Until recently, the prevailing mindset in construction was "scrap and build"—demolishing and rebuilding structures after a certain number of years. Subsequently, the concept of "rebuild" emerged, focusing on maintaining and preserving buildings longer, leading to large-scale renovations typically occurring around 10 to 15 years after completion. Initially, the primary goal of these renovations was largely economic: to reduce the frequent repair costs associated with frequent use.

Until recently, the prevailing mindset in construction was "scrap and build"—demolishing and rebuilding structures after a certain number of years. Subsequently, the concept of "rebuild" emerged, focusing on maintaining and preserving buildings longer, leading to large-scale renovations typically occurring around 10 to 15 years after completion. Initially, the primary goal of these renovations was largely economic: to reduce the frequent repair costs associated with frequent use.
However, in recent years, attention has also begun to focus on renovation work from the perspective of reducing environmental impact. This includes conserving resources through extending building lifespans and reducing construction waste that would otherwise have nowhere to go. Within this context, Yashima Kogyo Co., Ltd. has been quick to recognize renovation work as an environmental business, differentiating itself through environmentally responsive renovation projects. We spoke with President Hiroyuki Kosato.
The unique challenges of renovation work. While often grouped together as "renovation work," it encompasses a wide range of construction techniques. Starting with pre-construction surveys, it includes scaffolding erection, exterior wall repairs, structural reinforcement, roof waterproofing, finishing work, exterior wall cleaning, and more. Since its establishment in 1964, the company has operated under the corporate philosophy of "contributing to society through stock maintenance," primarily handling renovations of apartment buildings and commercial buildings.
Leveraging accumulated, proven technical expertise, it has steadily built a solid track record. Recognizing several years ago that the shift in societal focus toward environmental sustainability meant renovation work—previously seen merely as extending a building's lifespan—was now inherently environmentally conscious, the company anticipated that societal demand for such work would inevitably grow.
"Furthermore, renovation work presents unique challenges distinct from new construction. The most significant of these is the necessity to proceed with work while residents or workers maintain their daily lives. This makes safety a fundamental requirement, and environmental consideration becomes an indispensable factor under constant public scrutiny."
Indeed, in the apartment renovation projects that form the company's core business, presentations to residents by bidding contractors are common before work begins. In recent years, the company notes, "demands for proactive environmental consideration have grown louder with each passing year." There is a rising sentiment that, given the choice, residents prefer the more environmentally conscious option for the same work. Consequently, the company launched its environmentally responsive renovation services in July 1999.
The aim is to move beyond being merely a renovation contractor by further advancing environmental responsiveness within a field that inherently carries strong environmental implications. This seeks to enhance added value as an environmentally compliant service. The renovation work itself is being transformed into an environmentally responsive model. What exactly constitutes environmentally responsive renovation work? Its pillars can be broadly divided into two: 1. Reducing waste at the construction site, and 2. Reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in construction methods.
First, regarding waste reduction: significant amounts of waste are generated at construction sites. Industrial waste alone, such as protective vinyl sheeting and concrete debris, amounted to 7.56 cubic meters per 10 million yen of contract value in the company's FY1998 results—equivalent to 1.26 4-ton trucks. Furthermore, sites generate not only industrial waste but also items like beverage cans and lunch boxes.
At a site employing 500 workers, the volume becomes substantial. To reduce this waste, measures include sorting and using returnable containers. They implement 10 categories of sorting. The process is thorough, even requiring each can to be crushed before disposal. "Educating the site crew was challenging at first, but once accustomed, it's implemented relatively smoothly," they note. Furthermore, they adopted returnable containers for the 18-liter paint cans used.
Previously, paint cans were difficult to clean, making reuse and recycling nearly impossible, resulting in them being disposable. Therefore, in cooperation with paint manufacturers, a returnable container system was developed. This involves placing paint inside a vinyl bag to prevent internal contamination before placing it in the can. Used cans are collected by retailers and returned to the manufacturer under a deposit system. This system is relatively uncommon in Japan.
"This initiative involves a bit of extra effort, and while it's a deposit system, costs are slightly higher than before. That said, the benefits are significant: reduced waste disposal costs and a tidy work environment free of litter." The company is also on track to achieve its FY1999 targets: a 50% reduction in volume and a 30% reduction in weight compared to FY1998.
Previously, waste disposal costs averaged about 1.2% of the company's contract value. Even a simple calculation shows this will be halved, representing a modest but significant reduction. Meanwhile, VOC reduction efforts include switching to water-based systems for paints and urethane waterproofing. While some European and American countries have legislated restrictions on VOC usage, Japan has numerous guidelines and recommendations from various organizations but no formal regulations.
However, it is considered certain that VOCs will eventually become a regulated substance in Japan. "Regardless of regulations, water-based paints are now available in a wide variety and quantity, and their price and performance are on par with solvent-based paints. So, there's no reason not to use the better option." By adding environmentally conscious services to conventional renovations, the company aims to differentiate itself from competitors. Asbestos removal is also an essential part of the company's technical capabilities.
The company removed 75 cubic meters of sprayed asbestos in fiscal year 1998. This asbestos was used as fireproof coating and soundproofing material on ceilings and walls in schools, factories, warehouses, and similar facilities. The company launched its website in October 1999, and inquiries specifically about asbestos removal work have been constant ever since. Recently, requests for asbestos removal from factories planning to obtain ISO 14001 certification have increased, and this trend is expected to continue.
Concurrently, the company is seeing a growing demand not only for removing sprayed asbestos but also for handling asbestos products like slate sheets and boards. The company's future goal is comprehensive environmentally conscious renovation work. This involves enhancing environmental functionality during renovations, such as installing distributed clean energy systems, rooftop greening, recycled water systems, and applying insulating film to energy-saving windows. The company aims to achieve this by collaborating with various firms on diverse technologies.
President Kosato is highly motivated. "Beyond simply extending building lifespans, we expect increasingly diverse customer demands for environmental considerations to emerge. Ultimately, we want to pioneer a new approach to environmentally conscious renovation work," he states. Behind these words lies a proposal for new construction projects, viewed through the lens of long-lasting, environmentally considerate renovation work. The company plans to obtain ISO 14001 certification within 2000.