How a Tokyo Science Museum is Reinventing Sustainability—One Exhibition at a Time

Museums are evolving. More than ever, they are at the forefront of tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, including climate change and sustainability. Miraikan – Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation – is leading the charge with its latest permanent exhibition, Planetary Crisis – To Continue Living on This Earth.

This ambitious project doesn’t just inform visitors about sustainability—it embodies it in every aspect of its design, production, and message. At the Green Museum Summit 2024, Yamada Chiharu, Exhibition Planner and Project Manager at Miraikan spoke about their work.

Rethinking Exhibitions for a Sustainable Future

Museums, like all institutions, have an environmental impact. Energy-intensive interactive displays, material-heavy installations, and supply chain logistics all contribute to their carbon footprint.

Rather than just presenting sustainability as a topic, Miraikan took the opportunity to embed it into the very DNA of Planetary Crisis. The challenge? How to create a thought-provoking, immersive exhibition that practices what it preaches.

Inside Planetary Crisis

Opening in November 2023, Planetary Crisis takes visitors on a journey through four distinct zones, each designed to deepen their understanding of global environmental challenges and inspire action:

• Zone One: A sensory immersion into life in the Republic of Fiji, where rising sea levels are reshaping daily life.
• Zone Two: Interactive experiences that visualise environmental data, such as augmented reality (AR) simulations of sea-level rise and wooden spheres representing different nations’ carbon footprints.
• Zone Three: An exploration of how human activity—from deforestation to overfishing—affects ecosystems worldwide.
• Zone Four: A solutions-oriented space where visitors learn about real-world sustainability initiatives and contribute their own ideas for action.

Building with a Conscience

A defining feature of the exhibition is its commitment to sustainable materials. Japan is rich in forest resources, yet much of its timber is imported.

By sourcing domestic lumber from sustainably managed forests in Tottori Prefecture, Miraikan highlights the importance of local supply chains while supporting responsible forestry practices.

The exhibition’s modular wooden furniture is designed for reuse and longevity, using traditional Japanese joinery techniques that minimise the need for adhesives. By prioritising reusability, the museum ensures that exhibition materials can be repurposed, significantly reducing waste.

Additionally, Miraikan engaged visitors in workshops before the exhibition launch, inviting them to envision new uses for the wooden components—an innovative approach to participatory sustainability.

The Power of Digital Innovation

Miraikan also leveraged digital technology to reduce waste. Collaborating with architectural firm VUILD, the team digitally mapped the exhibition’s layout to maximise material efficiency. Offcuts were repurposed as exhibit components, such as signage and interactive panels, leading to an impressive 70% material utilisation rate.

Projection mapping replaced much of the traditional printed materials, cutting down on paper waste while maintaining an engaging visitor experience. Since the museum operates on 100% renewable energy, these digital enhancements aligned with the institution’s broader sustainability goals.

Sustainability Beyond the Exhibition Floor

Miraikan’s sustainability efforts extended beyond the exhibition space. The museum organised forestry tours and workshops, allowing visitors to engage directly with the landscapes that supplied the exhibition’s materials. These immersive experiences helped visitors connect the dots between resource use and conservation.

Additionally, the supply chain was carefully optimised to minimise carbon emissions. Rather than transporting materials across multiple locations, the team strategically selected suppliers and manufacturers within Japan to streamline logistics, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by 30%.

Lessons for a Sustainable Future

Miraikan’s Planetary Crisis exhibition serves as a model for sustainable museum practice, offering valuable insights applicable across industries:

1. Sustainability must be holistic. It’s not just about what is presented—it’s about how it’s made. Every stage of the process, from sourcing to disposal, matters.
2. Collaboration drives innovation. Scientists, designers, architects, and educators worked together to find creative solutions to sustainability challenges.
3. Engagement transforms understanding. By involving visitors in the process—through workshops, digital interactivity, and immersive experiences—the museum fostered deeper connections to sustainability.

Museums have long been places of knowledge, exploration, and inspiration. Miraikan’s Planetary Crisis demonstrates that they can also be powerful catalysts for change, showing that the journey towards sustainability isn’t just necessary—it’s entirely possible.

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Yamada Chiharu, Exhibition Planner and Project Manager at Miraikan spoke at the Green Museum Summit 2024,