【press release】A-Zero Group Establishes ComprehensiveSupply System for FSC®-Certified Timber:From Structural Materials to Interior Finishes
— Capable of Supplying Large-Scale Wooden Constructions and Housing, Equivalent to 300 Homes —
A-Zero Group, Inc. (Headquarters: Nishiawakura Village, Aida-gun, Okayama Prefecture; President & CEO: Daisuke Maki; hereinafter “A-Zero Group”), has built a fully integrated supply system for FSC®-certified timber, including structural timber, structural plywood, interior materials, and custom-made wood products. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Nishiawakura Morino Gakko, in 2009, the company has consistently developed its capacity to provide certified materials. With the expansion of its network of partners, A-Zero Group now has the supply capacity equivalent to 300 homes, enabling the company to respond to large-scale wooden constructions as well as residential housing.
This advancement makes it possible to construct entire buildings using FSC®-certified wood, expanding sustainable material options for the construction industry at a time when decarbonization and biodiversity conservation are increasingly demanded.
◾️About FSC® Certification
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international non-profit organization that promotes responsible forest management. FSC® certification includes two types:
・FM (Forest Management) Certification: Evaluates the management of forests themselves.
・CoC (Chain of Custody) Certification: Ensures traceability of harvested wood through processing and distribution.
Together, these systems support the sustainable use of timber with consideration for the environment and local communities.
◾️Representative Projects
A-Zero Group has undertaken a variety of projects to supply timber over the years. Representative examples are as follows:
Naoshima Hall (Completed in 2015)
Owner: Naoshima Town
Design: Hiroshi Sambuichi Architects
A building that actively incorporated wood. A-Zero Group (then Nishiawakura Morino Gakko) supplied a significant portion of the timber.
Specifications: Site area 3,096㎡; Building area 1,269㎡; Total floor area 1,272㎡; One story; Structure: steel (partially reinforced concrete and wood).
Nishiawakura Village Nursery School (Completed in 2018)
Design: Star Pilots / Takenori Miura
Location: 4 Kageseki, Nishiawakura Village, Okayama Prefecture
A warm, wood-rich nursery school making use of locally harvested timber. A-Zero Group (then Nishiawakura Morino Gakko) supplied all wooden materials.
Specifications: Site area 2,741.21㎡; Building area 776.91㎡; Total floor area 698.90㎡; One story; Wooden structure.
Nishiawakura Village Office & Awakura Hall (Completed in 2021)
Location: 4 Kageseki, Nishiawakura Village, Okayama Prefecture
Design: Arced Architects & Kuramori Architects; Structure: Norinaga Yamada Structural Engineers (Norinaga Yamada, Wataru Furuya, Kentaro Akasaka)
A public building designed to integrate with the community, utilizing locally sourced timber. A-Zero Group (then Nishiawakura Morino Gakko) supplied all wooden materials, including 20,000 sheets of FSC®-certified structural plywood.
Specifications: Site area 5,398.05㎡; Building area 2,360.45㎡; Total floor area 3,461.31㎡; Two stories; Wooden structure with partial reinforced concrete.
Nishiawakura Village Public Housing (Completed in 2024)
Three of the five housing units obtained FSC® Full Project Certification. A-Zero Group supplied all timber used.
Location: Nago district, Nishiawakura Village, Okayama Prefecture
Specifications: Building area 26.2㎡; Total floor area 18.5㎡; Wooden, single-story structures
Details: Each compact single-unit house (approx. 6 tsubo) was entirely constructed with FSC®-certified structural and interior timber, completed as a certified project using FSC 100% materials.
FSC License Code: FSC-P002064
Major Station Area Redevelopment (Construction began in 2023, scheduled for completion in 2027)
A-Zero Group supplied FSC®-certified structural plywood and timber for the eaves ceiling and related structures.
Location: [Name withheld / major urban station redevelopment project]
Design: Toshio Yada Architectural Design Office
Supplied Materials: Wooden components and structural plywood (FSC 100% CU-COL-816818)
Details: A large-scale redevelopment project including the extension of a tramline into the station square. A-Zero Group provided certified timber for both indoor and outdoor structures.
◾️Key Partners
The FSC® timber supply system is supported through collaboration with the following key partners:
Nisshin Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 100 Nishi-Kogyo Danchi, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture
President: Koichi Mataga
Collaboration with A-Zero Group began in 2018, with structural plywood transactions starting in 2019. Website （https://www.nisshin.gr.jp/）
Hyogo Mokuzai Center Cooperative (HMC)
Location: 217-20 Maruyama, Azumi, Ichinomiya-cho, Shiso City, Hyogo Prefecture
Members: 34 companies
Business with A-Zero Group has continued since HMC’s establishment in 2010, with approx. 1,500㎥ of logs supplied annually (equivalent to structural/interior timber for about 100 homes as of August 2025).
https://hyogo-mokuzai.com/service/
“Hyakunen-no-Mori” (100-Year Forest) Initiative, Nishiawakura Village
Nishiawakura Village has consolidated over 2,700 hectares of forest from more than 500 landowners, implementing thinning and sustainable management.
This initiative was launched when the village chose not to merge with other municipalities, instead focusing on sustaining its primary industry of forestry and honoring landowners’ commitment to long-term stewardship.
A-Zero Group has been sourcing logs from this initiative since 2009 (as of August 2025).
Headquarters: La Tour Gotenyama 1F, 4-7-6 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
President: Naomichi Hara
A-Zero Group has been sourcing logs from the company since 2010 (as of August 2025).
https://www.nihontochisanrin.co.jp/
◾️Future Outlook
Looking ahead, A-Zero Group aims to further expand the use of FSC®-certified timber and strengthen its supply systems in line with international standards. The company is committed to realizing a construction industry where “FSC®-certified timber becomes the norm,” actively pursuing supply opportunities for international event facilities and public buildings in urban areas.
FSC® certification, highly compatible with frameworks such as TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures), is gaining attention as a vital measure for biodiversity and sustainability. By addressing these societal needs, A-Zero Group will continue contributing to better forest management and the future of sustainable construction.
We have also produced an article related to the content of this press release. If you are interested, please take a look.
Contact Information
Public Relations Office
A-Zero Group, Inc.
E-mail: pr@a-zero.co.jp
FSC® Certificate Code: SA-COC-003741 / FSC® License Code: FSC-C06855