Cocco

What Cocco does

Cocco (株式会社こっこー) is a Japanese integrated recycling and environmental services company headquartered in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, founded in 1951 as Kokoku Sangyo and rebranded to Cocco in 2011. The company operates three divisions: the Environmental Resources Division handles collection, transportation, and processing of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, industrial waste, mercury-containing waste (fluorescent tubes, dry batteries) under Minamata Convention compliance, and on-site operations at major corporate facilities; the Living Environment Division processes steel plate, manufactures roofing and wall materials (HK500, KS800), and sells exterior products (carports, fences, decks, storage sheds); and the Real Estate Revitalization Division, newly entered in October 2024, offers integrated demolition, waste processing, and construction material supply. The company's core proprietary technology is Super Sol, a lightweight foam material manufactured from recycled waste glass at the Hiroshima Processing Center, used in civil engineering, water purification, and security gravel applications.

Cocco holds industrial waste collection and transportation permits across 25+ Japanese prefectures and operates 12 regional branch offices plus multiple recycling and processing centers in Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Tokyo, supported by two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Milive Co., Ltd. (stone import, established 2016) and Murakami Komuten (civil engineering, acquired 2020). Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees on waste collection and processing, unit pricing on steel and building materials, and project-based construction services, with FY March 2024 revenue of 14.47 billion JPY (up 3.6% YoY) and operating profit of 341 million JPY. Customers span enterprise (major steel manufacturers, commercial facilities), government (cities, schools, public infrastructure), and mid-market (residential construction) segments, with no concentration in any single account. Recent strategic expansions include a July 2024 solar panel recycling partnership and the 2024 real estate regeneration entry, supported by ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications and a Health Management Excellent Corporation 2026 designation ranking in the top 3.7% nationally.

Name

Cocco

Legal name

株式会社こっこー

Website

https://cocco-at.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cocco is a Japanese integrated recycling and environmental services company founded in 1951, headquartered in Kure, Hiroshima. It collects and processes industrial waste, scrap metals, and mercury-containing waste, manufactures steel plate and exterior building products, and serves enterprise, government, and mid-market customers across 25+ prefectures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Waste Recycling and Building Materials

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (56211), Solid Waste Collection (562111)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Recycling Processing (BPALADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (BPALADAF), Industrial Packaging Waste Services (Pallets, Cardboard, Film, IBCs/Drums—Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAD), Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Industrial waste management
• Scrap metal recycling
• Construction materials sales
• Foam glass products
• Exterior building products

Headquarters

HQ city

Kure

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 環境資源事業 (Environmental Resources): Collection, transport, and proper disposal of scraps, industrial waste, and mercury-containing waste. Processing of ferrous/non-ferrous scraps. Operations at Kure, Higashihiroshima, and Kurose recycling centers. Also handles on-site work at major corporate facilities.
2. 生活環境事業 (Living Environment): Steel plate processing and steel material sales. Building material sales including roofing and wall materials. Exterior/landscape product sales and construction/installation services. Operates regional sales offices across Japan.
3. 不動産再生事業 (Real Estate Revitalization): Newly entered real estate business (as of 2024). Leverages group's demolition, waste processing, land preparation, and construction material capabilities to offer integrated real estate services from purchase through demolition and rebuilding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cocco is a comprehensive recycling company that collects, transports, and processes industrial waste and scrap metal through its Environmental Resources Division, while manufacturing and selling steel plate products, roofing/wall materials, and exterior building products through its Living Environment Division. The company operates licensed processing facilities across 25+ prefectures in Japan's Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions, including proprietary Super Sol foam glass material production from recycled waste glass.

Product overview

株式会社こっこー（Cocco）は、広島・呉を中心に中四国・九州で事業展開する総合リサイクル・建材加工販売企業です。主な事業は「環境資源事業」（鉄・非鉄スクラップの回収・再資源化、産業廃棄物の収集運搬・適正処理、水銀含有廃棄物処理、構内作業）と「生活環境事業」（鋼板加工・鋼材販売、屋根材・壁材製造、建材・エクステリア商品販売・施工管理）から構成されます。主力製品には廃ガラス原料の軽量発泡資材『スーパーソル』、自社石材ブランド『ComfyS』シリーズ、屋根材HK500/KS800があります。グループ会社に土木工事業の村上工委店、石材輸入のミライブがあります。

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Waste Collection and Transportation Service (産業廃棄物の収集運搬) Licensed collection and transportation of industrial waste, scrap metal, mercury-containing waste, and solar panels from client sites across 25+ prefectures in Japan. Serves manufacturers, construction firms, and other enterprises generating regulated waste streams.
• Scrap Metal Recycling and Processing (スクラップのリサイクル・処理) Processing and recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals through cutting, compression, and separation at Kure Recycling Center. Also handles aluminum scraps. Core service for manufacturing and industrial clients.
• Mercury-Containing Waste Processing Service (水銀含有廃棄物の処理) Specialized processing of mercury-containing waste including spent fluorescent lamps and dry batteries. Certified under Japan's Minamata Convention obligations. Cocco is designated as a core company for mercury waste processing in the Chugoku-Shikoku region through the Nomura Kogyo Recycling Network.
• Super Sol Lightweight Foam Material (スーパーソル 軽量発泡資材) Lightweight foam material produced from recycled waste glass. Used in rainwater retention systems, civil engineering materials, water purification, and security gravel applications. Features lightweight properties, permeability, water retention, and breathability. ISO 9001 certified manufacturing.
• Steel Plate Processing and Steel Material Sales (鋼板加工・鋼材販売) Steel plate processing service including shearing (up to 6mm thickness), press braking, drilling, and welding. Products include bridge deck plates, refrigerated truck beds, and structural components. Serves construction and manufacturing clients.
• Roofing and Wall Materials (HK500・KS800) (屋根材・壁材)

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduced by approximately 75 tonnes per year from LED lighting conversion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 株式会社スナダcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2024Solar panel reuse/recycling partnership. Cocco and Snda collect and transport discarded solar panels from households, corporations, and solar power plants, sort them, and deliver reusable panels to Chuetsu Plant for renewable energy construction.
• 中電ナント株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2024Solar panel reuse/recycling partnership. Chuetsu Plant accepts reusable panels from Cocco/Snda sorting, designs and constructs power generation equipment combining various panel specifications, and provides maintenance services.
• 中国anthus株式会社coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 July 2024Solar panel reuse partnership. Chugoku Denryoku supplies the electricity generated by the reused solar panel power plants created through this initiative to customers.
• 野村興産株式会社coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2022Japan's sole mercury recycling company designated Cocco as a core company (幹事会社) for mercury waste processing in the Chugoku-Shikoku region. Cocco is part of the Nomura Koizan Recycling Network covering mercury-containing waste processing nationwide.
• 株式会社村上重工coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Acquired September 2020. Civil engineering company specializing in slope/embankment work and disaster prevention. Group synergy used to expand civil engineering business and provide employment for workers transitioning from the steel manufacturing sector. Recognized for 70-year history by Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce.
• 株式会社ミライブcoreOthers · 1 April 2016Fully-owned subsidiary established April 2016. Specializes in importing stone materials from Vietnam and other countries. Manages the Tokyo office and stone import/sales operations. Vietnamese interpreters on staff enable rapid custom processing.
• エコスタッフ・ジャパン株式会社 (Eco Staff Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCocco is one of 60 certified companies operating 253 locations in the ESJ Network — Japan's only comprehensive waste processing network. ESJ sets proprietary standards above government requirements. Cocco hosts ESJ sales training seminars and network meetings.
• 代納業者・大鉄産業 (Daitetsu Sangyo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsolidated company in Fukuoka Prefecture. Part of the resource recycling network contributing to expanded sales channels and collection capacity in the Kyushu region.
• 野村興産リサイクルネットワークcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for mercury-containing waste processing coordinated by Nomura Koizan. Cocco participates as a core company in Chugoku-Shikoku. Enables nationwide coverage for mercury waste collection and proper disposal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Daiseki Co., Ltd. Japanese industrial waste management and recycling company providing collection, transport, intermediate processing, and final disposal across multiple waste streams including metals, sludge, and waste oil. Most directly comparable Japanese-listed peer in C&I waste recycling with similar regulatory permit-driven business model.
• Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd. Japanese steel plate processor and downstream steel products manufacturer serving construction and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Cocco's Living Environment Division steel plate processing and steel material sales operations.
• Sankyo Tateyama, Inc. (Sankyo Aluminum): Manufacturer of exterior building products including carports, fences, terraces, and gates distributed across Japan. Cocco is a distribution channel for Sankyo Aluminum exterior products and competes for the same residential/commercial exterior end customer.

Broad incumbents

• DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. Major Japanese non-ferrous metals recycler and e-waste processor operating Eco-System Recycling facilities domestically and internationally. Overlaps with Cocco's ferrous/non-ferrous scrap processing, mercury handling capability, and end-of-life electronics positioning.
• LIXIL Corporation: Japan's largest building materials and housing products group, encompassing windows, exterior, kitchens, and bathrooms. Cocco sells LIXIL-family exterior products through branch offices while also competing in the residential exterior solutions space.
• YKK AP Inc. Leading Japanese manufacturer of architectural products including windows, doors, facades, and exterior building components. Cocco distributes YKK AP carports, fence posts, and rear-support roof products across its branch network as part of its Living Environment Division.
• Clean Harbors, Inc. North American hazardous waste management, environmental remediation, and recycling services company. Comparable to Cocco's mercury-containing waste handling, industrial waste collection, and special management waste licensing — though at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Veolia Environnement S.A. Global environmental services leader in water, waste, and energy management with operations across hazardous waste, recycling, and industrial services. Provides the global benchmark for the integrated waste-management-plus-resource-recovery model Cocco operates at a regional Japanese scale.

Others

• TOMRA Systems ASA: Norwegian sensor-based sorting technology provider for recycling and waste management. Adjacent infrastructure provider whose optical sorters, eddy current systems, and AI sorting solutions are increasingly deployed in advanced MRFs like the operations at Cocco's Kure, Kurose, and Higashihiroshima centers.

Emerging players

• Glavel Inc. North American manufacturer of foam glass aggregate from recycled glass for construction and infrastructure applications. Closest product-technology comparable to Cocco's proprietary Super Sol lightweight foam material, though smaller and earlier-stage than Cocco's commercial operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cocochan528
• Instagraminstagram.com/cocco_official_

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cocco