As part of its long-term environmental vision Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, Panasonic Group is promoting an initiative to upcycle factory offcuts into innovative new products to reduce emissions and promote efficient use of resources.
The initiative is focused on artificial marble offcuts produced during the manufacture of kitchen countertops. Because the material is highly durable, secondary processing of the offcuts to make them into other shapes is not practical. The team’s solution was to develop a database platform where data about the shape of the offcuts could be stored and then accessed by creators who would then use the offcuts “as is.”
After a successful exhibition of the initiative, Panasonic has collaborated with various parties and even created its own product prototype using the offcuts with a view to potential commercialization. Project lead Tooru Wada wants to refine this ecosystem until it can be applied sustainably throughout society: “All products have a lifespan. I want to create an ecosystem where products at the end of their lifespan can be upcycled.”
Read more about this initiative and find out more about other Panasonic sustainability efforts, please click the following.
Source: https://news.panasonic.com/global/stories/13747