The encounter between NHK Art and HighChem dates back two years. It began when we exhibited our new brand of polylactic acid (PLA), HIGHLACT®, touted as a sustainable material for the next generation, at “EcoPro 2021” held at Tokyo Big Sight. Since that encounter, we have been developing with NHK and NHK Art, through trial and error, to see if we can create something that can withstand the television industry using PLA materials, such as chroma key curtains and punch carpets.

Recently, I heard that NHK Art was holding an exhibition, and I was very surprised when I went to visit. I wondered if there was another organization that could systematically and comprehensively propose sustainable materials. I thought this could be “something” that could greatly contribute to the SDGs beyond the framework of the television industry.

So, although it’s a small effort, I asked if I could write an article on HighChem’s owned media, and they kindly agreed, which led to the publication of this article.

I would like you to read about NHK Art’s efforts in art production with consideration for SDGs.

(From left) Takamasa Oda, Yuki Kosugi, Yu Kajino

——Please tell us about the background of your commitment to research and development of art sets with consideration for SDGs!

Oda:  Two years ago, a department was established with the mission of developing new businesses that leverage the strengths of NHK Art, and Kosugi and I were assigned to that department.

We were envisioning businesses for 5 and 10 years later, and among several themes, the initiatives towards SDGs were rapidly expanding at that time. Therefore, we thought it was an urgent matter to investigate sustainable materials that are environmentally friendly and can be adopted in the television industry.

——What are the criteria for NHK Art to choose sustainable materials with consideration for SDGs?

Kosugi: This is just our thinking within this project, but we believe that sustainable materials with consideration for SDGs can be classified into the following three categories.

The first are materials that can be “material-recycled.” Paper and cardboard fall into this category. For example, it is said that cardboard is a material that can be regenerated six times.

The second are upcycled materials. For example, materials that have been reborn into something else, such as boards formed by crushing and processing items that must be discarded, such as used clothing.

The third are materials with low environmental impact at the manufacturing stage. We believe that HighChem’s  polylactic acid (PLA) fiber, HIGHLACT®, which has carbon-neutral properties derived from plants, also falls into this category.

The disposal method varies depending on the material. We believe it is important to propose a total coordination of art production that leads to a reduction in environmental load, considering what kind of material should be used and how it should be disposed of according to the needs of the client and the situation.

——At present, what kind of sustainable materials are being adopted in places like TV shooting sites?

Kajino:  At first, materials with visuals that had never been seen before were often chosen. Materials with beautiful colors, high design, and that look good on video are easy to adopt. Whether the material is environmentally friendly or not, the first step is to get designers to adopt it.

In fiscal 2022, more programs used SDGs materials in their sets than in fiscal 2021. The most used material so far is the upcycled material made by heat and pressure molding of fiber waste. We have been using it for the floor material of news programs and the top plate of tables, as we liked the unique pattern of the material.

Kosugi:  The use of upcycled materials is also advancing as part of efforts to raise awareness of environmental management  within NHK Art.

Our company also handles costume coordination. We try to maintain and reuse as much as possible, but costumes that have been used for many years and have finished their role are discarded. We thought about whether we could upcycle these costumes, and asked a company that makes recycled felt boards made of 100% fiber materials to make a board that includes about 50% of the costumes we provided.

We used this board to make binders for employees and partitions for the office. We think it would be good if we could further raise awareness of reducing environmental load through sustainable materials.

A partition made from upcycled material using costumes that have been used for many years and decided to be discarded

——What was difficult when adopting sustainable materials with consideration for SDGs in places like TV shooting sites?

Oda: There are tools called “box horses” and “platforms” that are used as the foundation when making sets at shooting sites. These tools are made of wood, but they are materials that form the basis of the site. Initially, we started considering alternative materials with the idea of wanting to replace the most frequently used ones.

Prototypes of cardboard and upcycled materials from discarded clothing were tested
In the end, it was concluded that wood is the best

We first tried cardboard, which was very lightweight and easy to transport, and led to efficiency in work, but it was not durable and could not be used if it got wet, so it was not suitable for replacement. Next, we tried an upcycled material made from discarded clothing. This time, it became very heavy.

Through these prototypes, we re-recognized that “after all, box horses are best made of wood.”.

Wood is 100% recyclable and is actually a very sustainable material.

Through this verification, the possibilities of works made of cardboard and paper have expanded. Currently, paper art sets and display fixtures are being put to practical use.

Kajino:   The set of a program must always be built, dismantled, operated, and constantly remade in the limited space of a studio, so the issues of weight and durability are very important. If it is not durable, it will not be usable in the end.

Oda: The first thing we started with was the base material like a “box horse”, but what actually got adopted was the decorative part that emphasized design. This is something we have learned over the past two years of trial and error, and by advancing the project in collaboration with NHK.

——I heard that the activity of “reconsidering throwing away” is also progressing.

Kajino: We at NHK Art are responsible for dismantling and sorting the sets of NHK programs. There are things that have to be discarded, but we are working on revising “throwing away” and increasing the recycling rate as much as possible by sorting.

The place where waste was collected was called the “dismantling site”, but in collaboration with NHK’s Design Center, we changed the name to “Art Recycling Corner” and strengthened sorting. Increasing the amount of sortingcontributes to increasing the recycling rate.

Art Recycling Corner

——Why did you decide to renew the recycling corner?

Kosugi: Sorting is an act that must be done by hand. We believe it is important to create an environment where people can easily take action, so to make it easy to understand where and what to throw away, we reviewed the visuals and space of the recycling corner and made clear where and what to throw away.

We could imagine that there would be voices from the field saying, “It’s difficult to suddenly break down things into smaller parts.” It’s natural to suddenly change a system that has been in place for decades.

——How did you change the awareness of the field?

Kajino: We share where and how to dispose of materials through regular internal meetings and communication tools, and we are at the stage where it is gradually permeating. I thought research was very important.

——We hear that you are also promoting the introduction of PLA (polylactic acid) fiber: HIGHLACT® material at NHK Art!

Kosugi: We are considering the adoption of HIGHLACT® material in punch carpets and chroma key curtains, which are fabrics used for shooting.

Kajino:  Yes,  we actually used punch carpets as floor materials for programs.

Kosugi: When the project started, punch carpets were one of the materials we wanted to respond to urgently because they are often used.


Punch carpets are basically made of a mixture of polypropylene and polyester, but the condition for material recycling is basically that they are made of a single material, so it was a difficult material to recycle.

Therefore, I think it makes sense from an environmental point of view to choose to replace it with a carbon-neutral material derived from plants, like PLA (polylactic acid), HIGHLACT®.

It is biodegradable, so ideally it will return to the soil in the future, but it is still difficult, isn’t it?

Kajino: As for the chroma key curtain made of PLA (polylactic acid) fiber, we are having it used in various places as a prototype. Chroma key curtains are cloths used when compositing images and are often made of petroleum-derived fibers.

Scene of testing chroma key curtain using PLA (polylactic acid)

When we made a prototype with HIGHLACT®, we had it made to match the color of the conventional product, but when we shone a light on it, the reflectance and absorbance of the light was different from the conventional product, and it was not recognized as the color of the chroma key, and only that part could not be synthesized.

Now, we are working with the team at HighChem to report the situation each time and improve it to make a chroma key curtain that can withstand shooting.

——Thank you! I’m glad if I could contribute even a little!
There have been a lot of achievements in the research and development of sustainable materials with consideration for SDGs over the past two years.

Kosugi: When proposing events, etc., we are sometimes asked to propose with sustainability in mind from the beginning. In that sense, I think we have established a base in that we have become able to propose ideas using sustainable materials.

Over the past two years, we have collected sustainable materials and made a catalog of sustainable materials to widen their use. The other day, we also held an exhibition of sustainable materials sponsored by NHK Art.

Catalog of sustainable materials produced by NHK Art

Oda: Although we started with the image of a few years ahead, I think it was surprisingly quick to put into practical use. It was also a big deal that the project was proceeding simultaneously, including NHK designers. I think demand and supply matched.

However, whether this initiative will continue or end in a flash depends on future attempts.

Kosugi: And in the course of our activities, I have seen the wonderful efforts of HighChem and various manufacturers, and I have a sense of responsibility to share this product more and more (laughs).


I hope that by disseminating information about these materials, not only in the television industry but also in the world of art, decoration, and construction, wonderful sustainable materials will become more common.

——Thank you for today!