Who says beauty can’t be sustainable?

Naomi Arimoto, a Japanese nail artist, collects plastic from beaches and turns it into nail decorations. An original initiative that combines the passion for nail art with the fight against plastic pollution

In Chigasaki, Japan, one nail artist has found the way to merge beauty care with environmental awareness: Naomi Arimoto. She collects plastic waste from beaches and turns it into tiny works of art for decoration on nails.

A creative solution to beach pollution

The idea took shape after Arimoto participated in several beach clean-up initiatives, where she realized the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans. “I thought it was horrible,” the 42-year-old told Reuters. Motivated to make a difference, she decided to merge her profession with her commitment to environmental activism.

Using her wheelchair-Arimoto has a spinal condition that ended her career as a social worker-she combs nearby beaches, collecting microplastics that get overlooked by many other volunteers. The plastics are washed, sorted according to colour, and cut into fragments back home. These are melted into pieces to form unique hand-made designs onto nails.

“So many things are made from recycled materials, like toilet paper, but I never thought nails could be too!” said Kyoko Kurokawa, a customer at Arimoto’s salon. Arimoto’s invention is as simple as brilliant: to turn harmful waste into a beauty accessory and subtly raise awareness of the ecological crisis.

A global fight against plastic pollution

Arimoto’s move comes at a critical juncture in the global fight against plastic pollution. World leaders are gathering in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, or INC-5, responsible for writing a legally binding international treaty on plastic pollution. The process, which began in 2022, covers the full life cycle of plastic, from production and use to disposal.

INC-5 is the critical step toward a unified global strategy to try to stem the tide of plastic waste choking the planet. Delegates from around the world will debate options to reduce plastic use, with the aim of finalizing a common agreement by the end of 2024. The key areas likely to be discussed include reducing the production of virgin plastic, increasing the use of sustainable alternatives, improving waste management systems, and making manufacturers responsible for the full lifecycle of their products.

Small Gestures, Big Impact Arimoto’s nail art may be a drop in the ocean, but her message is powerful: even small actions can create ripples of change. “I hope that by putting it right in front of people-literally at their fingertips-they’ll appreciate fashion while becoming more aware of environmental issues,” she said.

Maybe her idea will spur nail artists worldwide to do the same and turn beauty salons into dens of creativity and sustainability.