Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on February 10, 2026, 8:01 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.
Bi-Will, Okuizumo Town in Shimane Prefecture, and Sanki Kogyo have signed a partnership agreement to utilize forest-derived J-credits generated by Okuizumo Town. A total of 16,000 tons of credits will be traded over the next eight years to promote the realization of a decarbonized society and the promotion of the forestry industry. The goal is to build a model for regional revitalization through the circulation of environmental value by linking companies in urban areas and local governments.
Sanki Kogyo will purchase credits created through appropriate forest management in Okuidumo Town through Bi-will. The company plans to trade 2,000 tons of forest-derived J-credits each year for the next eight years, for a cumulative total of 16,000 tons.
Sanki Kogyo will use the purchased credits to offset CO2 emissions in its own business activities. Meanwhile, Okuidumo Town will reinvest the proceeds from the sale of the credits in forestry promotion and environmental conservation activities in the town. In this way, a mechanism has been established to simultaneously support Sanki Kogyo's decarbonization efforts and Okuidumo Town's sustainable forestry management.
Okuizumo Town has coexisted with forests as a center for tatara iron production, an ancient Japanese iron-making process. To produce iron, a vast amount of charcoal is needed, and vast forests have been maintained and managed for this purpose. Forests cover about 80% of the town, but proper maintenance and upkeep requires a significant cost burden. In this collaboration, Okuizumo Town will be responsible for forest management and credit generation, Bywill will be responsible for providing practical support and knowledge, and Sanki Kogyo will support the local forestry industry by purchasing credits on a long-term and stable basis. Sanki Kogyo also plans to provide multifaceted support, such as subsidizing forest maintenance to Okuidumo Town through its own eco-contribution point system and environmental conservation activities by its employees.
This tripartite collaboration has significance beyond mere emissions trading. For Sanki Kogyo, it will secure a concrete means to achieve its mid- to long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals. As a regional carbon neutral provider, Bi-Will will link funds from urban areas to environmental conservation in rural areas. For Okuidumo Town, the acquisition of external funds will have the benefit of increasing the sustainability of the forestry industry.
Efforts to simultaneously accelerate decarbonization and regional development by having companies legitimately evaluate and purchase local environmental values are a realistic and effective means of achieving carbon neutrality. It is hoped that a sustainable society will be realized where contributions to environmental conservation are directly linked to the revitalization of local economies.
Reference Links
Signed a "Collaboration Agreement on Carbon Neutrality Using J-Credits, etc." (Okuizumo Town)
[Press Release] Bi-Will, Okuizumo Town, and Sanki Kogyo Sign Collaboration Agreement to Utilize "Forest J-Credits". Supporting 16,000 tons of trading over 8 years to promote decarbonization and forestry promotion (Bi-Will, Inc.)
Sanki and Okuidumo Town Sign Collaboration Agreement on Forest J-Credits - Sanki Kogyo Co.
