Toward an era of “capturing and utilizing” CO₂. IJTT and two other companies take on the challenge of generating carbon credits using carbon-absorbing concrete.
IJTT Co., Ltd., in collaboration with ByWill Co., Ltd. and Santa Mineral Co., Ltd., has launched a demonstration project aimed at generating carbon credits by directly capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and sequestering it in concrete.
Spanning multiple industries, including manufacturing and construction, the company is striving to create a new business model that “turns CO₂ into a resource.”
From “reducing” CO₂ to “capturing and utilizing” it
The manufacturing sector, particularly the foundry industry, serves as a vital foundation
supporting Japan’s economy, yet it is also a sector with high CO₂ emissions.
In
recent years, as efforts toward decarbonization have progressed, “DAC (Direct Air
Capture)”—a technology that directly captures CO₂ from the atmosphere—has garnered
attention as a solution to supplement areas where emissions reduction alone is
insufficient.
This initiative utilizes DAC technology to take a new approach: rather
than simply reducing CO₂, it aims to “capture and utilize it as a resource.”
Japan's First Demonstration of “Continuous Operation” in the Field
A key feature of this demonstration project is that the equipment is operated continuously
in real-world settings rather than in a laboratory.
Bywill Headquarters
IJTT Kitakami Plant (casting facility)
The equipment has been installed in these different environments to capture and
sequester CO₂ as part of daily operations.
This type of demonstration marks the first
initiative in Japan to utilize Santa Mineral’s technology.
Capturing CO₂ in concrete and creating value
The captured CO₂ is not simply released into the atmosphere but is instead sequestered in
concrete.
Furthermore, this initiative will utilize the new methodology under the J-Credit
system,
“IN-006: CO₂ Absorbing Concrete,”
and is scheduled to be converted into credits representing monetized environmental
value.
Aiming to generate credits by 2026, this project is designed with a view
toward making environmental value “visible” and facilitating its circulation.
An initiative that combines the strengths of the three companies
This project was made possible through the collaboration of three companies, each with
distinct strengths.
IJTT: Provision of manufacturing site and development of CO₂
sequestration materials utilizing waste sand
ByWillGeneration of
carbon credits and design of the business model
Santa Mineral:
Development and improvement of the CO₂ absorption and sequestration device “SUKUU”
By bridging the distinct fields of manufacturing, technology, and finance (carbon credits), we aim to build a “cross-industry collaboration model” that goes beyond mere technological demonstration.
The Meaning and Potential Behind “SUKUU”
The name of the CO₂ absorption and sequestration device, “SUKUU,”is a play on Japanese
words
encompassing three meanings:
― to scoop up
― to save (protect the
environment)
― to absorb (CO₂)
This device features
low-energy CO₂ capture,
a compact, easy-to-install design,
and the ability to operate even in harsh environments such as factories.
As a result, it is expected to be deployed in a wide variety of locations.
Connecting Industries, Creating New Environmental Value
This initiative represents a challenge to transform CO₂ from a “pollutant” into a
“valuable resource.”
Looking ahead, we are also considering:
-Expansion into sectors beyond concrete
-CO₂ sequestration in the ocean
-Global-scale deployment
This initiative, which begins on the factory floor, holds the potential to transform the structure of the entire industry.
For more details on this matter,
please refer to this press release.