Plastic Products can be lifelong companions if you care for them.

"Long Life Plastic Project" is a project where we tackle change with age and using plastic as a life-long material.

We would like to introduce our "Long Life Plastic Mug" as our very first project. We have the desire to not just market it as a product but also ask customers to participate in our project.

A predilection for plastic has created a new idea called, "Enjoy change with age"

We have validated and proposed Long Life Design from various points of view and also have renewed our attention to "plastic," which is a considerable burden to the earth's environment and our ecosystem. Since 2021, we have engaged in the "Long Life Plastic Project," which considers plastic a lifetime object. While using the "Long Life Plastic Mug", we would like to learn about plastics and their value with everyone.

Just like wood, pottery, glass, and metal, plastic also changes with age.

"Long Life Plastic Project" started with D&DEPARTMENT's founder, Kenmei Nagaoka's predilection for plastic. Although the impression "plastic products are disposable" has been established, Nagaoka had developed a fondness for plastic products that change with age through discoloration by being left outdoor and exposed to sunlight or wear.

And Nagaoka started collecting plastic products as a hobby. These plastic products were displayed and sold at an exhibition held in 2020 called "nagaoka kenmei plastics" by Kazumi Tsuji, a glass artist who lives in Kanazawa. Many people from the plastic industry were present at this exhibit, which conveyed the message, "Just like wood, pottery, glass, and metal, plastic also changes with age." President Mr. Kazuyoshi Sanada of Sanada Seiko Co., Ltd. (plastic manufacturer), says, "I was fascinated. It was an opportunity to notice that our thoughts as a plastic product manufacturer lacked flexibility." This event started a relationship between Nagaoka and Mr. Sanada and they initiated their plans to launch the "Long Life Plastic Project."

factory zoomer/gallery 44th exhibition
"nagaoka kenmei plastics"
January 10 - February 16, 2020
factory zoomer/gallery, Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture)

An art piece but also a practical plastic mug that symbolizes participant-based projects

The goal of the "Long Life Plastic Project" is to redefine the value of plastic. Plastic can be used as a lifetime object while enjoying its change with age. As such a symbol, we have developed the "Long Life Plastic Project 2021 Mug," our original plastic mug in 2021 for our participant-based project.

The mug itself has a message carved on it and also has a sticker with a serial number. "When thinking about mugs, anyone would picture a certain form." Although it utilizes such a universal design, it's slightly larger and has a capacity of 500ml when filled to the brim. "If we used a typical mug size, it would end up being a normal product." Nagaoka thought. To emphasize "the symbol for Long Life Plastic Project" = "art piece" concept, the mugs were a small-lot production and sold in limited quantities.

Long Life Plastic Project 2021
"nagaoka kenmei plastics 2"
December 17, 2021 - April 8, 2022
club d by D&DESIGN, Tokyo

The challenge of using a new material called 100% bio-based polypropylene, created by the mass balance method

The "Long Life Plastic Project 2023 Mug" utilizes 100% bio-based polypropylene created by the mass balance method and has Mitsui Chemicals, Inc's "BePLAYER®" project logo engraved on it. BePLAYER® is an effort aimed at promoting the use of bio-based products in society to resolve the global warming issue.

This "Long Life Plastic Mug" does not use conventional packaging.

"Packaging" was once considered a necessity for "products," whose concepts have been gradually changing due to the logistics and environmental change. For instance, we must change the idea of a design where we open the package in our home and dispose of it once the product gets delivered from the retailer to our homes. This "Long Life Plastic Mug" does not use conventional packaging but rather a single plastic bag. Needless to say, it has a vivid message and logo with the impression to encourage you to use it as a shopping bag once it reaches your house.

A community where we can actively support the Long Life Plastic Mug with like-minded people who share similar thoughts to our message

D&DEPARTMENT created a community in Japan called "Long Life Plastic Mug Club" as a place where creators and people who want to convey their messages enjoy interacting with consumers. Through the social networking community, the users enjoy interaction with Nagaoka and the the plastic manufacturer.

Participants respond to the question, "how do you use your mug every day?" by submitting pictures or by asking questions such as "is it microwave safe?" which other users can respond. Nagaoka interacts with other users whom he met through the "Long Life Plastic Project," such as by sometimes posting about new product concepts and asking for everyone's opinions.

Easily learn about long-lasting objects and concepts at the "d SCHOOL" study meeting

D&DEPARTMENT's Tokyo shop hosts "d SCHOOL" regularly.

The "d SCHOOL" meeting adopts a theme of "plastic" and invited a guest speaker from Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., a firm that continuously experienced the innovation of chemical materials for over 100 years. Kenmei Nagaoka listened through the meeting and asked about "issues regarding plastic and the environment and how we should live with plastic" with secret stories relating to the development of the "Long Life Plastic Project 2023." During this time, we have Long Life Plastic Mug users participate while enjoying the interaction with like-minded people.

Plastic products are integral to our daily lives. And as we gradually change our awareness of it, we hope to develop a community with people who support our project and continue thinking about the current situation with everyone regarding "regions, lifestyle, industry, environment, and our peers" that rely on plastic.

Feedback from members of the "Long Life Plastic Mug Club"

(A member, Dr. Hideki Kawano from the "Long Life Plastic Mug Club" is a dentist involved in preventive dentistry that prevents cavities.)

I first came across the Long Life Plastic Mug at the D&DEPARTMENT store. Although I was fascinated by the shape and felt the product with my hands, I was surprised by the price and went home without buying it. However, when I reviewed the product description on the brochure after I got home, I read the message "Plastic Products can be lifelong companions if you care for them" and instantly became a fan. I have been a dentist and always thought "teeth can be lifelong companions if you care for them." Therefore, I felt tremendous empathy for the message. As I was opening "Oyatsu-do," a cafe where users can benefit from preventive dentistry, I purchased 100 plastic mugs for the cafe.