Gundam Plastic's Recyclability: Eco-Friendly Or Not?

Gundam models, also known as Gunpla, are plastic model kits featuring robots from the popular Japanese anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. With 700 million units sold globally as of March 2021, the plastic waste generated from these models has become a growing concern. Bandai Namco, the company that produces Gunpla, has addressed this issue by launching a recycling project in Japan, inviting fans to deposit their plastic waste at various locations, including model shops and arcades operated by the company. The project aims to recycle the plastic sheets by either reusing them to create new model kits or utilising them for thermal power generation.

Bandai Namco's recycling project

Bandai Namco Group is committed to reducing and controlling its waste emissions and using natural raw materials more efficiently. The company has been promoting recycling initiatives since 2010 to ensure that limited resources are still available in the future.

Under the Gunpla Recycling Project, which started in April 2021, Bandai Namco collects runners (the model kits' framework) from the Gundam series and reuses them in new model kits through a cutting-edge chemical recycling process. The project aimed to collect 10 tons of plastic waste in its first year, with the goal of 500 tons in the future. The runners are transported to the Bandai Hobby Center, where they are either used for verification testing or reused through material or thermal recycling.

Bandai Namco has also been recycling Gashapon capsules since 2006. The collected empty capsules are turned into recycled pellets, which are then used to create new capsules. Recycled pellets currently account for about 20% of new capsules. The company has also set up Gasha Point Stations, empty capsule collection boxes at Gashapon stores and shops, to make the recycling process enjoyable for customers.

Additionally, Bandai Namco has taken steps to reduce its carbon emissions by transitioning to using electricity with effectively zero CO2 emissions at its headquarters and five other locations. The company prioritizes safety and enjoyment for its users by integrating environmental considerations into its products and marking those created with sustainability in mind with the "Sustainable Product Certification Mark."

Gundam plastic waste

The project, known as the ECOPLA PROJECT, invites Gundam fans to deposit their plastic waste at designated locations, primarily Bandai Namco-operated model shops and arcades in Japan. There are approximately 190 collection spots across the country. The deposited plastic frames are then recycled and transformed into new Gundam model parts.

Bandai Namco's recycling initiative is a step towards sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of Gundam model kits. According to estimates, up to 2,000 tons of frame waste is generated annually from the 7,000 tons of plastic used to produce the kits. With global sales of Gundam models surpassing 700 million units, the amount of plastic waste is significant.

The collected plastic waste is intended for reuse in two ways. Firstly, Bandai Namco plans to use the recycled plastic to create new plastic model kits, ensuring that the colourful parts meet the expectations of Gundam fans. Secondly, the recycled plastic can be utilised for thermal power generation, providing an alternative energy source.

In addition to the recycling project, Bandai Namco has expressed interest in chemical recycling, a cutting-edge technology. This process breaks down plastic into raw materials, allowing for the creation of plastic comparable in quality to those derived from fossil fuels. The company aims to sell chemically recycled plastic model kits and has already released black-coloured Gundam items made from waste generated during the manufacturing process.

Chemical recycling

Plastic waste is a major global issue, with around 250 million metric tons generated annually. Only about 20% of this plastic is recycled, and less than 10% in the US. To address this, 18 US states have passed laws encouraging the chemical recycling of plastics, also known as advanced recycling. Chemical recycling is the process of converting polymeric waste by changing its chemical structure and turning it back into raw materials for manufacturing. This process can be done through pyrolysis, gasification, hydro-cracking, and depolymerisation.

One company, BASF, has developed ChemCycling®, which uses pyrolysis technology to turn plastic waste into a secondary raw material called pyrolysis oil. This recycled feedstock is then used in their broad Ccycled® product portfolio, which has been introduced in various industries, including food packaging, medical, textile, and automotive.

However, environmental advocates have questioned whether chemical recycling is truly recycling. They argue that the processes used to generate fuels, such as home heating oil, are polluting and amount to incineration. Additionally, they point out that existing advanced recycling processes are energy-intensive and generate pollution. Despite these concerns, chemical recycling still represents a positive step towards reducing disposed waste and can be a key building block of a circular economy.

Gunpla sprues

To properly recycle Gunpla sprues, individuals can contact their local recycling plant to determine if they accept this specific type of plastic. It is worth investigating where the waste is ultimately sent, as some recycling plants may simply ship the waste to a landfill elsewhere. Additionally, it is important to separate different types of plastics, as mixed plastics can be challenging to recycle.

In some cases, individuals have suggested creative ways to reuse Gunpla sprues. For example, they can be used for art projects, terrain models, or scaffolding for a Gunpla model. Others have proposed community initiatives to recycle sprues, such as crowdfunding a plastic extruder or utilizing Bandai Namco's recycling project in Japan.

Bandai Namco, the company behind Gundam, has also recognized the issue of plastic waste and initiated a recycling project in Japan. The project encourages Gundam fans to deposit their plastic sheets at designated locations, such as model shops or arcades operated by the company. These collected sheets are then reused to create new plastic model kits or utilized in thermal power generation. This initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of Gundam model kits, with a goal of collecting 500 tons of plastic waste in the future.

Repurposing runners and sprues

If you're looking to repurpose your Gundam sprues and runners, you're in luck! There are several ways to reuse these plastic pieces, and the online Gunpla community is a great source of inspiration.

Firstly, it's worth noting that sprues are made of high-quality plastic and can be recycled with your other plastic recyclables to be melted down and reused. However, if you're feeling creative, you can repurpose them in various ways. For example, you can cut, trim, sand, and paint the runners into useful shapes, such as armatures for larger scratch-build weapons or custom bases for human figures. The shape of the sprue can be suggestive of specific weapons, and the longer plastic pieces can be used as bases for custom weapons or as scaffolding, gantries, or pipes in a diorama.

Additionally, you can use the sprues and runners to test various paints and primers, or melt and soften them for 3D printing. If you're looking for a simple organisational hack, you can use a dish rack or hobby zone sprue rack to store and display your runners.

Some Gunpla enthusiasts have also suggested that boxes of old sprues could be worth a small amount of money to scratch builders in need of raw feedstock, so you may be able to sell or trade your old sprues and runners.

So, before you throw away your sprues and runners, consider the endless possibilities for repurposing and reusing them, whether it's for modelling, crafting, or simply organising your workspace.

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