Sustainability - Environment
Forest conservation and management
In order to realize a sustainable society and leave a rich global environment to the next generation, we must not only promote the use of wood with a low environmental impact, but also properly preserve and manage it to realize a decarbonized society. We believe that this is important for the future. We will promote sustainable forest management, secure a stable source of CO2 absorption, and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality (*1).
- *1 The concept of subtracting the amount of absorption through afforestation, forest management, etc. from the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, to make the total essentially zero.
Absorption and fixation of CO2 by forests
Iida Group's Forests
CO2 absorption
Our group owns forest resources covering approximately 4 million hectares (about 1.08 times the size of Kyushu) in the Khabarovsk region of the Russian Far East. This is one of the largest areas of Overseas interests held by a Japanese company.
An independent organization estimates that this forest absorbs approximately 9.5 million tons of CO2 annually. Given that Japan's per capita CO2 emissions are around 9 tons (*1), this forest acts as a CO2 sink for more than 1 million people.
Our group's Scope 1 and Scope 2 (*2) CO2 emissions are 61,000 tons per year (as of March 2026), meaning that the amount absorbed by our forests significantly exceeds our emissions.
- *1 Calculations by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, a national research and development agency
- *2 Scope 1: Direct greenhouse gas emissions by the company (fuel combustion, industrial processes)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the use of electricity, heat, and steam supplied by other companies
CO2 fixation
It is estimated that a properly maintained 36- to 40-year-old cedar plantation can store approximately 302 tons of CO2 per hectare (*1).
If the 4 million hectares of forest that our group conserves is considered a cedar plantation, it would store approximately 1.2 billion tons (*2) of CO2.
- *1 Estimate by the Forestry Agency
- *2 Carbon dioxide storage volume calculated based on company data
Forest conservation
The First Wood Group, which owns a wood processing factory, is engaged in activities aimed at protecting rich forest resources and preserving a sustainable forest environment.
We have started producing cedar seedlings in cooperation with local cooperatives and others, aiming to reduce forest nursery costs.
Use of wood
The timber manufactured by FIRST WOOD Group is used at Rokunohe Gakuen, a compulsory education school in Rokunohe Town, Aomori Prefecture.
Our school, which opened on April 1, 2025, is a rare wooden school building in Japan. 90% of the structural materials are sourced from Aomori Prefecture, and the cedar LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and larch LVL manufactured at our group's factory are used. The GHG emissions during construction were reduced by approximately 16% (*1) compared to reinforced concrete construction, equivalent to the GHG emissions of approximately 900 ordinary households, which is about 20% of the number of households in Rokunohe Town.
- *1GHG emissions are calculated based on a 60-year life cycle assessment using a calculation tool certified by a third-party organization.
Self-cutting forestry
At Firstwood Group, we are working on a ''self-cutting forestry'' that achieves a high level of both profitability and environmental conservation. Self-cutting forestry is a type of forestry that is carried out jointly by business operators and mountain guardians, and involves long-term multiple thinning (*1) operations to stabilize management over the long term.
Stable employment will be created, it will serve as a migration/settlement policy, and various effects can be expected, including animal damage control, disaster prevention, and global warming countermeasures.
- *1 Thinning refers to the process of removing some of the trees in a forest that has become too crowded as it grows.
Corporate forest business
As part of our CSR activities, Toei Housing Co., Ltd. is the first wooden housing provider to participate in the "Corporate Forest" project promoted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Foundation. I am. We hope to become a company that can contribute to society by having each and every employee engage in environmental protection activities.Also, by allowing employees to actually experience forest creation, they can experience the years and hardships it takes for a sapling to grow into a tree. We are working to develop employees who can handle materials with care.
- * What is a "Corporate Forest"?
This project, sponsored by companies, promotes "low-pollen forest creation." The goal is to reduce the amount of cedar pollen generated in the Tama area by cutting down artificial forests of cedar, cypress, and other trees in the Tama area and regenerating tree species by planting cedar and other trees that produce less pollen.
