Gunzegreen's Innovative CO₂ Reduction Technology for Urban Greening

Gunzegreen Corporation, located in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, is making significant strides in its greening initiatives aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions. As a subsidiary of Gunze Corporation, based in Osaka, Gunzegreen has unveiled a new calculation technology that quantifies the CO₂ reduction contributions from their greening projects through a collaboration with the Urban Research Center at Kyushu University. This advancement seeks to provide a clearer visual representation of the CO₂ absorption by various plants involved in their projects, thus supporting a greener future for urban environments.

Technology Development Collaborated with Kyushu University

The unique calculation method developed through this academic partnership assesses the amount of CO₂ that planted trees can absorb over a century. By estimating the growth rates and survival rates of these trees during the target period, this technique derives the volume increase, facilitating a clear understanding of the CO₂ absorption potential per tree. This approach establishes a new reference for evaluating the contribution of greening projects outside traditional forestry management systems, thereby offering an objective measure of urban greening's impact on CO₂ reduction.

Certification of Carbon Credits

Gunzegreen's carbon credit certification process recognizes the intricate roles of all stakeholders involved in greening projects, including project owners, designers, contractors, tree suppliers, and other related entities. Last year, based on their extensive data, Gunzegreen classified the trees they supplied into nine categories, ultimately certifying their calculated total CO₂ absorption over the span of 100 years with the Natural Capital Credit Consortium. This certification confirmed a three-year contribution of CO₂ reductions, highlighting the effectiveness of the collaboration.

Commitment to Urban Greening

In the past five years alone, Gunzegreen has delivered approximately 25 million trees across various regions in Japan. They have successfully created an environmental value of over 23,000 tons of CO₂ reduction through these efforts. The company is currently leveraging this visible environmental value to establish a model for carbon offset in their apparel brand, BODY WILD.

Going forward, Gunzegreen aims to collaborate with both industry stakeholders and related organizations to promote and disseminate the created environmental value throughout society.

Comments from the President of Gunzegreen

President Tomonori Ikeda emphasizes the company's commitment to nurturing trees carefully over time and delivering them to urban spaces and public areas. Gunzegreen's mission encompasses enhancing urban landscapes, where carefully cultivated trees bring comfort and healing to communities over the long term.

The introduction of the new calculation technology marks a pivotal moment for evaluating the environmental contributions of the company's greening initiatives. Ikeda envisions that this development could lead to new frameworks for assessing CO₂ absorption across various stakeholders involved in urban greening.

As urban greening gains momentum, the ability to visualize and accurately gauge the environmental value of trees will become crucial. This focus not only contributes to sustainable urban environments but also amplifies the unique qualities and attractiveness of urban and regional settings. Gunzegreen is dedicated to progress towards a verdant and sustainable future, continuing its mission with determined steps.

Upcoming Symposium

Their achievements will be presented at the 14th International Symposium on Eco-Design and Inverse Manufacturing scheduled in November 2025. It will be a platform to share this important research with a global audience, further promoting the significance of environmental considerations in design and manufacturing practices.

For more information on the symposium, visit: EcoDesign 2025 Symposium and details about the Natural Capital Credit Consortium at NCCC.