POLA CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES INC., which is responsible for research, development and production in the POLA ORBIS Group, has provided technical support for the production of artworks on the theme of ‘regeneration’ at the ‘Plastic Revives’ charity auction to be held at the POLA Museum Annex from 10 November to 3 December 2023, using its knowledge gained from research and development of packaging container technology. The exhibition will be held at the POLA MUSEUM ANNEX from 10 December to 3 December.

By making full use of 3D technology and other cutting-edge technologies, we were able to create a synergy between ‘art’ and ‘research’ and realise a new world view using recycled plastic that could not have been achieved by POLA Chemical Industries alone.

The POLA ORBIS Group has formulated a plastic resource recycling policy with the aim of realising a recycling-oriented society, and is facing up to various issues in the value chain with a focus on plastic containers and packaging materials for cosmetics in order to use limited resources carefully. The Frontier Research Centre, a fundamental research department of POLA Chemical Industries, has defined the reduction of environmental impact as one of its research areas and is promoting research on the recycling of plastics. With the aim of expanding knowledge on the use of recycled materials, this project is an attempt to combine the strengths that the POLA ORBIS Group has built up over many years – its research and development capabilities – with ‘culture, art and design’.

FRC researchers supported the artists in the process of creating artworks using recycled plastic materials, based on the knowledge they have gained through research and development of packaging container technology.

The works utilised recycled materials consisting of plastic containers from POLA’s B.A and White Shot series, which FRC researchers recycled as pellets after crushing and melting, and used the latest moulding and processing technologies such as 3D scanners and 3D printers. The pellets were then moulded into panels, beads and other shapes using the latest forming and processing technologies, such as 3D scanners and 3D printers.

The collaboration between artists and researchers has resulted in a wide range of ideas, including artworks that utilise the characteristics of the materials, a range of expressions that do not seem to be made of plastic, and the application of recycled plastic to the shortage of wood as a canvas support.