Obayashi Corporation Obtains Certification Based on Carbon Offset Third-Party Certification Standards
Obayashi Corporation, in collaboration with Idemitsu Kosan, has obtained a third-party carbon offset certification by introducing J-Credit attached fuel to offset CO2 emissions from construction sites.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:00
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Obayashi Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshimi Sato) has collaborated with Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Noriaki Sakai) to obtain certification based on the Carbon Offset Third-Party Certification Program (*1), for which the Ministry of the Environment provides guidelines. To acquire this certification, Obayashi Corporation replaced a portion of the diesel fuel used at its domestic construction sites with 'Idemitsu Carbon Offset fuel J (ICOFJ)' (*3), a fuel oil attached with J-Credits (*2) supplied by Idemitsu Kosan, thereby implementing carbon offsetting for the CO2 emissions associated with fuel use.
At construction sites, fuel such as diesel is used to operate construction machinery and vehicles, resulting in fuel-derived CO2 emissions. Obayashi Corporation has been advancing various initiatives to reduce Scope 1 (*4) emissions, such as reducing fuel consumption, improving work efficiency, and substituting with low-carbon fuels. However, it is not easy to immediately replace all fuel used at construction sites with low-carbon alternatives, and while advancing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, there are cases where some emissions remain difficult to address.
Given this situation, while premised on continuous efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, Obayashi Corporation has been considering the utilization of carbon offsets, including ICOFJ, which Idemitsu Kosan supplies to companies in the construction industry and others taking on the challenge of carbon neutrality. ICOFJ is endowed with credits certified under the J-Credit scheme and can be used in various locations, including construction sites, just like regular fuel. The two companies have been collaborating since 2024 on the demonstration of the next-generation biofuel 'Idemitsu Renewable Diesel (IRD)' (*5), and this initiative using ICOFJ is a further development of that partnership.
Obayashi Corporation and Idemitsu Kosan will continue to advance CO2 emission reductions through methods that can be implemented at construction sites, such as optimizing fuel delivery according to the operation volume of construction machinery and visualizing fuel usage and CO2 emissions, thereby continuing business activities that contribute to reducing environmental impact.
*1 Carbon Offset Third-Party Certification Program
A system managed by the Carbon Offset Association with guidelines provided by the Ministry of the Environment, where registered certification bodies verify initiatives by companies or organizations to offset greenhouse gases like CO2, which are difficult to reduce, using credits or other means.
Obayashi Corporation Certification Number: CO2-1016
*2 J-Credit
A scheme operated by the Japanese government where the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or absorbed, such as CO2, can be certified and traded as 'credits.' Companies can offset their own emissions by purchasing and retiring these 'credits.' Since they are created through domestic projects (renewable energy introduction, forest conservation, etc.), they also contribute to the regional economy and environmental conservation.
*3 Idemitsu Carbon Offset fuel J (ICOFJ)
A high-value-added fuel oil sold by Idemitsu Kosan that attaches carbon credits to fuel oil, allowing users to offset CO2 emissions associated with fuel use. Users can offset their CO2 emissions through the CO2 reduction/absorption effect of the carbon credits while using the fuel as usual.
*4 Scope 1
In the accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, this refers to direct emissions by the company itself (e.g., fuel use by construction machinery in construction work).
*5 Idemitsu Renewable Diesel
An alternative fuel to diesel sold by Idemitsu Kosan, produced by hydrotreating fat and oil raw materials such as waste cooking oil and vegetable oil. It is a carbon-neutral fuel considered to have virtually zero CO2 emissions compared to regular diesel.
[Company Overview]
Name
Obayashi Corporation
Headquarters
2-15-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Toshimi Sato
Established
December 1936
Main Business Activities
Domestic and overseas construction works, regional development, urban development, and other construction-related businesses, as well as undertaking engineering, management, and consulting services related to these, real estate business, etc.
Corporate Website
https://www.obayashi.co.jp/
Name
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
Headquarters
1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Noriaki Sakai
Established
March 1940
Main Business Activities
Fuel oil business, basic chemicals business, high-performance materials business, power and renewable energy business, resources business
Corporate Website
https://www.idemitsu.com/jp/index.
At construction sites, fuel such as diesel is used to operate construction machinery and vehicles, resulting in fuel-derived CO2 emissions. Obayashi Corporation has been advancing various initiatives to reduce Scope 1 (*4) emissions, such as reducing fuel consumption, improving work efficiency, and substituting with low-carbon fuels. However, it is not easy to immediately replace all fuel used at construction sites with low-carbon alternatives, and while advancing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, there are cases where some emissions remain difficult to address.
Given this situation, while premised on continuous efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, Obayashi Corporation has been considering the utilization of carbon offsets, including ICOFJ, which Idemitsu Kosan supplies to companies in the construction industry and others taking on the challenge of carbon neutrality. ICOFJ is endowed with credits certified under the J-Credit scheme and can be used in various locations, including construction sites, just like regular fuel. The two companies have been collaborating since 2024 on the demonstration of the next-generation biofuel 'Idemitsu Renewable Diesel (IRD)' (*5), and this initiative using ICOFJ is a further development of that partnership.
Obayashi Corporation and Idemitsu Kosan will continue to advance CO2 emission reductions through methods that can be implemented at construction sites, such as optimizing fuel delivery according to the operation volume of construction machinery and visualizing fuel usage and CO2 emissions, thereby continuing business activities that contribute to reducing environmental impact.
*1 Carbon Offset Third-Party Certification Program
A system managed by the Carbon Offset Association with guidelines provided by the Ministry of the Environment, where registered certification bodies verify initiatives by companies or organizations to offset greenhouse gases like CO2, which are difficult to reduce, using credits or other means.
Obayashi Corporation Certification Number: CO2-1016
*2 J-Credit
A scheme operated by the Japanese government where the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or absorbed, such as CO2, can be certified and traded as 'credits.' Companies can offset their own emissions by purchasing and retiring these 'credits.' Since they are created through domestic projects (renewable energy introduction, forest conservation, etc.), they also contribute to the regional economy and environmental conservation.
*3 Idemitsu Carbon Offset fuel J (ICOFJ)
A high-value-added fuel oil sold by Idemitsu Kosan that attaches carbon credits to fuel oil, allowing users to offset CO2 emissions associated with fuel use. Users can offset their CO2 emissions through the CO2 reduction/absorption effect of the carbon credits while using the fuel as usual.
*4 Scope 1
In the accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, this refers to direct emissions by the company itself (e.g., fuel use by construction machinery in construction work).
*5 Idemitsu Renewable Diesel
An alternative fuel to diesel sold by Idemitsu Kosan, produced by hydrotreating fat and oil raw materials such as waste cooking oil and vegetable oil. It is a carbon-neutral fuel considered to have virtually zero CO2 emissions compared to regular diesel.
[Company Overview]
Name
Obayashi Corporation
Headquarters
2-15-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Toshimi Sato
Established
December 1936
Main Business Activities
Domestic and overseas construction works, regional development, urban development, and other construction-related businesses, as well as undertaking engineering, management, and consulting services related to these, real estate business, etc.
Corporate Website
https://www.obayashi.co.jp/
Name
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
Headquarters
1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Noriaki Sakai
Established
March 1940
Main Business Activities
Fuel oil business, basic chemicals business, high-performance materials business, power and renewable energy business, resources business
Corporate Website
https://www.idemitsu.com/jp/index.