Sustained-release water-soluble glass to contribute to blue carbon

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.

Outline

To help accumulate carbon dioxide in marine ecosystems (blue carbon), we will drive our sales expansion efforts for our sustained-release water-soluble glass (product name: Ion Culture), whose ingredients are continuously dissolved into the sea water over a long period of time as nutrients necessary for marine plants, such as seaweed and phytoplankton. We will also develop products that are more effective than the existing water-soluble glass product.

Description

Our sustained-release, water-soluble glass is a material whose glass structure is arranged so as to be easily dissolved in water, and active ingredients contained in the glass are released as essential elements for ecosystems in the form of ions under any conditions. According to a research, seaweed grew well by placing a water-soluble glass which can gradually release phosphorus, silicon and iron over a long period of time on the seabed near the coast.

We believe that a wider use of this glass will contribute to solving environmental issues, including the barren ground problem in coastal ocean areas, and the effort to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide onto the seabed.

As for the target and issues of this challenge, this glass has not yet been well known and therefore we need to increase our activities to raise its recognition among a wide range of users for a wider use of the product. We will also develop products that have higher user-convenience and effectiveness, thereby further expanding the market.