Onward Kashiyam backs Australian land management initiative

24 Feb '09

2 min read

Japanese apparel giant Onward Kashiyama has contributed JPY10 million (AUD160,000) to a major Australian environmental initiative, the Australian Land Management Certification System (ALMCS).

This first-of-its-kind contribution will go to support the further development and implementation of the ALMCS.

The contribution is thanks to the apparel maker's Onward Green Project, which was commissioned in July 2008 with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) support to help improve the natural environment of Australian wool growing areas. The project itself was inspired by a partnership between the ALM Group, AWI and Elders to pilot the ALMCS with wool growers in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

The JPY10 million sum is a portion of Onward's Autumn/Winter 2008 sales of five of its apparel brands – Gotairiku, J.Press for men, ICB for women, Kumikyoku and J.Press for children.

Over five months in 2008, stores throughout Japan promoted the Onward Green Project through point of sale material, while swing tickets on garments told Japanese consumers the story of wool's natural benefits and of Onward's initiative to preserve the Australian environment in which it is grown.

Onward's general manager product development and marketing Mr Hikosaburo Seike who is visiting Australia this week said: 'Onward is proud to support the ALMCS and through it, the Australian wool growers who are committed to caring for the Australian environment.'

AWI's general manager product development and commercialisation Jimmy Jackson noted that the Onward's initiative was the first ever example of an apparel company going directly to the source and helping with the understanding and extension of formalised, certification-based environmental practices.

'This is a unique arrangement because the money is going directly to activities that help wool growers improve environmental outcomes in ways that deliver them recognition and rewards,' Jimmy said.

ALM Group CEO Tony Gleeson said: 'The support from Onward will further strengthen Australian initiatives to provide price support for wool growers who can demonstrate improving environmental performance.'

The Onward Green Project extends AWI's existing commercial relationship with the company. Onward Kashiyama is one of the five Japanese partners in AWI's Japan Marketing Project which aims to create approximately 1 million kilograms of new demand for Australian Merino wool over its three-year term.

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