A New Option for the Approximately 60% of Waste Plastic That Is Incinerated: Co-hosting an Exhibition Proposing the Potential of Recycled Plastic

Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City; President: Hidekuni Kuroda; hereinafter 'Kokuyo') and Kaunet Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Noritomo Miyazawa; hereinafter 'Kaunet'), which provides e-commerce services within the Kokuyo Group, will participate as co-hosting companies in the 'REMARE Plastic SUMMIT 2026' organized by REMARE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director: Masayuki Mase; hereinafter 'REMARE'). An exhibition will be held at Kokuyo's Tokyo Shinagawa Office 'THE CAMPUS' from Tuesday, October 13th to Friday, October 16th.

This project is an initiative that brings together REMARE, which possesses the technology to regenerate waste plastics—previously only treatable through thermal recycling (a method that uses heat energy from incineration for power generation, etc.) in Japan—as material recycling materials, with seven manufacturing companies and designers. They will collaborate to propose the stories and new value of waste materials to society.

1. Background and Significance of Co-hosting

(1) The Reality: 'Approximately 60% of Waste Plastic Is Incinerated'

Approximately 60% (*) of waste plastics are processed through thermal recycling. This is a processing method that results in the loss of limited resources rather than 'circulation as a material,' and the limits of dependence on thermal recycling are being pointed out globally. To realize a truly circular society, it is necessary to consider new, different options, such as shifting from 'burning' to 'storing.'

(*) Source: Plastic Waste Management Institute, 'Basic Knowledge of Plastic Recycling 2025'

(2) Kokuyo and Kaunet's Contribution to a 'Zero-Waste Society'

The Kokuyo Group is working towards the realization of a 'zero-waste society' across the entire supply chain by thoroughly conserving resources, improving waste recycling rates, developing products and services that consider resource circulation in all areas of the lifecycle, and proposing non-waste lifestyles tailored to individuals.

REMARE has established a method to handle waste plastics, previously only treatable through thermal recycling, as material recycling using its unique 'heat compression' technology. It transforms waste plastics that were destined for incineration into unique 'recycled plastic materials,' presenting the option of storing limited resources within society.

This time, Kokuyo and Kaunet decided to participate as co-hosting companies, sympathizing with the concept of this project, which materializes the potential of materials through REMARE's unique 'heat compression' material recycling method and the power of design.

(3) The Role of 'THE CAMPUS'
'THE CAMPUS,' established in 2020 as an experimental space for 'work, live, and learn,' is a place where diverse people interact and co-create new value. Through this exhibition, it will provide a venue for expanding awareness so that recycled plastic becomes a 'chosen material' in the architecture and product industries, and for cross-industry dialogue.

'THE CAMPUS' website: https://the-campus.net/

2. About 'REMARE Plastic SUMMIT'

This project aims to establish domestically produced recycled plastic not as a substitute, but as a 'chosen material' in the fields of architecture and products.

In the first edition in 2025, five creators produced works using REMARE materials made from various waste plastics. For the second edition in 2026, industrial designer NAO IWAMATSU (Nao Iwamatsu) has been appointed as creative director, and seven companies and designers will participate.

Japanese manufacturing companies, which are the material suppliers, and cutting-edge designers will team up to create products that capture the characteristics and stories of the waste materials. The designed products will be unveiled at the exhibition venue along with the stories of the materials, proposing to society the unique potential of recycled materials that virgin materials do not possess.

Project Goals

・From 'Burning' to 'Storing' Resources: Storing conventionally incinerated waste plastics in society as unique recycled materials

・Sustainability as a Management Strategy: Solving medium- to long-term corporate challenges with a view to social implementation, not superficial eco-activities

・Cross-Industry Knowledge Sharing: Accumulating construction knowledge in the architecture and product industries and promoting a shared image of material use

・Building a Co-creation Model: A new form of co-creation for realizing a sustainable society, where companies, designers, and regions collaborate

■ Event Overview

Event Name: REMARE Plastic Summit 2026 Exhibition 2

Dates: Tuesday, October 13th – Friday, October 16th, 2026

Venue: Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Tokyo Shinagawa Office 'THE CAMPUS' 1F 'BOXX'

Address: 1-8-35 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8710

Organizer: REMARE Co., Ltd.

Co-organizers: Kokuyo Co., Ltd., Kaunet Co., Ltd.

Reference

・Creative Director

NAO IWAMATSU (Nao Iwamatsu)

An industrial designer based in Tokyo. Starting with questions about traditional culture and contemporary manufacturing, he has worked on numerous design developments that embody the characteristics of materials and technologies, as well as the philosophies and visions of companies. In recent years, he has been actively collaborating with manufacturers and artisans outside Japan, including in Italy and Mexico.

https://naoiwamatsu.com

・Participating Companies and Designers (in Japanese syllabary order)

(1) Companies

Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (*), Kanro Co., Ltd., DENSO CORPORATION (*), Fuji Seal International, Inc., Nitto Kogyo Corporation, Misaka Light Industry Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (*)

(*) Participation by in-house design teams

(2) Designers

AATISMO (Keita Ebizuka, Daiki Nakamori, Eriko Masunaga), Kenji Abe, M&T (Miyu Ikeda, Takuto Kurashima), Atsushi Shindo, Yuto Yoshizoe

・About REMARE Co., Ltd.

Under the mission 'Don't burn, don't landfill, store plastic in society,' REMARE supports the creation of circulation systems for complex plastics that are difficult to recycle. It regenerates waste plastics such as multilayer and composite materials, which were previously sent for incineration or landfill, into materials with both aesthetic design and strength using its proprietary technology. It provides a comprehensive support solution, from material development to product creation, spatial implementation, internal dissemination, and external PR.

Official website: https://remare.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remare_jp/

・Kokuyo Group's Initiatives for a 'Zero-Waste Society'

The Kokuyo Group has established the circulation guideline 'SUTENAI CIRCLE' and is engaged in creating things and experiences premised on 'not throwing away.'