This kit is the Chemical Recycle Ver. of the1/144 RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 G.L.R.S.S. Feather UNIT)released to commemorate the Osaka Expo 2025. As the name suggests, it's a version made using chemically recycled plastic. Unlike Ecopla, which tends to be black, gray, or a single flat color, this version is made by melting down waste plastic runners and chemically reprocessing them to produce parts in the same molded colors as the original kit.
At the time of the Expo, Bandai proudly claimed they'd achieved the same appearance as the original kit using recycled plastic — and sure enough, the molded colors and sculpt came out identical to the standard version, to the point where you genuinely can't tell them apart by eye. I looked as carefully as I could for any differences, but couldn't find a single visual discrepancy. Since there was really no point in doing a full separate photo shoot beyond the comparison shots, please refer to the original kit link for a detailed breakdown of the contents and features.
One thing I did notice, though, is that the Chemical Recycle Ver. feels subtly tighter in joint strength. The arm and leg joints in particular stood out — even after comparing them multiple times, there was a definite difference. It's probably down to slight variations in material feel and the manufacturing process. That said, it's not a dramatic improvement by any means; it's more like just enough of a difference to tell the two otherwise identical-looking kits apart when you compare joint strength directly.
Ultimately, the point of this kit seems to be Bandai showing off their technical chops — proving that recycled plastic can produce results this good. And from a buyer's perspective, while the price and quality are the same, there's a certain personal satisfaction in knowing you're making an environmentally conscious purchase. Given that "environment" was the theme of the Osaka Expo, it feels like a pretty fitting limited release.
Either way, the standard version and the Chemical Recycle Ver. are so similar they're practically indistinguishable, so the main takeaway is that you really can't go wrong with either one. There's absolutely no reason to be put off by the recycled plastic — if anything, with the slightly tighter joints and the environmental angle, this one's worth recommending :-)
1/144 RX-78F00/E Gundam (EX-001 G.L.R.S.S. Feather UNIT) Chemical Recycle Ver. | 2026.4 | ¥3,600
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
