Itoshige Studio: Taking Cardboard Upcycling to the Next Level

Japanese small business Itoshige Studio upcycles cardboard into sturdy, functional, and sleek home appliances and furniture. The Studio creates everything from desktop organizers, to mini cabinets, and pencil cases, using minimalist Japanese design principles to show just how far a single used cardboard can go if treated properly. This is why the work that Itoshige Studio does is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Responsible Consumption and Production.

Cardboard is an elusive everyday packaging item that is used for everything from food packaging to shipping boxes. The global cumulative use of cardboard amounts to 72 million tonnes, which accounts for 17 percent of global waste. This makes it the second highest waste contributor, lagging just slightly behind food waste. This is why Itoshige Studio’s efforts to recycle cardboard into items that have a utility life is crucial in helping to reduce the overall waste count.

Itoshige Studio also shares detailed process videos on YouTube and Instagram, this has led them to respectively accumulate almost 12 thousand subscribers, and 70 thousand followers. This shows the Studio’s impact in making a sustainable movement filled with people who can recycle their own cardboard waste at home. 

The Studio also recognizes that striving for minimalist Japanese design can be daunting for at-home crafters, this is why they have began to introduce the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy to their audiences. As defined by the Carnegie Library, wabi-sabi is a Japanese way of life that asks people to find beauty in imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete beings and objects. Wabi means less is more, meanwhile sabi, stands for attentive melancholy. By introducing this philosophy, Itoshige Studio is encouraging its audience to try their hand at the craft, even if they don’t immediately get the minimalist and clean look that they desire. In fact, the Studio is encouraging their viewers to find beauty in the imperfections of their creation.

Itoshige Studio is redefining the potential of cardboard, transforming this everyday waste material into sleek, functional home appliances and furniture. By employing minimalist Japanese design principles, the Studio demonstrates the vast possibilities of cardboard upcycling. With their innovative creations, ranging from desktop organizers to mini cabinets, Itoshige Studio not only reduces global waste but also inspires a growing community to embrace sustainable practices. Their educational content on YouTube and Instagram, alongside the introduction of the wabi-sabi philosophy, empowers followers to find beauty in imperfection and encourages at-home crafting. Itoshige Studio is leading a movement that not only tackles the issue of cardboard waste but also fosters a culture of mindful consumption and creative reuse.

Find out more about cardboard creations by Itoshige Studio and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @itoshige_studio.