Karatsu Farm & Food and students collaborate on plastic recycling workshop

The NPO Karatsu Farm & Food collaborated with the student team ‘Plagei’ (Precious Plastic Kurashiki) from Kurashiki University of Science for a recycling initiative in Okayama Prefecture.

On September 18, the teams tested a custom-built injection molding machine at the university workshop using a mold for ‘Re comb’—a pine-motif comb designed by students from the Karatsu Minami High School Nijinomatsubara Project Team. On September 19, a workshop was held at the Setouchi City Library, where approximately 30 participants, including students, elderly residents, and local officials, practiced injection molding and created bracelets from recycled plastic beads.

This collaboration utilizes the open-source ‘Precious Plastic’ framework, which allows different regional hubs to share designs and tools. The project aims to promote a circular economy by transforming waste plastic, such as bottle caps, into new products like combs and coasters.