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Fast Retailing to reduce single-use plastic in stores

08
Jul '19

Pic: Fast Retailing

As part of its effort to create a sustainable business, Fast Retailing is planning to eliminate use of unnecessary plastic throughout its supply chain and reduce the amount of single-use plastic handed to customers at its group stores worldwide, such as shopping bags and product packaging by 85 per cent or around 7,800 tons annually by end of 2020.

‘Respect the Environment’ is one of Fast Retailing’s six priorities for sustainability, and the group is proceeding to eliminate all forms of waste and establish a business with minimal impact on the environment. Environmental pollution from plastic waste is a growing concern worldwide, and Fast Retailing is taking action to reduce unnecessary single-use plastic from its operations. This will help minimise the environmental impact of its business, while offering products and services customers can use with confidence, said Fast Retailing in a press release.

From September 1, 2019, stores in 12 markets worldwide including Japan, where plastic shopping bags are currently in use, will begin switching to eco-friendly paper bags made of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper or recycled paper.

Stores in markets where paper shopping bags are currently in use, including Uniqlo stores in Europe, as well as group brands Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, and PLST, will begin switching to eco-friendly paper shopping bags from September 2019. To promote the use of reusable bags, all Uniqlo and GU stores in Japan will begin charging for shopping bags from January 14, 2020.

Uniqlo and GU in 16 markets across North America, Europe and Asia regions will charge for shopping bags after September 2019.

The company will launch specific verification tests to eliminate plastic in product packaging and switch to substitute materials. For that it will begin verification testing aimed at switching from plastic packaging for Uniqlo and GU products, such as Heattech, AIRism, and other innerwear to alternative materials, from summer 2019. (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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