The Story Behind the Sustainability-Led Design of the fx-85GT CW+ for the UK Market

For example, at a large stationery retailer where scientific calculators are sold, approximately one-third of the products on display promote environmental sustainability, and many of these products clearly indicate the percentage of recycled materials used to make them.

It has now been more than 6 months since the product was launched, and it has been well received and highly rated by a wide range of customers. Among the more than 100 mathematics teachers who participated in the product evaluation program, approximately 90% gave it a positive assessment. We believe that the product has also contributed to enhancing the Casio brand image.

Although this was a project aimed at the UK market, it goes without saying that it could not have been realized by the UK team alone. As this was the first Casio scientific calculator to use PCR materials in its body, there were numerous challenges at every stage, from planning and development through to launch. To overcome these challenges, we had to carefully consider each issue as it arose and seek the cooperation and support of many stakeholders along the way.

Securing the raw materials was one of the biggest challenges. While Casio already offers some standard calculators that use PCR plastic, those products are manufactured in different countries. For this project, we needed to find a new supplier capable of providing PCR materials in the country where our scientific calculators are produced.

Moreover, PCR plastic is not a uniform material. Its properties and quality can vary significantly depending on the source and recycling process. Our procurement team in Japan worked tirelessly to identify and negotiate with suppliers that could meet a wide range of requirements, including quality, cost, and supply stability. Their persistence and dedication were instrumental in making the project a reality.

Yes. PCR plastic made from discarded household appliances and other recycled products tends to become duller in color as the proportion of recycled content increases. However, scientific calculators are educational tools. The readability of the characters on the body is directly linked to usability and visibility during learning, so this was something we could not compromise on.

At the same time, from an environmental perspective, we wanted to maximize the use of PCR materials as much as possible. As a result, designers, sales teams, developers, and colleagues in the UK held numerous discussions to find the right balance between PCR content, readability, and the overall aesthetic appeal of the product.

We also conducted user research in the UK regarding the calculator’s body colors. Taking those findings into account, we ultimately determined the final product specifications.

We had already been promoting initiatives to replace plastic outer packaging with paper in order to reduce plastic usage. For this product, we went a step further by adopting a non-woven fabric bag to wrap the calculator, which helped reduce the amount of plastic used compared with previous models.

This idea actually came from a member of our development team at headquarters. It is a good example of how contributions from different departments helped enhance the product’s environmental performance.