PET Bottle Caps Upcycled – Chiba University Students Create Eco-Baskets for Campus Use

Chiba University's Environmental ISO Student Committee, in collaboration with Asahi Youus Co., Ltd., has created eco-baskets (shopping baskets) using PET bottle caps collected on campus. These will be put into use at the Chiba University Co-op from Wednesday, April 1, 2026. This upcycling initiative aims to promote understanding and practical application of resource circulation.

*Upcycling: Transforming waste or unused items into new products by adding ideas and design.

Since August 2021, the Environmental ISO Student Committee at Chiba University has been collecting PET bottle caps on the Nishi-Chiba Campus. Last year, they produced and sold original ballpoint pens made from the collected materials. This year, instead of selling, they created eco-baskets as products that would be widely used on campus.

A total of 52 eco-baskets were produced by reusing 97 PET bottle caps for each basket. The naming design was handled by students from the student committee. With the cooperation of the Chiba University Co-op, these baskets will be used as shopping baskets from Wednesday, April 1, at the Life Center on Nishi-Chiba Campus and the Horticulture Faculty store on Matsudo Campus. Furthermore, at the Co-op cafeteria food court, they will be utilized as baskets for personal belongings, combined with a tray also produced, contributing to alleviating seat congestion and improving convenience. They are also planned to be used in student committee event operations.

Additionally, these eco-baskets were exhibited at the "Chiba Winter Fes 2026" held on February 15, 2026, to convey the importance of separate collection, recycling, and upcycling of PET bottle caps to citizens. The student-led initiatives will continue to contribute to the realization of a circular economy.

Student Voices from the Project

Mikana Arai, Chiba University Environmental ISO Student Committee, 2nd year, Faculty of Engineering

The eco-baskets created this time are not only for shopping but also serve as personal item holders in the Co-op's food court, which helps improve seat utilization efficiency and reduce congestion by preventing items from occupying adjacent seats. I hope that people who use these baskets will become interested in PET bottle cap recycling and resource circulation.

Chiba University's Unique "Regi-Boo Fund"

The eco-baskets were produced utilizing Chiba University's unique "Regi-Boo Fund."

Initiated by the Chiba University Environmental ISO Student Committee, the Chiba University Co-op has charged 5 yen per plastic bag since fiscal year 2006. Currently, plastic bag purchases at the Co-op's retail stores, which serve over 1 million users annually, amount to approximately 7,000 bags per year, with an average purchase rate of less than 0.5% (pre-COVID figures).
Therefore, the money the Co-op previously allocated for purchasing plastic bags, along with revenue from plastic bag sales, is contributed by the Co-op as the "Regi-Boo Fund." With this fund, the Environmental ISO Student Committee carries out various environmental activities, such as discounted sales of original eco-goods, solar-powered illuminations, and greening initiatives through planter installations, thereby giving back to students and faculty who cooperate in reducing plastic bag use.
Eco-goods made using the "Regi-Boo Fund" so far include eco-bags, tumblers, personal chopsticks, blankets, and mechanical pencils made from thinned wood.

2024 (Ballpoint Pen) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000955.000015177.html

2023 (Foldable Water Bottle) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000709.000015177.html

2022 (Blanket)

2021 (My Bag) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000588.000015177.html
2020 (My Straw) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000501.000015177.html
2019 (Eco-bag) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000390.000015177.html
2017 (Tumbler) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000245.000015177.html
2016 (Eco-bag) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000176.000015177.html
2015 (Eco-bag, Mechanical Pencil) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000046.000015177.html

About Chiba University Environmental ISO Student Committee

Since acquiring ISO14001, an international standard for environmental management systems (EMS), in 2005, Chiba University has been active in operating its EMS in an open manner to the local community as one of the pillars of its "Environmental and Energy Policy." As part of its education, Chiba University operates its EMS primarily through students, with the "Chiba University Environmental ISO Student Committee," established in 2003, at its core. This committee carries out EMS and various environmental activities within the university and the local community.
Approximately 200 students from 1st to 3rd year belong to the committee annually, engaged in activities such as internal auditing, preparing environmental reports, and dividing into about 20 groups depending on the activity content. These groups conduct awareness-raising activities for reducing environmental load, environmental education activities for elementary, junior high, and kindergartens, greening and composting activities, and creating eco-goods, among a wide range of other endeavors.
In recent years, multiple projects in collaboration with companies have been implemented with the aim of achieving SDGs. Furthermore, having acquired NPO status in 2009, they collaborate with companies as an NPO to conduct satoyama conservation activities and offer environmental outreach classes to local schools.

Contact regarding this matter

Chiba University Environmental ISO Office

kankyo-iso(at)office.chiba-u.jp

Tel:043-290-3572

Official Website https://iso.faculty.gs.chiba-u.jp