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ITOKI CORPORATION (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) has collaborated with Kewpie Corporation (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mitsuru Takamiya; hereinafter referred to as "Kewpie") to produce a baking sheet material made from upcycled eggshells generated during the food manufacturing process, as part of the company's sustainable initiatives.
Furniture using the tabletop material produced this time has been delivered to Kewpie's group research and development and office complex, Sengawa Kewport (Chofu City, Tokyo).

The Kewpie Group uses approximately 250,000 tons (approximately 4.2 billion eggs) annually in its business activities, including the production of mayonnaise. This is equivalent to approximately 10% of Japan's domestic egg production. Approximately 28,000 tons of eggshells are generated annually during this manufacturing process, and the group has set a goal of 100% recycling and is promoting efforts to achieve this. In this case, ITOKI empathized with this initiative and made a new proposal to utilize eggshells as a furniture material. The message of sustainability was implemented in a way that "visibly communicates" within the spatial design.

This material is made from crushed eggshells, which are coated with a transparent resin to give them a three-dimensional texture, allowing them to be used as a design element.
Initially, we tried to create a plaster-like material using only egg components, but the eggshell did not appear on the surface, and it became clear that it would be difficult to express it in a design sense. Therefore, we changed direction and reflected the presence of the eggshell as a "visible design."
In the prototype, we repeatedly tested the thickness of the adhesive layer and the fixing method to overcome the issue of the eggshells floating or becoming uneven. We sifted through coarse, fine and fine powder eggshells, and ultimately selected and used coarse eggshells. In order to make the most of the three-dimensional effect (unevenness), we did not perform a final press, and instead finished the product while maintaining its natural shadows and texture.
Prototypes and testing were carried out at ITOKI's Shiga Factory and research institute, and approximately 30 kg of eggshells were used during the development stage.

• Waste material disposal: Kewpie Egg Corporation Itami Factory
• Project leader: Toru Inoue, Tama Branch, Tokyo Branch, Sales Headquarters ITOKI CORPORATION
• Designer: Eimi Hayashi, Work Style Design Division, ITOKI CORPORATION
• Design and assembly: Koichi Sawada, Technology Development Office, Production Division ITOKI CORPORATION

ITOKI CORPORATION
Sales Headquarters Tokyo Branch Tama Branch Toru Inoue

Kewpie approached us with a request for a furniture update that would be sustainable and would also contribute to corporate branding, so we immediately shared the idea with our development team and started the project. As we produced multiple tabletop samples, each one came with a different look depending on the fineness and density of the eggshells, and we enjoyed the process of trial and error. We are extremely pleased that we were able to co-create unique value on the milestone of the 100th anniversary of Kewpie Mayonnaise. We hope to continue expanding our efforts to find new value in resources like eggshells.

Kewpie Corporation
Koji Mochizuki, General Affairs Department, Management Promotion Headquarters, Sengawa Group General Affairs Office Team

To make the entrance where we welcome our valued customers a more attractive space, we launched an internal project and considered it for over a year before deciding on a direction. With "hospitality (comfort)," "the uniqueness of Sengawa Kewport," "communication," and "sustainability" as key themes, ITOKI came up with an attractive proposal for utilizing eggshells. As this entrance is a shared space for the entire group, the design of the countertop was decided by a vote of group employees. The entrance renewal is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

The eggshell material developed this time is not merely a material development, but is positioned as a new step towards "creating furniture that expresses a company's philosophy and activities in space."
Itoki will continue to utilize the knowledge it has gained through this collaboration with Kewpie to promote the creation of furniture and spaces that allow people to "experience" sustainability.
Itoki aims to create "a relaxing space where people and Planet live in vibrant harmony," and is challenging itself to create new value by combining material development and design.

Up until now, ITOKI has collaborated with companies, material manufacturers, and universities to develop furniture and space proposals that utilize recycled materials.

In collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation's "TOYOTA UPCYCLE" project, we have recycled and introduced waste plastic generated during the automobile manufacturing process into sculptural designer furniture.
For more information, please visit: https://www.itoki.jp/company/news/2025/2505_toyotaupcycle/

We are also working to provide a "memorable material experience" through the use of upcycled coffee grounds, such as aroma and texture.
For more information, please visit: https://www.itoki.jp/company/news/2022/2212_cgb/

Kewpie has been working to recycle food by-products since its founding. Specifically, eggshell membrane is used as an ingredient in cosmetics and supplements, and eggshells are effectively used in calcium-fortified foods, soil conditioners, fertilizers, and more. These efforts have been featured in various media outlets as part of the company's goal of "contributing to the health of people and Planet through food."
For more information, please click here: https://note.kewpie.co.jp/n/n47c31565a559