Japanese lifestyle retailer MUJI works in collaboration with Taiwanese battery mobility platform Gogoro to launch the VIVA ME and VIVA MIX ME electric scooters. It was made with the help of Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa, who happens to also be a member of MUJI's advisory board. The minimal look offers a comfortable riding experience and is made from recycled polypropylene.
To source the materials, the duo joined on June 5th for World Environment Day where they invited the public to drop their unwanted plastic belongings at the brands' stores/ These were then “screened, cut, granulated, reshaped, and regenerated” to be used to create the body panels of the scooters. Fukasawa, who is an educator and author explains that “The most important thing in design is that it must always uphold the spirit of integrity towards people, the environment and life. Both Gogoro and MUJI are quite popular brands, and it is very natural for them to cooperate in this way. It’s not just one plus one equals two. Instead, let one plus one see a greater value.”
Image Credit: Gogoro, PR Newswire
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Recycled Plastic-made Electric Scooters
- The collaboration between Gogoro and MUJI to launch electric scooters made from recycled polypropylene presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in sustainable transportation.
- Minimal Design for Comfortable Riding Experience
- The VIVA ME and VIVA MIX ME electric scooters' minimalist design, created in collaboration with Japanese product designer Naoto Fukasawa, offers a comfortable riding experience and opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in urban mobility.
- Material Sourcing and Recycling Initiative
- Gogoro and MUJI's joint efforts to source materials by inviting the public to recycle unwanted plastic belongings for the creation of electric scooter body panels demonstrates potential for disruptive innovation in circular economy practices.
Where This Applies
- Sustainable Transportation
- The launch of electric scooters made from recycled plastic provides an opportunity for disruptive innovation in sustainable transportation solutions.
- Urban Mobility
- The minimalist design and comfortable riding experience of the VIVA ME and VIVA MIX ME electric scooters can lead to disruptive innovation in urban mobility services and products.
- Circular Economy
- Gogoro and MUJI's material sourcing and recycling initiative for electric scooter body panels showcases the potential for disruptive innovation in circular economy practices within the manufacturing and retail sectors.
