Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on August 06, 2025, 5:51 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Sinanen, an energy solutions company, has recently begun supporting the creation of a forest on 9,500 square meters of land in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, which the company manages, as the Sinanen Akari Forest, in partnership with Aoba-gumi, a company specializing in afforestation and forestation. Through tree planting and seedling cultivation of local tree species, the project aims to create a rich natural environment and regenerate natural capital.
Sinanen is promoting the Sinanen Akari no Mori Project, which contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society while preserving a rich natural environment. To date, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions by promoting environmentally friendly energy, the company has been implementing activities to protect nature and ecosystems in cooperation with various organizations.
Aoba Gumi has been working to build a healthy cycle of forests by specializing in afforestation and forestry business under the slogan of "regeneration of natural capital. The company is developing the "Natural Capital Co-creation Program aoba," in which it collaborates with companies and others to create forests in Tochigi, Niigata, and Ibaraki prefectures, and this partnership was made possible by Sinanen's resonance with Aoba's philosophy.
The two companies will proceed with site surveys and forest design, and begin preparations for tree planting activities. They will also begin seedling cultivation of local tree species using acorns and other resources. Sinanen intends to monitor the growth process of the "Sinanen Akari Forest" by utilizing the expertise of Aoba-gumi, and in the future, they intend to expand the model case in Ashikaga City to other areas.
This alliance offers important insights into how companies should deal with environmental issues. Until now, corporate environmental activities have focused on how to reduce their own CO2 emissions. However, as climate change issues become more serious and biodiversity loss becomes a global challenge, companies are expected to make more active and multifaceted contributions. Sinanen and Aoba Gumi's challenge is attracting attention as a step toward regenerating Japan's natural capital and resolving the issues faced by the domestic forestry industry.
