Approximately 1,000 plastic bottle caps became flower pots. Around 30 people experienced upcycling at the international standard flower festival "Fukuoka Flower Show 2026"

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, NPO Karatsu Farm&Food conducted a Precious Plastic workshop in collaboration with Kyushu Tankentai (Hakata Daimaru Inc.) at the Fukuoka Flower Show 2026 (organized by the Hitori Hito Hana Promotion Project Executive Committee) held at Fukuoka City Botanical Garden.

Approximately 1,000 collected plastic bottle caps were heated and molded to create original flower pots. About 30 visitors participated in the experience of planting foliage plants from the First Horticultural Center in Saga City and violas from Krämer Factory in Nanayama, Karatsu City. Comments like "I'm so happy to plant in a pot I upcycled myself" spread throughout the venue.

What is Fukuoka Flower Show 2026?

The Fukuoka Flower Show 2026 is an international-standard flower event held as part of the "Hitori Hito Hana Movement" promoted by Fukuoka City, inspired by traditional British international garden shows. The venue was Fukuoka City Botanical Garden (5-1-1 Ozasa, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City), and over five days from March 22 to 26, 2026, a variety of content was offered, including an international-standard garden contest, flower arrangement exhibits, sales, and gourmet food.

A new perspective of circular economy from Saga and Karatsu was added to this flower festival.
https://fukuokaflowershow.com/

Upcycling is an initiative to add new value to waste and regenerate it. Circular economy refers to an economic model that eliminates waste and circulates resources.

The approximately 1,000 plastic bottle caps used this time were collected from the local community. Using Precious Plastic technology, they were heated and molded to be reborn as beautiful, marble-patterned original flower pots. Discarded plastic becoming a vessel to nurture greenery—this small cycle was experienced at an international-standard flower festival.

"I'm so happy to plant in a pot I upcycled myself"

Around 30 participants, from children to adults, participated in the workshop. Participants who experienced the process from putting caps into the machine to melting them with heat and molding them commented, "I'm so happy to plant in a pot I upcycled myself."

This connected experience of regenerating waste with one's own hands and planting life in it is becoming an opportunity for people to view environmental issues as their own personal concern.

At the venue, many voices expressed surprise at the transformation of discarded plastic, saying things like, "It becomes this beautiful?" and "My child was engrossed." Among them, the flower pots planted with violas from Krämer Factory in Nanayama, Karatsu City, were particularly popular, with many exclamations of "I want one!"

"We had the opportunity to experience the circular economy within the flower festival. I believe many people were able to feel the moment when discarded plastic was reborn into beautiful flower pots," said NPO Karatsu Farm&Food.

Regional Collaboration

Karatsu Farm&Food (Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture) was responsible for producing the flower pots using Precious Plastic technology. Kyushu Tankentai (Hakata Daimaru Inc.) provided the exhibition space at the Fukuoka Flower Show 2026. Foliage plants from First Horticultural Center (Saga City) and violas from Krämer Factory (Nanayama, Karatsu City) enhanced the "planting experience."

This collaboration, linking Saga and Fukuoka, gave shape to "circulation," from the regeneration of discarded plastic to the experience of growing plants.

What is Precious Plastic?

Precious Plastic is an open-source project from the Netherlands that freely publishes machine design data for recycling discarded plastic worldwide. Based in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Karatsu Farm&Food utilizes this technology to create upcycled products and conduct environmental education workshops. To date, a cumulative total of 11,241 people have participated in plastic recycling experiences.

Organization Overview

Organization Name: NPO Karatsu Farm&Food (Precious Plastic Karatsu)
Representative: Representative Director Nozomi Hamaguchi
Established: November 2020
Activities: Biodiversity conservation, environmental education (ESD), promotion of circular economy, nature positive Location: 3-7-22 Higashi-Karatsu, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
Official Website: https://karatsu-f-f.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preciousplastic_karatsu/