Partnership with Starbucks Japan to apply forest recovery model

Japan has taken a fresh step toward sustainable forest management with a newly signed partnership between the town of Minakami in Gunma Prefecture and a Starbucks Coffee Japan. The agreement aims to leverage local forest resources and natural ecosystems to address pressing environmental and societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and regional revitalisation.

Although around 70% of Japan’s landmass is covered by forests, decades of declining timber demand have left many once-managed satoyama woodlands in a state of neglect. This deterioration has disrupted essential ecological functions, such as water source replenishment, carbon sequestration, and habitat preservation. A lack of proper thinning and maintenance has led to dense canopies that block sunlight and rainfall, preventing undergrowth from thriving and threatening biodiversity.

Minakami Town has entered into a formal agreement with Starbucks Coffee Japan to restore and utilise these neglected forest resources. The initiative is grounded in sustainable forestry practices, including community-led small-scale logging and responsible thinning operations.

The agreement centers around the development of a model that repurposes wood obtained from thinning operations. Previously considered commercially unviable, the timber will be used in various construction applications, including architectural interiors, potentially absorbing approximately 45 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Traceability is another key feature. The origins and processing of the timber will be fully visible to the public, enabling individuals to understand where and how the wood was harvested. In the coming years, the initiative will expand into a comprehensive procurement system designed to source materials from under-managed forests across the country.