Who developed the "Lipstick Plastic Model" and for what reason?　Japan Kankyo Sekkei, a recycling company, knew the secret! Hobby Industry Inside No. 36

There is a plastic model kit of lipstick molded in several colors. I came across this information in the fashion magazine "SO-EN. The kit was designed by the apparel brand "THEATRE PRODUCTS" and developed and produced by "BANDAI SPIRITS" (formerly Bandai Hobby Division), which is well known for its Gundam plastic models. What in the world could have made the lipstick into a plastic model ......?
It was first revealed in May of this year, when the "plastic model lipstick accessory" became news on the Internet, that a Kasumigaseki-based company called Nihon Kankyo Sekkei K.K. had planned this product. Apparently, the company's main business is recycling clothing, and if you ask this company, you may learn something about it. We spoke with the company's senior manager, Mr. Takayuki Nakamura.

BANDAI SPIRITS was the company that made the "recycled plastic models!

─ I understand that Nippon Kankyo Sekkei is in the business of recycling resources. Was this plastic model of Lipstick also made by recycling plastic?

Nakamura: Our mission is to collect unused products from consumers, recycle them into products with as much added value as possible using our recycling technology and planning capabilities, and then sell them. Our specialty is apparel. For example, we are planning to collect unwanted clothes from MUJI and other retailers and recycle them into polyester fiber clothing. With our technology, we can produce recycled raw materials of the same quality as those derived from petroleum. If the quality of the product is not that good, customers will not buy it. We believe it is important to plan products that are good for the environment as a result of being good products. We do not want to "hold back for the sake of the environment," but rather to achieve both economic circulation and environmental contribution.

3)─Did plastic model products emerge from this trend?

Nakamura: We have been trying to collect plastic products that consumers no longer use at stores through the "BRING PLA-PLUS Project," and Bandai and Takara Tomy in the toy industry have been participating in this project. Bandai Hobby Division (now BANDAI SPIRITS) made a plastic model of Hachi-kun, the mascot character of the "BRING PLA-PLUS (PLA-PLUS) Project" about two and a half years ago, which may be the origin of this lipstick. This is Bandai's specialty.


─ This is an easy kit that does not require any glue, which is Bandai's specialty, isn't it?

Nakamura: Yes, it is a plastic model made by reusing scrap wood from the plastic model production process. When we held a plastic product collection event at our stores, we handed them out as novelties. We want to create a consumer culture in which people recycle one old item after buying a new one, not just recycle for the sake of the environment. However, people have a hard time parting with their clothes and toys because of the emotional attachment they have to them. Therefore, after collecting toys that are filled with feelings, we aim to recycle them, reborn them as new toys, and deliver them to people once again, little by little.

L:After this Hachi-kun plastic model, you suddenly have a Lipstick plastic model accessory?

Nakamura: That's right (laughs). While we were visiting various companies with this Hachi-kun plastic model, Theater Products showed an interest in it. They had been making plastic accessories, so we thought, "We could make a plastic accessory model using the same technology," and the conversation progressed very quickly.