THE WHAT? Japanese manicurist Naomi Arimoto is tackling plastic pollution in a unique and creative way—by turning microplastics collected from beaches near her home into decorative nail art.
THE DETAILS After a spinal condition ended her career as a social worker, Arimoto launched her home-based nail salon in Chigasaki, Japan, in 2018. She began incorporating microplastics into her nail designs in 2021 after witnessing the alarming scale of ocean plastic pollution during coastal cleanup efforts. Monthly trips to the beach with her custom wheelchair allow her to collect tiny bits of plastic, which she cleans, sorts by color, and melts into nail-ready decorative discs.
THE WHY? Arimoto’s work represents a small but meaningful contribution to the fight against plastic pollution, offering both a creative outlet and a way to raise awareness.
