Enabling disability as theme for 8th Social Products Award 2021

Social good products are drawing attention for their potential in shifting society towards a sustainable one. Created under themes such as “eco (environmentally friendly),” “organic,” “fair trade,” “donation accompanied,” and “rooted in tradition and the region,” these products and services provide people who purchase them a connection to actions and groups that put forth sustainability.

To promote these social good products to a wider audience, an annual award highlights these products. Social Products Award (SPA) is Japan’s first and only award for social good products since 2012. The Association for the Promotion of Social Products has been organizing the event to create a sustainable society by promoting social good products. The association combines the “commerciality” of the product (including its design and function) with its “sociality” (how it solves social and environmental issues.) Moreover, the award provides information on social good products to consumers while supporting these impactful, sustainable companies and organizations.

This year marks the award’s 8th year, and the Main Theme for 2021 was “products and services that lead to the motivation of people with disabilities to live and work.” Many remarkable products were featured, tackling issues that persons with disabilities face regarding employment were entered.

Meanwhile, the Free Theme was “products and services that allow consumers to participate in the creation of a sustainable society.” Applications for products and services that help solve a wide range of social issues, including “fair trade” and “improvement of regional revitalization,” were also seen.

This year saw the number of entries significantly soar due to people’s increasing awareness toward SDGs and the change in corporate consciousness due to COVID-19.

Here are a few examples of social good products that received an award:

“Shibuya Font” (Grand Prize, 2021 Theme)

“Shibuya Font” is a font design created by Shibuya students using characters and patterns drawn by people with disabilities in Shibuya. Anyone can download the font, with Shibuya Ward providing it as officially approved public data. The font boosts social action that leads to the understanding of diversity. Part of the sales will be given to support offices for people with disabilities to promote their participation in society further and be financially independent.

“TOKYO CORK PROJECT” (Grand Prize, Free Theme)

GOOD DEAL COMPANY turned more than 4 million corks, mainly wine bottles collected from 750 locations, into stylish household goods and interiors like toy building blocks and stools. This project was recognized for its idea to embody sustainability with familiar unused resources.

“LFC Compost” (Best Award, Free Theme)

“LFC compost” is a practical tool that easily allows beginners to make compost from kitchen waste. It is a fashionable compost that people living in urban areas can easily practice compost-making on the apartment balcony. Kitchen waste accounts for 30 to 40% of household combustible waste in Japan, and about 90% is incinerated, making recycling an issue. The kit created by Local Food Cycling provides an opportunity to reduce household waste and promote zero waste living.

There are many more examples of social good products like these that are fun, interesting and kind to the environment! Theywill be on display at Event Space on the 3rd floor of Marui Department Store, Kinshicho Branch till March 14. The award-winning products will be for sale, too, if you want to take any of them home.