ADI adopts world’s first 100% recycled plasterboard from Chiyoda Ute

Architect Developer Inc. (ADI) announced it will adopt the world’s first plasterboard made from 100% recycled gypsum in its new residential construction projects. The developer will begin using the carbon-neutral “Chiyoda Circular Gypsum Board” from Chiyoda Ute Co., Ltd. in new rental apartment buildings in the Chiba and Kanagawa areas.

Constructyion waste is a problem in Japan. Approximately four million tonnes of plasterboard are shipped annually. With future demolitions and renovations, the volume of waste is projected to rise sharply, placing immense pressure on final disposal sites. According to the National Institute for Environmental Studies, waste plasterboard emissions could equal production levels within the next two decades. Currently, recycling rates for the material remain low. While 60 to 70 per cent of plasterboard waste from new construction is recycled, this figure drops to just six per cent for waste from demolition sites, largely due to a lack of recycling facilities and difficulties in on-site separation.

Chiyoda Ute’s new board offers a circular solution. It utilises 100% recycled gypsum sourced from waste plasterboard and is produced in a factory powered entirely by renewable energy and biomass, making the product effectively carbon-neutral. ADI estimates that using this board will reduce both CO₂ emissions and waste volume by approximately one-third compared to conventional products. This translates to a CO₂ reduction of around 8.8 tonnes during the construction phase.

Moreover, the product maintains the same levels of fire resistance, sound insulation, and workability as its conventional counterparts and has received the 2024 Good Design Award. It also holds SuMPO EPD and Eco Mark certifications.

Chiyoda Ute’s goal is to provide the world’s most environmentally friendly gypsum board and building solutions that are fully recyclable, and their product is a welcome solution to push the construction industry further towards circularity.