Accelerating CO₂ Emission Reduction with Enhanced LCA Calculations

Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd., based in Minato, Tokyo, is ramping up its commitment to CO2 emissions assessments by enhancing the precision and efficiency of its embodied carbon calculations starting this October. The construction sector in Japan accounts for around 40% of total CO2 emissions, making sustainable building practices, such as the use of eco-friendly materials, increasingly essential. By 2028, a formalized system for calculating and evaluating CO2 emissions throughout the lifecycle of buildings will be established, making it a common requirement across the industry.

Currently, challenges persist due to the lack of a standardized database for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the existence of multiple evaluation criteria, hindering consistent comparison of results. Daito Kentaku took the initiative in 2014 to begin LCA calculations ahead of others in the industry. To date, they have implemented rough estimates of embodied carbon based on three standard model types: wooden apartments, CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) condominiums, and RC (Reinforced Concrete) condominiums.

In 2022, the company introduced