Ceramic Tableware Recycling by Green Life 21 Project - Red Objects

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.
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