Uniqlo launches initiative to recycle its products
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Japanese apparel business Uniqlo has launched a recycling initiative aimed at reducing the footprint of its products being improperly disposed of.
Called Re.Uniqlo, the program enables the business to recycle old clothes into new clothes, redistributing old clothes to people in need, and, in Japan only, recycling old clothes into fuel and materials.
Goods to be recycled can be taken into Uniqlo stores and deposited within Re.Uniqlo boxes. All Uniqlo items are accepted, but the business asks that customers wash clothing beforehand and ensure there are no personal belongings included.
“We collect second-hand Uniqlo clothes in stores for reuse and deliver them to people in need worldwide in the form of emergency clothing aid for refugee camps and disaster areas together with the United Nations Refugee Agency, NGOs and NPO,” Uniqlo said on its Re.Uniqulo website.
“And recently, we have been actively recycling clothes into clothes, starting with our own products.”
The business’s first recycled product, a down jacket, will be on sale later this month.
Questions & Answers
Q.What happens to the old clothes once they are collected at Uniqlo stores?
What happens to the old clothes once they are collected at Uniqlo stores?
Collected items are either recycled into new clothes, redistributed to people in need globally, or, in Japan only, converted into fuel and materials. The business works with the UN Refugee Agency and other organisations for aid distribution.
Q.Are there any specific requirements for customers when donating clothes for recycling?
Are there any specific requirements for customers when donating clothes for recycling?
Customers are asked to wash their clothing before dropping it off and to ensure no personal belongings are left inside the items. All Uniqlo items are accepted for the programme.
Q.When will the first product made from recycled materials be available for purchase?
When will the first product made from recycled materials be available for purchase?
The business's first product made from recycled materials, a down jacket, is scheduled to go on sale later this month. This marks a new step in their recycling efforts.
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