It’s no secret that Japan loves good packaging, but that doesn’t mean it’s also completely oblivious to the unnecessary waste all those layers produce. With Earth Day coming up next month, “On: Design” looks into a few initiatives that address the nation’s plastic waste problem.

Beach to boutique: Techno-Lab’s colorful Buoy collections of plant pots and trays are made from waste plastic collected from the shores of Japan. |
Beach to boutique: Techno-Lab’s colorful Buoy collections of plant pots and trays are made from waste plastic collected from the shores of Japan. |

Buoyed by good intentions