Japanese recycling expert turns waste glass into Palau tourism success

Koror, Palau (Kyodo) -- A Japanese-led glassware brand employing recycled bottles has become Palau's signature product, appealing to eco-conscious tourists. Beginning as a waste glass utilization effort, it has blossomed into a prosperous venture within a decade, crafting items like earrings and ornate marine-life-inspired pieces.

In a sweltering Palauan workshop, artisans labor with red-hot furnaces. During a recent visit, French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson experimentally attempted glassblowing under 82-year-old Japanese recycling expert Katsuo Fuji's supervision. Brotherson, smiling, affirmed, "Perfect, right?" Waste management poses a common issue for small island nations, but Palau's success in transforming discarded glass into a tourism asset has garnered interest from the broader Pacific region.

Notably, numerous dignitaries attended the workshop during the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum summit, attended by leaders from the 18-country Pacific Islands Forum. Katsuo Fuji, a former insider in Japan's recycling industry, arrived in Palau in 2004 as a senior volunteer with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. He became so dedicated to his work that he continued as a consultant to the Palauan government post-assignment.

Fuji believed that the environmental benefits of converting discarded bottles into handicrafts would resonate with visitors drawn to Palau's natural beauty. In 2015, he partnered with Palau's tourism authorities to launch the Belau Eco Glass brand. Today, craftsmen at the workshop produce a diverse array of souvenirs, with manta rays and coral motifs being the most popular.

Prices range from tens of dollars for small accessories to over $1,000 for decorative pieces. JICA continues supporting the initiative by dispatching Japanese glass artists to train local artisans. Kyoko Hirako, a 39-year-old glass artist and part-time lecturer at Nagoya University of the Arts, commented on the rewarding aspect of witnessing the artisans' enthusiasm.

Fuji remarks on the significant improvement in craftsmanship, stating that they no longer need to emphasize the recyclable origin of the glass, as the products are now recognized as high-quality works of art.