Preventing the loss of drift ice
Drift ice is a winter tradition in Abashiri; however, in recent years, the amount of drift ice has drastically decreased and rarely seen in some years. The cause is said to be global warming. Drift ice brings plankton from the coast of Russia, which nourishes the Sea of Okhotsk, and allows us to catch an abundance of fish and shellfish. Less drift ice may reduce the overall haul of seafood. The loss of drift ice is just one of the symbols of global warming which is wreaking havoc on earth.
The Ryuhyo Glass Museum is working to reduce CO2 emissions by using “Eco Pirika,” the raw material for glass making that has been recycled from fluorescent lamp waste
What is Eco Pirika?
Eco Pirika is the raw material made by recycling discarded fluorescent lamps. Nomura Kohsan Co., Ltd. Itomuka Plant in Rubeshibe-cho, Kitami City, which is the company that makes Eco Pirika, has the only mercury recycling technology in Japan that detoxifies mercury contained in fluorescent lamps to regenerate glass. The company collects fluorescent lamps discarded from about 700 municipalities and many companies nationwide.
Utilizing local raw materials to reduce CO2 emissions during transportation.
In Japan, most of the raw materials for glass making are imported from countries such as Australia. The distance from Australia to the Ryuhyo Glass Museum in Abashiri is about 8,000km, while the distance from the Itomuka Plant in the neighboring town of Rubeshibe in Kitami City, where Eco Pirica is made, to the Ryuhyo Glass Museum is about 100 km. Since the difference in distance is actually 1/80, the fuel required for transportation will also come to 1/80 by simple calculation.
Using Eco Pirika to process at lower temperatures
Compared to ordinary raw materials for glass making, Eco Pirika, which is recycled from fluorescent lamps, can be processed at a lower temperature and has a composition similar to that of the raw materials making it a good match for the products at the Ryuhyo Glass Museum. Since it can be processed in lower temperatures, fuel consumption as well as CO2 emissions can be reduced.
Reusing heat for warmth which is essential in cold regions
Glass production requires a lot of energy to process raw materials at high temperatures. At the Ryuhyo Glass Museum, we strive to use as little energy as possible. The average temperature in Abashiri during the six-month period from December to May is -0.3℃, and the average minimum temperature is -4.1℃ which makes it hard to survive without indoor heating. We conserve energy by using the heat generated in the kiln for our indoor heating. On the other hand, as for spring and autumn, when air conditioning is essential for glasswork studios in the south of Honshu, the Ryuhyo Glass Museum can work without air conditioning due to cool temperatures.
Our future efforts
-Manufacturing for a sustainable society
Resting the kiln during the warmer seasons
In the summer when the amount of electricity is tight nationwide, we make a conscious decision to close our kiln to save electricity. Abashiri’s summers are cool enough to endure without the use of electricity for air conditioning.
Utilizing unused resources lying dormant in the region
We strive to search for resources that can be used for our glass products in the region. So far, we have used materials such as scallop shells, batteries and mineral deposits from hot springs.
Gathering minds to take action for our common goal
(1) Educational activities (lecturers, educational trips)
We will hold lectures on environmental issues and accept educational trips at the workshop.
(2) Development of collaborative products
We will develop collaborative products using recycled materials, etc., together with colleagues who can share our philosophy regardless of region, including the Itomuka Plant which supplies raw materials.
Aiming for a Circular Economy
(1) We will actively collect and recycle glass products that use Eco Pirika.
(2) We will make products that may be remanufactured.
(3) We will work together with people and companies that share our philosophy to promote the use and sale of Eco Pirika materials.
De-plasticizing packaging materials
We are currently using plastic packaging for our glass products to prevent them from breaking, but we are exploring ideas such as using cardboard instead.
Shifting to renewable energy
We are in the process of reviewing our energy usage and considering changing to a power company that uses renewable energy.
