On May 28, 2026, JCCU was honored with the Promotion Pioneer Award, recognizing its significant contribution to promoting FSC certification, an internationally recognized forest management certification system. The award was presented by FSC Japan, the Japanese affiliate of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global organization committed to advancing responsible forest management around the world (www.fsc.org). Since its establishment in 2006, FSC Japan has been responsible for the operation and promotion of the FSC certification system in Japan.

FSC certification is a system that verifies products made from wood sourced from responsibly managed forests that take environmental and social considerations into account, as well as from other responsibly sourced raw materials. By choosing products bearing the FSC certification label, consumers can support forest conservation efforts around the world.

In 2012, JCCU became the first organization in Japan to obtain an FSC Promotional License, which is required for distributors, retailers, and other businesses that do not manufacture products themselves but wish to promote FSC-certified products. Since then, JCCU has maintained the license and actively promoted the FSC certification system. Its long-term commitment to expanding awareness and use of FSC certification led to this award.

JCCU has steadily expanded its range of FSC-certified paper products since the launch of CO-OP Tissue and CO-OP Pulproll (Toilet Paper) in 2012. In 2014, FSC-certified paper was introduced for beverage cartons, and from 2017 onward, FSC-certified materials have been adopted for a wide range of paper packaging materials and cardboard used across various products.

JCCU has set a target of achieving 100% use of certified or recycled paper by 2030 for all paper used in CO-OP products, packaging, and cardboard. By fiscal year 2025, 90% of this goal had already been achieved, with FSC-certified materials representing approximately 54% of paper packaging materials and 53% of cardboard usage.

As of fiscal year 2025, the supply of CO-OP products using FSC-certified paper and packaging materials had grown to 544 product lines, with an estimated supply value of approximately ¥85 billion (US$529 million).