惜食止廢–米袋再造的永續五感體驗設計 Cherishing Food, Conquering Waste – A Sustainable Five-Sense Design Initiative for Rice Bag Upcycling
初果國際有限公司 FIRSTFRUIT INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. / 西川米店 CICHUAN RICE SHOP / 財團法人塑膠工業技術發展中心 Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC)
在台灣，米食文化深植日常，但隨米業而生的塑膠米袋，往往缺乏再利用的出口，最終淪為廢棄物。初果國際有限公司（西川米店）攜手財團法人塑膠中心，啟動「惜食止廢–米袋再造的永續五感體驗設計」，從減廢、惜食的思維出發，探索米袋再造的可能，並把米食文化延伸為兼具設計與教育價值的行動。
In Taiwan, rice culture is profoundly ingrained in daily life; however, plastic rice bags often lack avenue of reuse and eventually become waste. Firstfruit International co., ltd (Cichuan Rice Shop), in partnership with the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC) launched the project “Cherishing Food, Conquering Waste – A Sustainable Five-Sense Design Initiative for Rice Bag Upcycling”, guided by the principles of waste reduction and food appreciation, the project investigates the potential for rice bags to be transformed through design. It seeks to extend the cultural significance of rice into a practice that combines creativity with educational value, thereby promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness.
計畫首先著重在材料與工序的測試：米袋經過清洗、裁切與縫製，逐步建立標準化再製流程。透過設計師與製包工廠的協作，原本一次性使用的米袋被轉化為兼具耐用性與設計感的購物提袋，讓米店日常的廢棄物成為循環資源。
The project starts by testing material and methods: rice bags are cleaned, cut and sewn to create a standard upcycling process. Designers and bag studios work together to turn disposable rice bags into sturdy and stylish shopping totes, repurposing waste from rice shops into sustainable resources.
在推廣上，團隊舉辦多場「五感體驗工作坊」，邀請社區居民與學生參與，從嗅聞米香、觸摸米袋材質到動手縫製，將工藝實作與米食文化知識結合。參與者在體驗中理解材料再利用的價值，也進一步思考如何減少食物與資源浪費。
To foster public engagement, the teams hosted a series of “Five-Sense Exploration Workshop”, inviting community residents and students to join. They smelled the scent of rice, felt the texture of the rice bags and create their own work, thereby linking craftsmanship with rice culture. This hands-on experience helped them to learn the value of material reuses and thinking about reducing food and resource waste.
透過「惜食止廢」、「米袋再造」及「永續五感體驗」，不僅實踐了廢棄物再利用的行動，也將米食文化、環境教育與永續設計緊密結合。從米袋開始，計畫展現了資源循環如何落實於日常，並以設計讓永續成為看得見、用得到、能延續的生活實踐。
By exploring the themes of “Cherishing Food, Conquering Waste”, “Rice Bag Upcycling”, “Sustainable Five-Sense Exploration”, the project promotes waste reuse while combining rice culture, environmental awareness and sustainable design. Starting from rice bags, the project demonstrates how circularity can be implemented in daily life, transforming sustainability into a tangible, useful and enduring concept.
