Obirin University Hosts Special Class for Children: "Are Plastics Bad?"

Pal System Consumers' Cooperative Union (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa) participated in the "Shinjuku Future Map EXPO 2026" held on June 29, 2026 (Sun) at Obirin University Shinjuku Campus in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. Children who visited were encouraged to think about environmental issues starting with the plastics they encounter in their daily lives.

Finding plastic fragments in beach sand

At the Pal System booth, children learned about plastics familiar in their lives and about marine pollution caused by plastics. Through quizzes, the characteristics of plastics were introduced, explaining that they are indispensable to human life. It was then conveyed that plastics not reused, such as those carelessly discarded, reach the ocean and affect various living organisms.

Finally, using sand actually collected from a beach, the children were asked to find microplastics broken down to the size of sand grains. The children seemed surprised to discover fragments of plastic bottle caps and artificial turf mixed in, imagining their original forms from the color and shape of the particles.

First-ever project planned by students for children

"Shinjuku Future Map EXPO" is an experiential event aimed at enabling children in the Shinjuku area to draw their own "future maps" in collaboration with the community, university, companies, and organizations. Obirin University's community collaboration volunteer group "unite" co-hosted the event for the first time with Waseda University's "Atom Currency Executive Committee."

With the concept of "Creating an experience that will remain in children's memories for 10 years!", 20 organizations including universities, companies, and NPOs participated, and attendees enjoyed workshops such as a paper airplane class and makeup experience.

Many families participated. Children search for small plastic fragments in a pile of sand.

Pal System Consumers' Cooperative Union

Location: Rakus East Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa 12 member cooperatives / Total business sales of unified business system users: 268.96 billion yen / Total number of members: 1.77 million (as of the end of March 2026) Member cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Ai Coop Miyagi HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/