Regarding PLAGLA
<How the brand started>
"Is there anything else I can do besides picking up trash on the beach?"
This thought vaguely crossed my mind every time I cleaned the beach.
About 15 years have passed since I started surfing in my late teens. Through surfing, I have interacted with surf shops and local people all over the country.
Many people who live by the sea make an effort to keep the ocean clean for everyone to enjoy, picking up trash on the beach as part of their daily routine.
However, no matter how much trash is picked up, a huge amount of plastic waste flows into the ocean carried by rivers and tides.
That amount is a staggering 8 million tons per year.
Witnessing this reality, I realized firsthand that "this problem will not be solved unless we not only pick up trash but also make an effort to reduce waste itself."
And so, I started to want to create products that would benefit both people and the global environment by making good use of recycling technology.
After that, through encounters with factory personnel and much trial and error, the eyewear brand "PLAGLA," born from PET bottles, was completed.
<PLAGLA | Origin of the name>
PLASTIC + GLASSES = "PLAGLA"
Since PET bottles are a type of plastic, the name simply became "PLAGLA."
This naming also contains the desire that "plastic = bad" not be unilaterally decided or that negative images not take precedence.
Of course, I am aware of the many problems that arise, but since it is a fact that our current lives are made convenient and rich, I accepted that fact and intentionally included "PURA" in the brand name to give it a friendly sound.
I believe that it will probably never be zero, and if it's an inseparable relationship, how can we have a better relationship? I hope to spread such positive thoughts.
<Connecting the producers' thoughts>
PLAGLA is produced in a factory in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture.
Many of you who are familiar with this place name probably already know that Sabae City boasts 90% of the domestic share of Japanese-made eyeglasses and is a major production area for eyeglasses that is highly regarded worldwide.
However, this factory in Sabae is unique in that it recycles PET bottles to make frames, and the factory itself has its own reasons for starting this production.
The factory representative has been involved in overseas support for developing countries, and this was one of the reasons why they started producing products from recycled plastic. They witnessed firsthand the enormous amount of waste dumped daily at local landfills, the smoke rising from the methane gas caused by chemical reactions, and the disparities between rich and poor.
With the desire to "leave beautiful oceans and nature for our children," this frame was created after years of initiatives.
Our brand has the "role of taking over the producers' thoughts and passing the baton to the consumers."
Therefore, we regularly visit the factory and hold repeated discussions with the production staff to continuously research and develop better products.
<Environmental Initiatives>
A portion of the sales is donated to the public interest incorporated foundation "Umi no Hane Bokin (Ocean Feather Fund)" and used to cover the costs of beach cleanups and conservation activities nationwide.
This means that by purchasing PLAGLA, you can indirectly participate in supporting environmental protection.
Although it's still a small movement, we have created a system where sustainable recycling activities will become more active as more people use PLAGLA.
We will continue to support this brand so that we can always enjoy beautiful and safe oceans and nature.
<In closing>
Our brand, PLAGLA, has been featured and promoted by various media and outlets, often highlighted for being "recycled" and "environmentally friendly." However, in the future, we hope that these aspects will become so commonplace that products like ours will seamlessly integrate into society without needing to be explicitly stated as "made from recycled materials and eco-friendly."
Believing that such a future will come, we will continue our activities so that the PLAGLA brand can feel even closer to everyone.