Dusit International has partnered two Japanese organisations on sustainable food production that will not only support its two properties in the country, but also the local community and environment.
In Kyoto, Dusit joined hands with TeaRoom Inc., a renowned sustainability-focused tea manufacturer, to set up the Dusit Tea Garden in Wazuka, a town on the southern edge of Kyoto Prefecture, famous for its exquisite green tea. Set over 2,500m², the garden is overseen by Dusit’s team in Japan and produces organic tea for use at Asai Kyoto Shijo and Dusit Thani Kyoto. Reflecting the hotels’ sustainable operations and efforts towards circularity, food waste from each property will be composted and used as fertiliser at the tea garden. Dusit plans to export the organic tea to its international properties in the future.
The hotel company has also teamed up with Ohara Farmy, which supports the development of organic farms and sustainable land use, to create Dusit Farm. Located in Oharanomuracho, Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward, just 20 minutes from the heart of the city, the farm supplies Dusit’s hotels in Japan with an array of vegetables vital for creating Thai cuisine. This helps Dusit to limit the amount of imported produce while ensuring tastes remain authentic at its Thai-inspired restaurants.
Dusit Farm also conducts meaningful guest activities, including hands-on vegetable harvesting experiences.
These efforts are in line with Dusit’s group-wide sustainability programme, Tree of Life, which has 31 criteria aligned with selected United Nations’ Global Sustainable Development Goals, as well as industry-specific targets comprising Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) elements.
Makoto Yamashita, cluster general manager of Dusit Thani Kyoto and Asai Kyoto Shijo, said: “By partnering with these farms, we will not only enhance our food and beverage offerings but also create a meaningful cycle of value that extends beyond our properties, enriching the communities we are privileged to be a part of. We’re eager to see these partnerships thrive – and to explore more opportunities like this in the future.”
