#Japan #Osaka #Osaka Expo #Daito Trust #CLT Panels

Osaka-Kansai Expo's Innovative Wood Reuse Initiative

In a remarkable move towards sustainability, Daito Trust Construction Co., headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has announced its plans to repurpose domestic wood used during the Osaka-Kansai Expo after its conclusion on October 13. The company provided an outdoor event stage called the 'Pop-Up Stage (East)' which utilized locally sourced materials, showcasing a commitment to both environmental responsibility and economic development.

The materials set to be repurposed include domestically produced construction supplies. At the expo site, three 'CLT Cabins' were constructed using Japanese CLT panels, while the audience seating area featured a 'Wood Deck' made from domestic two-by-four lumber. The CLT cabins are designed as renewable structural units that can be easily transported by truck. Daito Trust plans to use these materials for construction site offices and promotional spaces for its products.

The wood from the Wood Deck will be recycled into particle board, intended for reuse as base materials in residential walls across all 47 prefectures in Japan. Daito Trust has also been designated a 'CLT Reuse Partner' for the Japanese Pavilion at the expo. The CLT panels used there are designed to facilitate easy dismantling and reuse, allowing for future applications in enterprises and municipalities.

In terms of volume, approximately 72 cubic meters of domestic wood will be repurposed, equating to about 9,100 structural components and offsetting 44 tons of carbon dioxide. The Osaka-Kansai Expo was held with the intent of contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realizing Japan's national strategy, Society 5.0, and has garnered significant attention regarding the relocation, disassembly, and reuse of materials and building materials.

Daito Trust Construction has also committed to supporting the expo through sponsorship and aims to stabilize the supply of domestic wood while facilitating a sustainable society leading up to June 2024. Since 2019, the company has been engaged in the development of innovative methods and products using domestic wood at multiple experimental facilities, including those in Omigawa, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The company has set ambitious goals to ensure that 9% of its construction materials will consist of domestically produced wood and aims to increase the usage of CLT structures by eight times by 2028 compared to 2024 levels. Additionally, in February 2025, Daito Trust will partner with Sumitomo Forestry Co., aiming to establish a stable supply system for domestic timber and maximize its added value.

Through these efforts, Daito Trust Construction is committed to contributing to the revitalization of Japanese forestry and regional development via effective utilization of domestic wood, ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront of the construction industry in Japan.