Fast Retailing aims to cut single-use plastic 85 per cent by 2020 end
As part of its effort to create a sustainable business while taking the environment into consideration, Fast Retailing on Friday announced its plan to eliminate the use of unnecessary plastic throughout its supply chain. It will also 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 tonnes annually, by the 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 to establish a business with minimal impact on the environment.
Environmental pollution from plastic waste is a growing concern worldwide, and Fast Retailing will take action to reduce unnecessary single-use plastic from its operations, the company pledged in a news release on Friday. This will help minimise the environmental impact of its business, while offering products and services customers can use with confidence.
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.
With the aim to reduce shopping bags, and to make effective use of resources including paper, all UNIQLO and GU stores in Japan and abroad, as well as Comptoir des Cotonniers and Princesse tam.tam stores worldwide, will begin selling branded “eco-friendly” reusable bags from September 2019.
To promote the use of reusable bags, all UNIQLO and GU stores in Japan will begin charging for shopping bags at a price of 10 yen (about Bt3) plus tax per bag from January 14, 2020. UNIQLO and GU in 16 markets across North America, Europe and Asia will charge for shopping bags after September 2019.
