Sustainable Office Furniture Using Recycled Materials Adopted at Kosai City Fire Station and Disaster Prevention Center
Kokuyo Marketing Co., Ltd. announced that four of its office furniture products made from sustainable materials were adopted for the Kosai City Fire Station and Disaster Prevention Center, which opened in April 2026. The furniture utilizes unique recycled materials such as used chopsticks and paper scraps.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 20:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 12:01
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Kokuyo Marketing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenichi Ishii), a member of the Kokuyo Group, has delivered four office furniture products made from sustainable materials to the Kosai City Fire Station and Disaster Prevention Center in Shizuoka Prefecture, which opened in April 2026.
1. Overview
The Kosai City Fire Station and Disaster Prevention Center is a facility aimed at centralizing disaster response functions while providing an environment where staff can work with peace of mind and creating a city office familiar to citizens. One of its basic principles is to be a 'human- and environment-friendly office building,' leading to the selection of fixtures that emphasize the use of recycled or recyclable materials.
In April 2026, four Kokuyo office furniture products using sustainable materials were adopted for the third-floor meeting room, which is also open to citizens. In addition to installing the furniture, explanatory panels about the materials used are displayed to raise environmental awareness among users.
2. Adopted Products and Sustainable Materials Used
(1) Cafe Table 'Franka'
Material: Recycled used chopsticks
The tabletop uses recycled material from used chopsticks collected in Japan. ChopValue Manufacturing Japan Co., Ltd., which produces these tabletops, was founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 2016 and began operations in Japan in 2025. They collaborate with local restaurants and partners to collect used chopsticks and transform them into high-quality materials, creating new value as furniture and interior products. (Product release date using this material is yet to be determined.)
(2) Lounge Chair 'COODE'
Material: 'Kamikara' recycled paper fabric
The chair's back and seat upholstery uses 'Kamikara,' a recycled fabric made from scraps generated during the manufacturing process of Kokuyo notebooks and other products.
(3) Casual Chair 'Liite'
Material: Chip mold urethane from recycled materials
The seat uses chip mold urethane made from recycled materials.
Material: 'TEXa' biomass plastic from palm oil waste
Part of the resin shell uses biomass plastic that repurposes palm oil empty fruit bunches (non-edible parts), which are agricultural waste.
(4) Desk 'SENTIR'
Material: Waste paper
The core of the tabletop utilizes waste paper.
Technology: Kokuyo's original 'CRAFTECH' manufacturing technology
The tabletop surface employs 'CRAFTECH,' achieving a seamless design and an overwhelming number of options. It reduces CO2 emissions by using an extremely thin finish—about 1/5 of traditional decorative laminates—and minimizing waste scraps.
3. Kokuyo's Materiality and Initiatives
The Kokuyo Group identifies contributing to a circular society as one of its materialities, aiming to 'create circulation with many partners and customers and lead a society that does not throw things away.' In 2023, it established the circular guideline 'SUTENAI CIRCLE' and has promoted product development based on it. As interest in sustainability grows and commitments from companies and organizations are required, there is an increasing demand to incorporate sustainable elements and messages into space construction. Kokuyo supports these activities through space design, including furniture and interior planning, agreeing with the stance of expressing a commitment to the circular economy within offices and other spaces.
1. Overview
The Kosai City Fire Station and Disaster Prevention Center is a facility aimed at centralizing disaster response functions while providing an environment where staff can work with peace of mind and creating a city office familiar to citizens. One of its basic principles is to be a 'human- and environment-friendly office building,' leading to the selection of fixtures that emphasize the use of recycled or recyclable materials.
In April 2026, four Kokuyo office furniture products using sustainable materials were adopted for the third-floor meeting room, which is also open to citizens. In addition to installing the furniture, explanatory panels about the materials used are displayed to raise environmental awareness among users.
2. Adopted Products and Sustainable Materials Used
(1) Cafe Table 'Franka'
Material: Recycled used chopsticks
The tabletop uses recycled material from used chopsticks collected in Japan. ChopValue Manufacturing Japan Co., Ltd., which produces these tabletops, was founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 2016 and began operations in Japan in 2025. They collaborate with local restaurants and partners to collect used chopsticks and transform them into high-quality materials, creating new value as furniture and interior products. (Product release date using this material is yet to be determined.)
(2) Lounge Chair 'COODE'
Material: 'Kamikara' recycled paper fabric
The chair's back and seat upholstery uses 'Kamikara,' a recycled fabric made from scraps generated during the manufacturing process of Kokuyo notebooks and other products.
(3) Casual Chair 'Liite'
Material: Chip mold urethane from recycled materials
The seat uses chip mold urethane made from recycled materials.
Material: 'TEXa' biomass plastic from palm oil waste
Part of the resin shell uses biomass plastic that repurposes palm oil empty fruit bunches (non-edible parts), which are agricultural waste.
(4) Desk 'SENTIR'
Material: Waste paper
The core of the tabletop utilizes waste paper.
Technology: Kokuyo's original 'CRAFTECH' manufacturing technology
The tabletop surface employs 'CRAFTECH,' achieving a seamless design and an overwhelming number of options. It reduces CO2 emissions by using an extremely thin finish—about 1/5 of traditional decorative laminates—and minimizing waste scraps.
3. Kokuyo's Materiality and Initiatives
The Kokuyo Group identifies contributing to a circular society as one of its materialities, aiming to 'create circulation with many partners and customers and lead a society that does not throw things away.' In 2023, it established the circular guideline 'SUTENAI CIRCLE' and has promoted product development based on it. As interest in sustainability grows and commitments from companies and organizations are required, there is an increasing demand to incorporate sustainable elements and messages into space construction. Kokuyo supports these activities through space design, including furniture and interior planning, agreeing with the stance of expressing a commitment to the circular economy within offices and other spaces.