A nail salon owner near Tokyo has found a creative way to help fight plastic pollution. Naomi Arimoto, a former social worker, now uses microplastics collected from beaches to create unique nail art. She got the idea during beach cleanups, where she noticed a lot of plastic waste on the shore. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, around 20 million metric tons of plastic are improperly disposed of each year, causing serious harm to the environment. To address this, a United Nations summit in Busan, South Korea, will be held on November 25 to create a global treaty to reduce plastic production. Environmental groups say this summit is an important step in solving the plastic crisis.

Arimoto turns the plastic waste into colorful discs, which she attaches to artificial nails after cleaning, sorting, and melting the plastic. These eco-friendly nail designs, priced at 12,760 yen ($82.52), attract customers who appreciate the combination of beauty and environmental awareness. Although her work is small-scale, Arimoto hopes it will inspire more people to take action. Customers like Kyoko Kurokawa enjoy the idea, saying it blends sustainability with everyday life. Experts agree that projects like Arimoto’s show how recycling can raise awareness and protect the planet.