2021 Edition

I believe that one of the most fundamental causes of the problematic plastic consumption we are facing today is the lack of respect and responsibility for the resources given to us by planet earth. To change this attitude, I would like to focus on one Japanese cultural ritual. Then, I propose a new plastic of which waste turns into Japanese rice wine “SAKE” as a new way of consumption responsibility, respecting and addressing the issue of resources. In Japan, there is a special kind of SAKE called “OMIKI”. OMIKI is SAKE dedicated to the spiritual symbol “KAMI” for a good harvest. The rice, which is the raw material for sake, is originally considered to be a sacred grain given by one of the KAMIs “Amaterasu no Onokami”. For this reason, the rice and the processed beverage “SAKE” are dedicated as a form of appreciation after successful harvest. After the dedication, they drink the “Omiki” with great respect. I believe that this kind of thinking can provide clues to resolving the current problem of consumption. The plastic I propose is a new type of biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastics are usually decomposed by microorganisms in the soil, but in this project, specific microorganisms used to brew SAKE will be responsible for decomposing the plastic. SAKE is then brewed as a by-product of the biodegradation process. Most biodegradable (compostable) plastics do not break down easily in the nature around us and need to be disposed of in special facilities such as industrial composting. However, there are not enough facilities set up around us and most of the biodegradable plastic waste is not composted but incinerated or landfilled. This situation poses a high hurdle for biodegradable plastics to become a sustainable alternative to petroleum plastics. Although the production of this plastic requires industrial facilities, brewing SAKE from wastes does not require special equipment and can be done in small breweries around us. Therefore, the project is also expected to increase the waste collection rate and be a viable solution to the urgent problem. We bring used plastic products to a brewery and dedicate the SAKE brewed from the products to the earth. Finally, we drink the SAKE with respect. This whole process will create a new relationship between wastes and us.