ENVIRONMENT
COEXISTENCE WITH NATURE: ACTIONS
- Sustainable Timber Use
- Products and Services Embodying Coexistence with Nature
- Environmental Conservation
Sustainable Timber Use
Certified as a Procurer of Legal and Sustainable Timber
We have been certified as a “procurer of legal and sustainable timber” by the Japan Office and Institutional Furniture Association (JOIFA). In line with the requirements set out in the certification practice statement for Certified Legal Timber Operator system, we strive to ensure that the timber we use is legal and sustainable by providing a paper trail to show how the timber is procured and used and by appointing the right people to manage this process.
How We Have Used Forest Resources, Due-Diligence Review
In 2024, we used around 8,100 tons of wood in furniture products. This accounts for 15% of all wood we used in products, excluding packaging. Of the wood used in furniture products, 33% consisted of rough-cut lumber that was made into solid wood or engineered wood (including plywood). The remaining 67% consisted of forest residues (byproduct from thinning or clearing) or engineered wood (including medium-density fiberboard and particle board) made from such. Each year, we report such data to JOIFA, the body that certifies us as a “procurer of legal and sustainable timber,” in compliance with the Act on Promoting Green Procurement. As per JOIFA’s reporting guidelines, we try to identify the wood species among the timber we use.
We conduct annual surveys to identify the tree species, usage volumes, and country or region of origin of the wood we use. It is often unfeasible to identify the country or region of origin of the timber used in products, but we do our best to source the products sustainably.
Products and Services Embodying Coexistence with Nature
As much as 67% of Japan’s landmass is covered by forests. Forests help prevent sediment runoff, contribute to water retention, and absorb CO2. They also provide a renewable resource. However, in much of the country’s man-made forests, which account for 40% of all the forests, these roles are not fully performed due to insufficient forest thinning. In 1998, we started developing furniture made from thinned timber, releasing it to the market in 2000. By making our office products from Japanese timber that was harvested during thinning operations, we create new demand for wood while also contributing to sustainable forestry.
CASE
Yuimori (Wooden Furniture)
Back in October 2006, we launched the Yui-no-Mori Project in partnership with the Taisho-cho Forestry Association (now the Shimanto Forestry Association) in Kochi Prefecture. More recently, we launched Yuimori, a brand of wooden furniture made from timber harvested in Yui-no-Mori Project. By using Japanese timber, the brand contributes to harmony with nature. Yuimori products feature elegant and impactful designs along with the high quality required for office furniture. They are also designed for sustainable disposal. The products were designed by Keiji Ashizawa, who boasts an extensive design portfolio from architecture to furniture. Furniture experts Tendo Mokko (headquartered in Tendo, Yamagata; represented by Yukio Kato) fabricated the designs, bringing out the timber feel. We contributed our own know-how in office furniture, such as ideas for making a chair comfortable. Through Yuimori, we contribute to greater harmony with nature.
- yuimori*
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- *Japanese Only
CASE
EF Counter, Featuring Modesty Panels Made from Locally Sourced Timber
EF Counter is a series of modular counters that can be rearranged to suit changes in the organization or changes in desired use. With their universal design, the counters are friendly to the elderly and to wheelchair users. While part of the structure is made from standardized materials, the modesty panel is made from timber sourced from the locality in question. This arrangement ensures that the counters are no less functional and versatile than standard counters are. The table edge has a groove for securing a walking stick or similar items and a grip for wheelchair users.
CASE
FSC Certification
In 2003, we received chain-of-custody (COC) certification from the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC). The FSC is an international non-governmental organization that runs a system of third-party forestry certification. Its purpose is to preserve forest environments by promoting a responsible form of forest management that benefits local communities and is economically sustainable. COC certification applies to the processing and distribution of FSC-certified products. Within our group, KOKUYO, Kaunet and KOKUYO Product Shiga have obtained FSC CoC certification, and sell FSC accredited copier paper, notebooks and other products. In 2016, we received COC certification under the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The PEFC is a forest certification scheme. Its criteria is based on accepted intergovernmental standards. We aim to get more of our products certified for their sustainable use of forest resources. (FSC® C004748).
Environmental Conservation
Yui-no-Mori Project
In 2006, we launched a project to conserve a private forest in the Taisho district of Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture, which we named Yui-no-Mori (“linkage forest”). In this project, we thin the forest and make effective use of the resulting timber. Our purpose is to lead the way in reviving manmade forests and restoring the link between the natural environment and local livelihoods. In 2007, the project was certified by the FSC. Today, Yui-no-Mori has a surface area of 5,425 hectares, and a cumulative area of 2,164 hectares has been thinned. Kochi Prefecture has awarded us the “CO2 absorption certificate” since 2007. In FY2023, the forest absorbed 3,786 tons of CO2. The cumulative total (April 2006 to March 2024) stands at 80,0009 t- CO2.In 2023, Yuimori (the brand of products made from timber harvested in the Yui-no-Mori Project) was honored at the 6th Eco Pro Awards and at the 2023 Japan Wood Design Award. The Yui-no-Mori Project itself has earned accolades too. In January 2022, it earned the grand prize in the “conservation in practice” category at the Japan Nature Conservation Awards 2022 Nature Conservation Society of Japan. In May 2022, it earned the “excellence award” (Forestry Agency Director-General Award) at Forests × Decarbonization Challenge 2022. In 2020, it earned a “sustainability action” commendation from the Ecological Life and Culture Organization and the “18th Corporate Philanthropy Award” from the Japan Philanthropic Association. In 2019, it won a commendation at the Low Carbon Challenge Cup 2019 and a “minister’s prize” in the corporate category of the 7th Ministry of the Environment’s Good Life Awards. In 2018, it won a “Green Wave Award” prize at the Biodiversity Action Awards. In 2017, it won the 2017 Japan Wood Design Award.
Yui-no-Mori (“linkage forest”)*- *Japanese Only
Kochi Prefecture Confers “CO2Absorption Certificate”
On March 19, 2025, Kochi Prefecture awarded KOKUYO and Kaunet a CO2 absorption certificate in recognition of the fact that we had offset a total of 3,786 tons of CO2 (KOKUYO offset 3,103 tons and Kaunet offset 683 tons). The award ceremony was held at the Kubokawa office of the Shimanto Forestry Association in the Shimanto Town Hall. Presenting the award, [First-name] Baba (head of the Forestry Promotion and Environment Department) thanked the two companies for contributing over the years to Kochi’s efforts to preserve its environment, manage its forests, promote local industry, and support its PR. To help spread the word about Yui-no-Mori, Kaunet launched a scheme in 2008 whereby customers can use their loyalty points to fund the thinning work. In 2024, there were around 148 applications for the scheme. The 3,786-ton offset represented 15% of the group’s total CO2 emissions in 2024 (25,164 tons). This project is an important initiative addressing not only forest conservation but also global warming prevention.
FSC Certification
Yui-no-Mori has enjoyed FSC certification since 2007. Following a regular audit performed on August 8 and 9, 2024, the project was recertified by the FSC.
(photo taken during 2023 audit)
Monitoring Thinning Outcomes
An important part of forest conservation is seeing the outcomes of thinning. We monitor these outcomes over the long term in partnership with Shimanto Forestry Association, Shimanto High School, and officials of Kochi Prefecture and Shimanto. On June 1, 2024, we measured the water quality of Shimanto River. On October 29, we conducted a vegetation survey. We usually conduct the vegetation survey in two set locations, each divided into nine zones. However, in the 2024 survey, we conducted the survey in one location, with just four zones, due to bad weather.
Related information:View the latest vegetation survey report from the students of Shimanto High School*
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ReEDEN Project
The reeds of Lake Biwa play an essential role. They provide an aquatic habitat, support biodiversity, and absorb CO2. In the past, the reeds served as material for roofing and sudare screens, but with the decline of such traditional industries, the reedbeds are no longer maintained so well. The lake once had 260 hectares of reedbeds, but only half remains. In 1992, Shiga Prefecture passed an ordinance to address the problem by conserving, cultivating, and using the reeds. Believing that such action would preserve Lake Biwa’s beautiful environment and fight climate change, KOKUYO Product Shiga has, since 2007, supported this agenda through a conservation initiative and through sustainable use.
Restore the Reeds: The Network for protecting Lake Biwa through reed management
We have formed a network of partnerships for protecting Lake Biwa through reed management. The network had to suspend activities during the pandemic (KOKUYO Project Shiga continued managing the reeds on its own), but it resumed activities in February 2023. Membership of the network has grown with many companies resolving to continue sustainable-business initiatives and environmental initiatives and with many individuals recognizing that environmental initiatives are essential to secure a sustainable future. The network had formed in the first place on the understanding that local stakeholders should act together to address a local environmental issue that concerns them all. Now encompassing 133 companies that share the vision, the network engages in reed cutting three times every winter, from December to March. The network cut reeds in Lake Nishinoko on two occasions in February 2024, in Iba-Naiko in December 2024. Alongside winter reed cutting, the network helps organize and advertise summer events, including a fishing competition to clear away invasive fish species. Reed cutting supports the environment because when the reeds grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and filter impurities from the water to a greater extent. During the pandemic, the reedbed area under management shrunk. Compared to reedbeds that are never trimmed, reedbeds that are periodically trimmed have ticker, longer, and more healthy reeds. To expand the project outward, we have brought on board more stakeholders outside our network of volunteers. Since the project began in 2017, 37 activities have been held, with a cumulative total of 6,100 people participating. We will hold more activities in the future.
How Reed Conservation Can Contribute to a Low-Carbon World: Showing the Impact
In biomass surveys, predetermined samples of the reeds are cut from the reedbeds and their length is measured to derive an average length. The average length is then multiplied by the reed-cutting area to determine the amount of carbon dioxide the reedbeds are sequestering. This formula for calculating the CO2 absorption in reeds has been published on Shiga Prefecture’s website. The findings are shared with the organizations and individuals participating in the network to guide their future environmental activities.
In 2024 (counting three rounds of reed cutting), 15.38 tons of carbon dioxide was sequestered over a project area of 11,500 square meters.
There is now a body of evidence to show how the project is contributing toward a low-carbon world. The data has demonstrated that the project is mitigating climate change in addition to improving the lake’s water quality and biodiversity. This knowledge has boosted participants’ motivation and brought more people on board. The project team plans to expand the use of the tool with a view to benefiting the whole of the prefecture. The team’s vision is to follow up the carbon sequestration work in forests across Japan by developing an unprecedented carbon sequestration system for lakeside environments.
