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Itoki to begin offering "Econifa UPCYCLE," a sustainable design solution that transforms unused resources into corporate value, from June 2026.
Amidst accelerating human capital management and recruitment competition, we propose a circular office model that leads to improved employee engagement and enhanced corporate brand value.
ITOKI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) will begin offering "Econifa UPCYCLE," a sustainable design solution that utilizes underutilized resources from companies and local communities and transforms them into spatial value that fosters pride and empathy among employees, starting in June 2026.
In recent years, against the backdrop of increased attention to human capital management and rising labor mobility, companies are required to create spaces that foster empathy with employees and society, and that form their own unique brand value. In response to this, we have redefined "Econifa," which we have been developing as a solution for utilizing domestically produced timber, as "Econifa WOOD," and are developing a new solution, "Econifa UPCYCLE," which regenerates and utilizes by-products and unused resources generated during the manufacturing process. We have integrated both solutions and rebranded them as the sustainable design solution "Econifa." With "Econifa," we propose creating spaces that go beyond mere environmental considerations, allowing people to experience the corporate culture and approach to manufacturing by leveraging the background and stories of each material, such as domestically produced timber and unused resources.
We will announce this initiative at "Orgatec Tokyo 2026," which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
About Econifa: https://www.itoki.jp/special/econifa/index.html
Amidst increasing competition for talent and talent mobility, there is a growing need to create spaces that convey a company's unique identity.
Amidst growing interest in human capital management and increasing labor mobility, companies are more than ever required to cultivate empathy with their employees and society, and to create a brand value that is uniquely their own. In particular, as working styles and values diversify, especially among younger generations, it is becoming crucial to create spaces that reflect "the company's unique character," rather than just functional offices.
Local resources, by-products generated during manufacturing processes, and unused resources created during business activities possess not only value as raw materials, but also embody the history, culture, and manufacturing philosophy of the company or region. "Econifa" is a sustainable design solution that focuses on the background of these materials and aims to achieve both material recycling and enhanced corporate value by reconstructing them into office interiors and furniture.
Through two solutions—"Econifa WOOD," which utilizes domestically produced timber, and "Econifa UPCYCLE," which regenerates and utilizes underutilized resources—we transform the stories behind the materials possessed by companies and regions into spaces that employees and visitors can experience firsthand.
Econifa UPCYCLE: Transforming a company's story into employee pride and attachment.
The newly launched "Econifa UPCYCLE" is a solution that recycles and utilizes by-products and unused resources generated during the manufacturing process, giving them new value as office interiors and furniture.
By-products and unused resources generated during business activities embody the unique manufacturing and business background of each company. Econifa UPCYCLE visualizes these materials as part of the space, creating an environment where employees can feel their company's strengths and culture on a daily basis. This fosters pride and attachment among employees and cultivates empathy for the company. Furthermore, by leveraging Itoki's spatial design expertise and unique technologies, we are able to reconstruct previously difficult-to-use unused resources into spatial materials such as boards, realizing the creation of spaces that tell the story of each company.
We propose a new spatial value that contributes to communication with visitors and the dissemination of the corporate brand, leading to improved recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Econifa WOOD: Utilizing domestically produced materials to create spaces that enhance productivity and creativity.
"Econifa WOOD" is a solution that supports the creation of office spaces utilizing domestically produced timber. Based on Itoki's network with forest cooperatives, local governments, and sawmills and processing companies, it proposes furniture and interiors that make the most of the texture and character of timber from all over Japan. By incorporating wood into the space, it aims to create a space that not only brings comfort to employees but also promotes communication, enhances creativity, and increases productivity.
Furthermore, joint research with universities has confirmed that wooden spaces contribute to improved concentration and stress reduction, and are expected to lead to improved well-being for employees.
Furthermore, by utilizing local timber, we are contributing to the recycling of forest resources and creating connections with the local community.
*Reference: https://www.itoki.jp/resources/column/article/beca-use-wood/
Examples of major initiatives through co-creation with companies and local communities
Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture | Government building space utilizing local resource "reeds"
We supplied furniture made from "yoshi" (reeds), a local resource, to the new city hall of Omihachiman.
The furniture, which was also showcased at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, has been installed in the government building, and some staff members have expressed pride in it. In waiting areas and reception rooms, it also serves as a conversation starter with citizens and visitors. By utilizing local materials, the building is creating a space that citizens can feel comfortable in.
Kamoi Paper Co., Ltd. | Upcycling of masking tape scraps ("offs")
In our collaboration with Kamoi Kakoshi, we are developing display boards that utilize "scraps," the leftover material generated during masking tape manufacturing. Kamoi Kakoshi has been exploring ways to utilize the more than 1,000 tons of scraps generated annually for over 10 years. By transforming this material, which was previously treated as an unused resource, into a spatial material with new value, it is hoped that this will lead to a change in employees' perspectives on resources and the creation of new ideas that make use of the scraps.
Conde House Co., Ltd. | Collaborative space proposals utilizing hardwoods from Hokkaido
In our collaboration with Conde House, we are jointly developing high-value-added office space proposals that utilize hardwoods from Hokkaido. By combining ITOKI, which operates Workplace Business nationwide, with Conde House, which has a strong track record in wooden furniture making, we aim to comprehensively enhance the value of incorporating wood into office spaces and, in the future, contribute to expanding the scale of use of Hokkaido timber and promoting forest sustainability.
Kewpie Corporation | Entrance space utilizing eggshells
For the renovation of the Kewpie Group's office entrance, we created furniture using eggshells that are generated during the food manufacturing process.
The selection of the tabletop design involved employee voting, which fostered conversations among employees and promoted understanding of new values and uses for eggshells through the creation of the space. Furthermore, the design, which visually incorporates eggshells, also serves as a conversation starter with visitors.
Press Release: ITOKI Produces Upcycled Eggshell Tabletop Material from Kewpie | Newsroom | ITOKI Corporate Information Site
Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. | Material development utilizing uniforms that have reached the end of their service life
In our collaboration with Seven-Eleven Japan, as part of an office renovation to rethink our work style, we installed furniture and signage made from upcycled uniforms in the work areas where employees work on a daily basis.
By incorporating uniform materials that many people have seen into the space, we are creating an environment where employees can feel closer to our connections with affiliated stores nationwide and to the company's commitment to sustainability. We have also received expressions of gratitude from employees for these efforts, and it is not just upcycling, but is also contributing to fostering empathy for our corporate culture and brand values.
Toyota Motor Corporation | Upcycled materials utilizing hydrogen tank scraps
In our collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation, we will be exhibiting upcycled furniture made from plastic generated during the hydrogen tank manufacturing process. By reconstructing materials that would otherwise have been discarded as new materials for the office space, we propose an environment where visitors can experience the technology and challenges of a manufacturing company within the space itself.
Furthermore, Toyota Motor Corporation's "TOYOTA UPCYCLE" initiative aims to transform the concept of "wastefulness" into "something better," promoting upcycling activities that give new value to waste materials.
Press Release: ITOKI collaborates with TOYOTA UPCYCLE to create art tables and stools made from recycled plastic | Newsroom | ITOKI Corporate Information Site
Unilever Japan Customer Marketing Co., Ltd. | Development of chair covers using yarn recycled from used containers
In our collaboration with Unilever Japan, we are producing yarn from recycled resin made from used bottles and refill packs, and using it as chair covers. We are also incorporating recycled PE material into some of our components. By repurposing materials derived from products that have supported our daily lives into materials that support the work environment, we aim to create an environment where people can feel closer to the circular economy.
Press Release: ITOKI and Unilever Japan jointly develop "UMILE Chairs" utilizing resources collected through Unilever Japan's "UMILE Program," and deliver them to the company's headquarters office | Newsroom | ITOKI Corporate Information Site
ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SHIGA | Visualization of "Purge Material," a Manufacturing By-product
At ITOKI's chair factory, "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SHIGA," they use products that utilize "purging material," a type of resin generated during the manufacturing process.
By incorporating manufacturing by-products as new and valuable materials into the space, we aim to communicate Itoki's commitment to manufacturing both internally and externally, while also fostering employee awareness and creating opportunities for communication with visitors.
At Orgatec Tokyo 2026, we will exhibit a circular economy space themed around "the landscape of resources."
At Orgatec Tokyo 2026, we will showcase "Econifa," a sustainable design solution that integrates "Econifa WOOD" and "Econifa UPCYCLE," demonstrating a variety of initiatives that transform the stories of materials into spatial value.
The venue will showcase products and materials made from by-products and unused resources created through co-creation with companies and local communities, including Seven-Eleven, Toyota, Kewpie, Kamoi Kakoshi, Omihachiman City, and Conde House.
The entire space was designed by Itoki's designer, Daisuke Nishida. Within the space, sculptures resembling "mountains" and "ponds" made from by-products and unused resources are placed, reconstructing materials that would otherwise be discarded as "a landscape of resources for creating new office furniture."
The exhibition focuses not simply on reusing underutilized resources, but on "showcasing social issues without hiding them." It proposes a future where underutilized resources generated within corporate activities are transformed into new value through the power of design, and where a circular economy office fosters pride, attachment, and engagement among employees.
Each exhibit also features interview videos with our collaborative partners. These videos showcase the process by which by-products and unused resources are transformed into spatial materials with new value, and introduce the aspirations of each company and region.
Furthermore, the exhibition includes participatory displays where visitors can express their commitment to the circular economy. Through actions such as throwing rings at a symbol in the center of the venue and taking home coins, visitors can experience a new office value of "participating in the circular economy."
About Itoki's Workplace Business
ITOKI CORPORATION was founded in 1890. With the mission statement of "We Design Tomorrow. We Design WORK-Style. the company supports the creation of a variety of spaces, environments, and places, leveraging its strengths in "AI x Design based on people," including the manufacture and sale of office furniture, office space design, “Space," “Environment," and “Place" consulting, and office data analysis services, as well as furniture for working from home and studying at home, and equipment for public facilities and logistics facilities.
As hybrid work becomes more common and places and ways of working become more diverse, we are developing spatial digital transformation to enhance productivity and creativity, as well as consulting services to support optimal office operations. We are also proactively collaborating with external designers and partner companies to propose new work styles and workplaces for the future.
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ITOKI CORPORATION
Corporate Communications Division, Public Relations
TEL:03-6910-3910
- The information posted is current at the time of publication. Please note that the information may differ from the latest information.