramic<br />
tableware recycling in society. At the same time, the Act on Promoting <strong>Green</strong> Purchasing came into<br />
effect in 2005, which requires public institutions, etc., to work proactively to procure eco goods. The<br />
reinforced porcelain tableware for school food services that is procured <strong>by</strong> local governments also<br />
became subject to green purchasing, so the companies participating in GL<strong>21</strong> developed Eco Mark<br />
certified products and sold them proactively. Today, recycled reinforced porcelain tableware has<br />
become a major part of the procurement of porcelain tableware for school food services.<br />
As for other markets, markets targeting consumers and businesses with a sizeable interest in the<br />
environment and health are dominant. One market involves cooperation with a company selling<br />
organic vegetables using a membership home-delivery system. The collection of tableware and the<br />
selling of Re-shokki is set as one. This company is the biggest business partner of the GL<strong>21</strong> for<br />
developing in-home demand, disseminating tableware recycling activities to approximately 100,000<br />
household members and taking a role in transmitting user feedback and opinions to manufacturers.<br />
Another is the business use of Re-shokki in cafes and restaurants where meals using organic<br />
vegetables and crops are served. These places communicate customer reactions to manufacturers<br />
and use Re-shokki as a tool for environmental communication.<br />
RED <strong>Objects</strong>⏐⏐Collaboration in Experimental Design Research<br />
80
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