Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Achieving Horizontal Recycling of Interior Build”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
Achieving Horizontal Recycling of Interior Building Materials in Office Construction, ‘Connecting Green’ from the City
~ Co-creation by Tokyu Real Estate and DIGGLE reduces CO2 emissions by 4.7 tons upon occupancy ~ Tokyu Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Hiroaki Hoshino; hereinafter "Tokyu Real Estate") and DIGGLE Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Kiyotaka Yamamoto; hereinafter "DIGGLE") have achieved "horizontal recycling" through co-creation with DIGGLE in the construction for DIGGLE's move into the Ebisu Business Tower (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo). This initiative involves material recycling of interior building materials generated from previous office construction, re-resourcing them into environmentally conscious recycled interior materials, and adopting them in another office.
This initiative is part of the environmental measures under Tokyu Real Estate's advanced environmental partnership "team green"※1, launched in March 2026, and contributes to the sustainability activities of partner company DIGGLE. Furthermore, as part of Tokyu Real Estate's environmental efforts, forest conservation was also implemented for an area ten times the size of DIGGLE's occupancy construction area.
※1 The advanced environmental partnership "team green" is a co-creative partnership where Tokyu Real Estate and tenant companies who support environmental conservation activities work together to aim for solving environmental issues and creating value.
Please refer to the news release dated March 24, 2026 (https://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/news/2026/001682.html).
Co-creation Achieves 4.7-Ton CO2 Reduction Through Horizontal Recycling of Interior Materials
In the occupancy construction for DIGGLE conducted from October 2025 to February 2026, the companies pioneered "horizontal recycling" in the industry by adopting recycled interior materials (recycled gypsum board, recycled tile carpet) manufactured from recycled materials.
Since recycled interior materials are manufactured using material recycling methods from discarded interior materials, the processes of newly mining, processing, transporting, and manufacturing raw materials are reduced. This has the effect of suppressing CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing process. In this construction project, approximately 4,697 kg of CO2 emissions were reduced※2.
Additionally, Tokyu Real Estate also carries out initiatives to conserve forest areas corresponding to stakeholder actions. In this project, as part of the environmental measures of "team green," the adoption of recycled interior materials led to the conservation of 4,633 m² of forest in Nishiawakura Village, Okayama Prefecture, an area ten times the size of DIGGLE's occupancy construction area. This also contributes to protecting biodiversity and maintaining the region's sustainable natural environment.
※2 The "CO2 emission reduction amount" is calculated based on comparative calculation values with conventional products provided by the manufacturer.
Creating Offices Kind to Forests and the Earth
Tokyu Real Estate advocates "Creating Offices Kind to Forests and the Earth" as a concept for sustainable office development that aims to reduce environmental impact. Horizontal recycling, implemented with co-creation partners such as industrial waste disposal companies, interior material manufacturers, and tenant companies, enables significant reduction of waste and CO2 emissions by appropriately utilizing waste generated from office construction. Tenant companies can also engage in addressing environmental issues without compromising design or incurring cost burdens.
In office buildings operated by Tokyu Real Estate, efforts have primarily focused on waste reduction through the "Zero Emission Club®"※3, comprised of partner companies. As a further environmental contribution strategy, the company aims for sustainable initiatives in office construction that utilize material recycling and re-resourcing of waste, promote recycling and resource circulation, and aim to build a sustainable circular society and reduce CO2 emissions.
[Specific Process] ① Waste generated from office construction is collected by GMS Co., Ltd. ② Collected waste is manually sorted; recyclable items are transported to co-creation partner manufacturers. ③ Waste is processed into recycled materials at the manufacturer using material recycling technology.
④ Recycled materials are re-resourced into environmentally conscious recycled interior materials such as "recycled gypsum board" and "recycled tile carpet" by the co-creation manufacturer.
⑤ Tokyu Real Estate proposes the environmentally conscious recycled interior materials for the tenant's interior construction, and the tenant adopts those materials. Through this initiative, CO2 emissions from occupancy construction are reduced by adopting recycled interior materials, waste recycling is promoted, and an environmental contribution report quantifying CO2 reduction amounts and recycling ratios is issued and reported to the tenant.
※3 The "Zero Emission Club®" is a collaborative framework comprised of Tokyu Real Estate and partner manufacturers and construction companies, promoting the reduction, re-resourcing, and recycling of construction waste.
Please refer to the news releases dated January 31, 2023 (https://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/news/2023/000823.html) and December 12, 2023 (https://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/news/2023/001125.html).
Building a Circular Society Aimed for by the “Zero Emission Club®”
The mission of the "Zero Emission Club®," comprised of Tokyu Real Estate and partner manufacturers and construction companies, is to promote the reduction, re-resourcing, and recycling of construction waste. This aims to balance environmental impact reduction with continued business activities by effectively utilizing finite resources, working towards a sustainable circular society. Together with tenant companies, including DIGGLE, the club aims to simultaneously pursue environmental conservation activities and enhance corporate value. Moving forward, the company will work to expand the lineup of environmentally conscious recycled interior materials, promote their active adoption, sustainably enhance the asset value of buildings and entire neighborhoods, and also connect this to improving the satisfaction and experiential value of tenants and users. While co-creating with diverse partners, including tenant companies and collaborating manufacturers, the company will actively engage in creating high added value through building a circular society, aiming for cities and lifestyles to become sustainable and more affluent.
About DIGGLE Inc.
[Comment from CTO Shun Mizukami]
For IT companies like ours, it has been structurally difficult to find opportunities to make direct contributions to the environment. This time, by adopting environmentally conscious recycled interior materials, we are pleased to have contributed, albeit modestly, to reducing CO2 emissions and realizing a circular society. We believe that the accumulation of such individual efforts embodies "Sincerity and Respect," which DIGGLE defines as a Value, and Integrity, a cherished value.
[Company Introduction] With the mission "Dig the Potential: Unearth corporate growth potential with technology," DIGGLE develops and provides multiple products that realize optimal resource allocation for "People," "Things," and "Money," including "DIGGLE Budget-Actual Management" which supports strategic investment decisions of management resources. With the Corporate Vision "Become the artery of management. ── Weave numbers and will throughout the organization, creating a cycle that moves the future," the company contributes to corporate growth as a leader in the growing management market.
DIGGLE began its B Corp certification acquisition project in November 2025. B Corp certification is granted by the US non-profit organization "B Lab™" to companies with high public benefit that consider the environment and society, certifying them as "B Corporation™ (hereinafter, B Corp)." It is a movement to create a better society through business, a mechanism to be recognized by society as a "Social Good Company" (a company that positively impacts the environment and local communities, etc.).
About Tokyu Real Estate Co., Ltd.
As an environmentally advanced company, Tokyu Real Estate engages in environmental initiatives aligned with its business, such as RE100 certification and renewable energy projects. Aiming to become office buildings and commercial facilities "chosen for their environment," the company has established the "Zero Emission Club®" with 25 partner companies for waste reduction and reuse, implemented challenging ZEB retrofitting in existing multi-tenant buildings, and created interaction opportunities through rooftop garden activities. The company is also engaged in the "GREEN UP & COOL DOWN PROJECT"※4 promoting nature positivity and will continue to promote environmental initiatives in collaboration with various stakeholders and seek to expand business opportunities through co-creation.
※4 "GREEN UP & COOL DOWN PROJECT" is a project aiming for an urban environment where all people can live vibrantly through biodiversity conservation and urban greening in the wider Shibuya area. (https://www.greenup-cooldown.jp/)
Source: Read the original article | Published: March 30, 2026