Japan's new 'wood' 5x stronger than steel

16 Oct 2023 CW Team

Yamaha Motor Company has taken a significant step in its mission to decarbonize by incorporating wood-derived cellulose nanofibres (CNF) instead of certain plastic components in its watercraft.

The company commenced the sale of these products in North America on August 25. CNF, a revolutionary material developed in Japan, is touted to be five times stronger than steel.

This innovative move marks the first commercial utilisation of CNF in transportation equipment parts, drawing global attention as nations and businesses worldwide strive to reduce their carbon emissions.

Nikkei explored the background story of how Yamaha successfully introduced CNF products to the market, capitalising on Japan's distinctive identity as the "Land of Wood."

Infrastructure Urban

09 Feb 2026

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