partner | TOYOTA TSUSHO FASHION EXPRESS LTD.

T-shirt to T-shirt Recycling Project

Toyota Tsusho has been participating in the Tee-CycleTM t-shirt recycling project in collaboration with the Japan Branch of Patagonia International Inc.

Towel to Towel

●Background The fashion sector has been noted as being an industry that places a major burden on the environment, with large amounts of energy being used in manufacturing, and with a short product lifecycle. This has emerged as a significant international issue, and there are worldwide calls to reduce the impact on the environment and switch over to a more sustainable industry structure. In Japan, the current situation is that these kinds of initiatives have been limited. To reduce the burden on the environment, Toyota Tsusho is working together with diverse partner firms to jointly build a new apparel lifecycle model.

In line with its mission statement – “We’re in business to save our home planet” – Patagonia not only undertakes the manufacturing and sale of apparel products, but also promotes activities aimed at safeguarding the environment, and is taking on the challenge of switching over to using only fiber derived from renewable raw materials and recycled fiber.

Towel to Towel

●Overview of the Initiative Toyota Tsusho has been supplying Patagonia with originally designed fabrics for more than 20 years, and has been supporting Patagonia’s progressive and environmentally conscious product development. With Tee-Cycle™, Toyota Tsusho has begun to work to separate and classify collected cotton products and transport them to recycling companies. It will realize, for the first time, the establishment of a clothing circulation model for used cotton products collected from consumers, by playing a role in the supply chain of recycling-based products that recycle used clothing for re-use as clothing. Toyota Tsusho contributes to the realization of a circular economy by promoting recycling-oriented downstream businesses that recycle waste in order to pass on a better global environment to the children of the future. In addition, by promoting initiatives to build a resource circulation model for apparel, it will create a future where there are opportunities for all discarded clothing to be remade again as clothing. Toyota Tsusho has been participating in the Tee-CycleTM t-shirt recycling project in collaboration with the Japan Branch of Patagonia International Inc.

Towel to Towel Recycling Project

Toyota Tsusho has been participating in the REBORN COTTON towel recycling project in collaboration with Towel Museum Group.

Towel to Towel Recycling Project

●Background Towel Museum Group has a management philosophy that emphasizes “Constantly contributing toward people’s spiritual enrichment and toward enhancing lifestyles and culture.” Besides undertaking initiatives to safeguard the environment, the Group also pursues and promotes corporate activities that can contribute toward realizing a safe, healthy society and toward people’s happiness, and is working actively to reduce the amount of water and energy used in its own production facilities, to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be incinerated, and to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

● Overview of the Initiative We have launched the REBORN COTTON project in collaboration with Towel Museum Group, which has begun full-scale operation of a towel recycling business. Recycling used towels reduces the quantity of towels that need to be disposed of as waste, thereby contributing toward the cutting of CO2 emissions. Used towel collection boxes have been installed at Towel Museum Group direct outlets and department store outlets throughout Japan. The collected used towels, together with waste generated during the towel production process, are blended with virgin cotton through various processes to create REBORN COTTON, with the “reborn” fiber being used as weft yarn in towel production. By getting consumers involved and changing behavior, the aim is to promote more resource circulation and help to realize carbon neutrality.

Towel to Towel Recycling Project

REBORN COTTON recycling flow • Used towel collection boxes are installed in stores and in mobile shops • The collected towels are delivered to factories designated by Toyota Tsusho, where they undergo a series of processes – including cutting, re-carding, and spinning – and are blended with virgin cotton, to make REBORN COTTON recycled fiber • The REBORN COTTON is used commercially as weft yarn in towel production; the “reborn towels” made using this recycled fiber bear a label with the “REBORN COTTON” logo on it • The “reborn towels” are sold through normal sales channels, bringing the towels back to the consumer again

Towel to Towel Recycling Project

T-shirt to T-shirt Recycling Project

Towel to Towel Recycling Project

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