By Shinnosuke Kurama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
A store selling upcycled items made from waste materials from Toyota Motor Corp. and its group companies opened earlier this month at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.
The All Toyota Circular Store serves to promote the company's philosophy on craftsmanship to domestic and international audiences alike by upcycling scraps into high-quality goods.
Around 450 products are stocked, such as handbags, pouches and pencil cases, made from waste materials crafted from discarded materials supplied by companies including Toyota Motor, Toyoda Gosei Co., Toyota Boshoku Corp. and Tokai Rika Co.
Automotive parts are subject to strict quality standards, meaning even minor blemishes can result in disposal. However, given their highly durable and lightweight material, even discarded items often are perfectly suitable for daily use. As a result, the Toyota group is working on transforming off-spec products — as well as offcuts of airbags and seat belts — into everyday items.
By bringing together products from its various group companies, the shop has succeeded in offering a wide range of items. "We want to show customers how through dedicated design discarded materials can be transformed into high-quality products," a shop official said.
The store operates from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the fourth floor of the Terminal No. 1.
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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.
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