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Evaluating the Social Value of a Marine Plastics Upcycling Project in Japan
Summary
A Japanese social enterprise upcycling marine plastic waste into accessories while employing people with disabilities achieved a Social Return on Investment ratio of 3.50, with media reach and employment income comprising the largest value components — despite processing only 50 kg of plastic annually. This case study illustrates how community-scale marine plastic collection initiatives can generate significant social and environmental value even at modest volumes, complementing industrial-scale microplastic remediation approaches.
Marine plastic pollution poses severe ecological and economic threats, while people with disabilities (PwDs) often face limited meaningful employment opportunities. This study evaluated a unique social enterprise in Japan that addresses both challenges through upcycling marine plastic waste into accessories while providing employment for PwDs. Using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology, we assessed the project’s social and environmental impacts over one year (2020). Data was collected through stakeholder surveys, interviews, and operational records. The analysis identified 15 outcomes across six stakeholder groups, including income generation, environmental awareness-raising, and sustained volunteer engagement. The project achieved an SROI ratio of 3.50, indicating that every JPY 1 invested generated JPY 3.50 in social value. Media exposure (30.5%), employment income (25.6%), and volunteer motivation (18.5%) comprised 74% of the total value. Despite processing only 50 kg of marine plastic annually, the project demonstrated significant symbolic impact through behavior change and public awareness. Key challenges include limited production capacity, wage constraints, and gender-biased consumer demographics. This case illustrates how small-scale, community-based upcycling initiatives can generate multidimensional social value by integrating environmental conservation with social inclusion objectives.