Amanda WeeSchools are closed, businesses are suspended and people are advised to stay at home as prevention from the coronavirus pandemic. Japan is no exception.
These extreme measures have affected multiple industries, not limited to manufacturing, retail, trade and tourism. A rise in retrenchment, especially for industries with an aging workforce, is expected.
Evidently, these industries need support. One such social good action is put together by Mondo Design Co. and creator Aki Saito. This initiative donates 10% of PLASTICITY’s sales to upkeep the craft and preserves jobs in the sewing industry during this difficult period.
PLASTICITY is a new sustainable brand launched in April, founded by Saito and produced by Mondo Design. The brand specializes in high-quality bags made from upcycled materials.
Turning Japan’s plastic umbrella waste into upcycled bags
Did you know that Japan disposes of a grand total of 80 million plastic umbrellas every year? In Japan, plastic umbrellas are usually made from vinyl, a material that is hard to recycle. More often than not, these umbrellas end up in landfills.
This reality motivated Saito to come up with an environmentally-friendly use to all this plastic, which eventually led to the birth of PLASTICITY. In fact, the brand name is a portmanteau of ‘plastic’ and ‘city’. ‘Plastic’ represents the global issue of plastic waste that the brand wants to address, and ‘city’ refers to the focus of the brand.
PLASTICITY’s bags are made using an original press method developed by the brand themselves. Vinyl is waterproof and easy to maintain. It is vital to retain these properties during the manufacturing process. Hence, rather than transforming the material, the vinyl is pressed and layered, giving their products a one of a kind finish.
Saito shares his interest in giving back to the community, and how that vision is put into action through the brand’s upcycling of unwanted materials and finding them new owners. All in all, PLASTICITY hopes that their products will help reduce plastic waste and increase society’s awareness and interest in sustainable living.
