Amanda WeeSpatial design brand parkERs’ original soil, parkERs soil, is a recipient of the 2020 Good Design Award.
parkERs soil is upcycled potting soil made from the reuse of discarded raw materials. This sustainable soil is made of coconut fiber, Mycorrhizal fungi, coffee grounds and palm bark.
Ordinarily, potting soil such as Akadama and Kanuma are used for home gardening. These soils originate from the sedimentation of volcanic activities in Japan, and as one of the earth’s natural resources, are finite. Since the founding of parkERs, they have been using regular soil for their works. However, they began to wonder if there was a greener alternative they could explore.
The team approached PRONTOLEAF, Inc., a local garden supply company, to develop environmentally-friendly soil. After a series of research and development, they completed the product in 2016.
parkERs soil is lightweight and has good water-retaining capacity, soil drainage, and fertilizing properties. It is also a healthier option for plants as it has a lower tendency for root rot and bacteria growth.
In 2019, parkERs released an improved version of parkERs soil with an additional blend of bamboo charcoal. The porous nature of charcoal holds onto water and nutrients, allowing plants to grow better.
The latest version of parkERs soil is also approved as combustible waste, making it household friendly. Up till recently, parkERs soil has been exclusive only to business use. The team intends to make parkERs soil accessible to customers soon. They plan to do so via online shopping.
By May 2020, over 100,000 liters of parkERs soil have been used across different cities in Japan. The team hopes that with the upcoming release of parkERs’ online store, a wider reach of people will be able to incorporate sustainability into their gardening activities.
[Website] parkERs
