[World's First] Konoshima Chemical Operates Commercial Plant to Convert Factory Exhaust CO2 into Building Materials
Konoshima Chemical Co., Ltd. has commenced operations of a commercial plant at its Takuma Plant in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, using its 'CO2 Recycle Production System' to directly convert low-concentration CO2 from factory exhaust into raw materials. With an investment of approximately 3 billion yen, the facility will initially recycle 4,000 tons of CO2 annually into calcium carbonate and other materials, with plans to expand to 20,000 tons. The company aims to release the CO2-capturing building material 'ZESTA' in 2026 and achieve zero Scope 1 CO2 emissions by 2030.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 10:31
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Konoshima Chemical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Akira Nunokawa) has established and commenced operations today of a commercial plant at its Takuma Plant in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture. The plant utilizes the 'CO2 Recycle Production System,' a production system that directly converts low-concentration carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in factory exhaust gas into raw materials. With an investment of approximately 3 billion yen, the facility will initially recycle 4,000 tons of CO2 annually as raw materials for building materials and chemicals, with plans to gradually increase this to approximately 20,000 tons.
This system utilizes the exhaust gas generated within the factory to react CO2 with alkaline resources, thereby producing calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. By utilizing the generated calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate as products in the company's chemicals business, and further as raw materials for products in the building materials business, the company aims to achieve both a reduction in CO2 emissions and resource circulation.
Background: Initiatives Balancing Environmental Responsibility and Business Growth
In its medium-term management plan, the company has established a basic policy of balancing social contribution through environmental responsibility with business growth, and has advanced research and development aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. Starting in early 2021, the company began exploring paths toward carbon neutrality and built a cross-company implementation structure. Within this framework, technological development utilizing CO2 as a resource was positioned as a key theme, and applied development for building material applications based on calcium carbonate generation technology commenced in mid-2021.
Features of the System: Direct Utilization of Exhaust Gas CO2 and Effective Use of By-products
The key feature of this system is that it utilizes exhaust gas CO2 (approximately 10% concentration) directly without concentration, while also utilizing by-products generated in the manufacturing processes of building materials and chemicals as alkaline sources to manufacture building materials with stable performance.
Normally, when utilizing CO2 as a raw material, a concentration process for high purification is required, which consumes a large amount of energy. In this system, by optimizing reaction conditions and equipment design to enhance reaction efficiency, the CO2 compression and concentration processes have been made unnecessary.
Furthermore, the company developed technology to utilize by-products as alkaline resources, which were previously difficult to use due to the influence of impurities. By combining exhaust gas CO2 with these by-products for use in building material products, stable quality is ensured while contributing to the realization of a resource-circulating sustainable business model.
Future Developments: Pushing Toward Zero CO2 Emissions and Product Commercialization
The CO2 processing capacity of the newly operational facility is approximately 4,000 tons per year. The plan is to gradually expand processing capacity through the addition of reaction equipment, up to a scale of 20,000 tons annually. Additionally, the introduction of this system to the Ishioka Plant in Ibaraki Prefecture is planned, as the company aims to achieve zero CO2 emissions from its own factories (Scope 1) by 2030.
Leveraging this technology, a new conceptual product called 'ZESTA,' which fixes CO2 within the building material, is scheduled to be launched in October 2026. Because the calcium carbonate generated by the CO2 Recycle Production System will be used as a substitute for raw materials previously procured externally, it also contributes to the stabilization of raw material procurement. While manufacturing costs are expected to rise to a certain extent due to the introduction of the new process, the company intends to develop the market by offering it as a new product with added environmental value.
The company will continue its efforts to achieve both a reduction in environmental impact and business growth.
This system utilizes the exhaust gas generated within the factory to react CO2 with alkaline resources, thereby producing calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. By utilizing the generated calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate as products in the company's chemicals business, and further as raw materials for products in the building materials business, the company aims to achieve both a reduction in CO2 emissions and resource circulation.
Background: Initiatives Balancing Environmental Responsibility and Business Growth
In its medium-term management plan, the company has established a basic policy of balancing social contribution through environmental responsibility with business growth, and has advanced research and development aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. Starting in early 2021, the company began exploring paths toward carbon neutrality and built a cross-company implementation structure. Within this framework, technological development utilizing CO2 as a resource was positioned as a key theme, and applied development for building material applications based on calcium carbonate generation technology commenced in mid-2021.
Features of the System: Direct Utilization of Exhaust Gas CO2 and Effective Use of By-products
The key feature of this system is that it utilizes exhaust gas CO2 (approximately 10% concentration) directly without concentration, while also utilizing by-products generated in the manufacturing processes of building materials and chemicals as alkaline sources to manufacture building materials with stable performance.
Normally, when utilizing CO2 as a raw material, a concentration process for high purification is required, which consumes a large amount of energy. In this system, by optimizing reaction conditions and equipment design to enhance reaction efficiency, the CO2 compression and concentration processes have been made unnecessary.
Furthermore, the company developed technology to utilize by-products as alkaline resources, which were previously difficult to use due to the influence of impurities. By combining exhaust gas CO2 with these by-products for use in building material products, stable quality is ensured while contributing to the realization of a resource-circulating sustainable business model.
Future Developments: Pushing Toward Zero CO2 Emissions and Product Commercialization
The CO2 processing capacity of the newly operational facility is approximately 4,000 tons per year. The plan is to gradually expand processing capacity through the addition of reaction equipment, up to a scale of 20,000 tons annually. Additionally, the introduction of this system to the Ishioka Plant in Ibaraki Prefecture is planned, as the company aims to achieve zero CO2 emissions from its own factories (Scope 1) by 2030.
Leveraging this technology, a new conceptual product called 'ZESTA,' which fixes CO2 within the building material, is scheduled to be launched in October 2026. Because the calcium carbonate generated by the CO2 Recycle Production System will be used as a substitute for raw materials previously procured externally, it also contributes to the stabilization of raw material procurement. While manufacturing costs are expected to rise to a certain extent due to the introduction of the new process, the company intends to develop the market by offering it as a new product with added environmental value.
The company will continue its efforts to achieve both a reduction in environmental impact and business growth.
FAQ
Where is Konoshima Chemical's new CO2 recycling plant located?
It was newly built at the company's Takuma Plant in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture.
How much was invested in the new plant?
Approximately 3 billion yen was invested in the construction of the facility.
When will the new building material 'ZESTA' be released?
The new CO2-capturing product 'ZESTA' is scheduled for release in October 2026.