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Itoki has produced a stool using CO₂ absorbent material collected from Asahi Soft Drinks' "CO₂-eating vending machine."
Installed in the newly renovated "Mitsuya Cider Museum," Econifa UPCYCLE contributes to creating a space where visitors can experience resource recycling.
ITOKI CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Minato) has manufactured a 3D-printed stool using CO₂ absorbent material collected from Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd.'s "CO₂-eating vending machines" as part of its raw materials. This stool will be installed in the "Mitsuya Cider Museum" inside the Asahi Soft Drinks Akashi Factory, which will reopen on August 1, 2026.
This initiative is part of ITOKI's sustainable design solution "Econifa UPCYCLE," which transforms underutilized resources from companies and local communities into furniture and spatial value. By giving shape to Asahi Soft Drinks' commitment to "circulating CO₂ as a resource" as a stool that visitors can actually sit on and touch, it connects to an experience that makes their environmental efforts feel more tangible. From material development to design and 3D printing production, ITOKI contributes to creating a space that conveys the company's efforts and aspirations as a spatial experience, while harmonizing with the brand worldview of the "Mitsuya Cider Museum."
About ITOKI's Sustainable Design Solution "Econifa": Econifa - The story of materials transforms the space | ITOKI
About the "CO₂-eating vending machine": CO₂-eating vending machine | Asahi Soft Drinks
Development background
Asahi Soft Drinks is developing a "CO₂-eating vending machine" that absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere. The company aims to contribute to the realization of a circular and decarbonized society by recycling the CO₂ absorbed by the vending machines as a resource.
One way to clearly communicate this initiative to visitors was to install stools in the Mitsuya Cider Museum at Asahi Soft Drinks' Akashi Factory. The museum also has a "CO₂-eating vending machine," and instead of discarding the CO₂ absorbent material collected by the vending machine, it will be reused as furniture that visitors can actually sit on and touch, making the resource recycling initiative feel more accessible.
Itoki was introduced to this material through Kobayashi Co., Ltd. at a trade show in 2025 and has been exploring its potential as a sustainable material. Since then, they have been conducting verifications for its use in furniture, including prototyping with chair components.
For this stool production, Itoki's Central Research Institute, Product Design Department, Chair Development Department, and Production Technology Department collaborated to 3D print a resin material containing CO₂ absorbent. They confirmed the ease of handling of the material, shape, usability, and strength, and finished the piece as furniture that could actually be used in a museum space.
About 3D-printed stools utilizing CO₂ absorbent material
This stool was manufactured using a 3D printer with a resin material that utilizes CO₂ absorbent material collected from a "CO₂-eating vending machine" as part of its raw materials. In development, Itoki Central Research Institute considered material composition and 3D printing conditions to ensure stable fabrication of the new material containing CO₂ absorbent material. Kobayashi Co., Ltd. manufactured the material based on that information, and the Production Technology Department of Itoki Shiga Plant was in charge of 3D printing.
In terms of shape, it features a stackable design that allows for easy storage even in limited spaces. The seat also has a handle, demonstrating consideration for use in facilities that welcome visitors.
In terms of design, we prioritized ensuring that the design blended naturally with the space of the Mitsuya Cider Museum. We considered the shape and color to harmonize with Asahi Soft Drinks' brand worldview and the bright and welcoming atmosphere of the renovated museum.
Roles of each company
In this initiative, Asahi Soft Drinks, Kobayashi, and Itoki combined their respective expertise to create a stool that utilizes CO₂ absorbent material.
| Company Name | Roles of each company |
|---|---|
| Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. | Development of a "CO₂-eating vending machine," proposals for utilizing CO₂ absorbent materials, and introduction to the "Mitsuya Cider Museum." |
| Kobayashi Co., Ltd. | Manufacturing and supply of resin materials containing CO₂ absorbers. |
| ITOKI CORPORATION | Material composition analysis, design, 3D printing condition adjustment, quality check, stool production, and implementation in the space. |
Comments from project members
Koichi Sawada, Materials Research Laboratory, Production Division ITOKI CORPORATION
In this project, many stakeholders both inside and outside the company collaborated to implement resin materials containing CO₂ absorbers into 3D-printed furniture, from material formulation studies and adjustments to molding conditions, design, and quality control.
Econifa UPCYCLE is an initiative that not only reuses unused resources but also transforms the aspirations of companies and communities into spatial value. We hope that visitors will feel closer to resource recycling through stools that they can actually sit on and touch.
Keiji Matsumoto, CSV Strategy Department, Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd.
Our company is working to promote the utilization of CO₂ absorbent materials collected from our "CO₂-eating vending machines," and this time, through collaboration with Kobayashi and Itoki, we have been able to use and install them as stools in the new tasting hall of the Mitsuya Cider Museum.
We hope that by incorporating CO₂ absorbent materials into furniture—a natural part of visitors' activities such as sitting, drinking, and conversing—and by implementing them in a design that harmonizes with the museum space, visitors will feel our commitment to "recycling CO₂ as a resource" more directly.
We hope this stool will serve as an opportunity for people to experience the Mitsuya Cider brand and learn about our sustainable initiatives for the future.
Future prospects: — Making resource recycling an accessible and tangible experience —
At Itoki, we value not only simply reusing unused resources, but also conveying our company's initiatives and aspirations through furniture and spaces. With these stools, we aimed to create a space where visitors to the Mitsuya Cider Museum can naturally experience resource recycling through the experience of sitting on and touching them.
Going forward, Itoki will continue to focus on the potential of underutilized resources generated by companies and local communities, and promote the creation of furniture and spaces that allow people to "experience" sustainability by integrating material development, design, and spatial proposals.
Itoki is committed to creating new value that contributes to a circular economy, aiming to realize "a peaceful space where people and Planet can live in harmony."
About "Econifa UPCYCLE"
"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.
Learn more here: Econifa: The story behind the materials transforms the space | ITOKI
About the Mitsuya Cider Museum
| name | Mitsuya Cider Museum |
|---|---|
| address | 1-33 Minami-Futami, Futami-cho, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| How to make a reservation for a tour |
Book through the website |
| telephone number | 078-941-2309 |
| URL | https://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/entertainment/factory/index.html |
| Closed Days | Year-end and New Year holidays, designated holidays (listed on the website) |
| Admission fee | free |
| business hours | 9:30 AM - 4:50 PM (Shop closing time: 4:40 PM) *Tour start times (1) 10:00 (2) 13:00 (3) 15:00 |
| Duration | Approximately 80 minutes |
| Tasting items | Asahi Soft Drinks products such as Mitsuya Cider |
Related releases
- Launch of "EconifaUPCYCLE" in June 2026
https://www.itoki.jp/company/news/2026/0602_econifaupcycle/
・ITOKI x Kewpie Corporation | Entrance space utilizing eggshells
https://www.itoki.jp/company/news/2025/1121_kewpie/
・ITOKI x Toyota Motor Corporation | Upcycled materials utilizing hydrogen tank scraps
https://www.itoki.jp/company/news/2025/2505_toyotaupcycle/
・ITOKI x Unilever Japan Customer Marketing Co., Ltd. | Development of chair covers using yarn recycled from used containers
About Itoki's Workplace Business
Founded in 1890, ITOKI Corporation operates under its mission statement, “We Design Tomorrow. We Design Work-Style.”
Leveraging its strength of “Tech × Design based on PEOPLE,” ITOKI supports the creation of a wide range of spaces and environments through its business areas, including the manufacturing and sales of office furniture, office space design, workplace consulting, and office data analysis services, as well as furniture for home offices and learning environments, and equipment for public and logistics facilities.
As hybrid work becomes more widespread and work styles continue to diversify, ITOKI is also expanding initiatives such as space DX solutions that enhance productivity and creativity, as well as consulting services that support optimal office operations through a hands-on, collaborative approach.
In addition, ITOKI actively collaborates with external designers and partner companies to propose new work styles and workplaces for the future.
Press personnel
Contact information
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.