Recycling Workshop Makes Waste Reduction Fashionable

A DIY recycling studio in Taipei is using fashion to change attitudes toward waste.

Transcript

00:00After carefully snipping up plastic waste they've brought from home,

00:05participants at this DIY workshop are ready for the final step,

00:08crushing and melting it all down into a memento they can take home.

00:12This is Trash Kitchen, a studio in Taipei specialized in recycling magic.

00:17Using a recycling machine called a Mini Trash Spresso, invented in Taiwan,

00:21the studio creates all kinds of recycled products,

00:24from decorative wall tiles, bricks and clothes hangers,

00:27to the trendy sunglasses today's participants are making.

00:30The company that invented this recycling machine says

00:33there's a serious purpose to this fun and creativity.

00:36Everyone kept saying recycling is high energy footprint,

00:40it's really dirty, oh that's why we'd rather not do it,

00:43or reusing is very difficult.

00:46So we are trying to show you reusing will save a lot of carbon footprint

00:51because we measure the electricity here, we measure the air quality here,

00:55and then you know what every pair of, let's say sunglasses we make,

01:00in this process, you are reducing around 400 grams of carbon.

01:06The sunglasses made in today's program have the endorsement of some real fashionistas,

01:10including the chief editor of the Taiwan edition of an international fashion magazine.

01:16Environmental and fashion are important,

01:20but if you want to implement them,

01:24I think there's still a long way to go.

01:27I think for consumers,

01:29it's important to be able to stand on one line and feel this.

01:33I think this workshop is a good start.

01:36And it is only a start.

01:382023 saw Taiwan throw out nearly 12 million tons of waste, a new record.

01:43Over 6 million tons of that was recyclable.

01:46But while these sunglasses will only make a tiny dent,

01:49the process of making them is changing how people think about waste.

01:52I have two children.

01:54I have to think about their future.

01:56I have to think about their children's future.

01:58Even if you throw away a piece of trash today,

02:02you are just kicking the problem down the road.

02:06So if everyone can do better,

02:10and recycle more,

02:12and use less plastic,

02:14it can make a big difference.

02:16And if this change in mindset changes habits and lifestyles,

02:20Taiwan's explosion of trash could begin easing off.

02:23John Hsu and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.