As a soil conditioner, peat has beneficial effect on the growth of plants, and it is highly regarded by people in the horticultural field. Toyota has two projects involving such soil.
In June 2002, Toyota established Sichuan TOYOTA Nitan Development Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. The company specializes in mining, processing, and export of the Yuexi peat which has excellent water- and nutrient-retention properties.
The peat to be harvested is a natural organic soil formed over approximately 7,000 years by maturation and humification of material from wetland herbaceous plants. It offers firm root support, and its water-retention rate and period of water retention under dry conditions are several times those of ordinary soil.
Toyota has ascertained that the peat is ideal for use in rooftop greening projects in Japanese cities, many of which suffer from the so-called heat-island phenomenon and deluges caused by excessive downpours. In addition, Toyota also decided to advance the business on the company’s own in view of the benefits peat mining would have on the development of western China and promotion of export and overall development of the Chinese economy. The company mines, processes, and packs the Yuexi peat, and exports to Japan began in April 2003.
In Japan, Toyota Roof Garden Corporation, which was established in December 2001 for the purpose of promoting roof gardening business, will serve as the exclusive distributor of the Yuexi peat.
An Overview of Sichuan TOYOTA Nitan Development Co., Ltd.
Sichuan TOYOTA Nitan Development Co., Ltd. was established in June 2002 and started operation in March 2003.
(1) Location Headquarters in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
A factory in Yuexi County, Sichuan Province, China
(2) Business Mining and processing of the Yuexi peat
(3) Capital Approximately 430 million yen (100% by TMC)
(4) President Kazuyoshi Ohki
(5) Number of employees 26
(6) Sales Target 37 million yen (FY 2005)
In order to cope with the so-called heat-island phenomenon that is worsening over the years in Japanese cities, Toyota established Toyota Roof Garden Corporation in December 2001 and is working toward the recovery of natural land surface lost through urbanization.
At Toyota Roof Garden, the peat mined in Sichuan, China, which is light and most suitable for gardening and greening materials for rooftop greening, is used to realize lightweight, low-cost, low-maintenance rooftop greening.
In 2002, the Tokyo metropolitan government enacted regulations stipulating rooftop greening for newly constructed buildings, and other local municipalities are expected to follow suit. It is also expected that municipalities would grant subsidies for rooftop greening, and the overall urban greening activities are intensifying year after year, and there is a high expectation for the growth of the rooftop greening business.
Toyota Roof Garden also focuses attention on the water- and nutrient-retention properties of peat, and is implementing sales in the agricultural and horticultural fields, among others.
www.toyota-roofgarden.co.jp