UNIQLO on sustainable development track

UNIQLO donates a water filtration system at Thanh An Primary School, Ho Chi Minh City

To transform the supply chain towards sustainable growth, Fast Retailing has set many important goals and initiatives, focusing on product improvement and increasing material usage rates, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ensuring worker rights and supporting the community.

In 2023, the rate of use of materials with low GHG emissions, such as recycled materials, has increased to 8.5 per cent. In particular, for product lines containing polyester alone, the proportion of products using recycled polyester material accounts for 30 per cent, aiming to reach 50 per cent by 2030 fiscal year.

Besides polyester, from 2023, recycled nylon material was gradually used for some product lines. Thanks to technological improvements, these products ensure full functionality and comfort for the users.

Regarding sustainable LifeWear clothing initiatives, in 2022, the company launched the RE.UNIQLO Studio project in London, providing clothing repair and recycling services to prolong and create a new life for LifeWear production.

In 2023, the UNIQLO Pre-Owned Clothes project (selling used clothes) was piloted implemented.

To further promote clothing recycling, Fast Retailing is currently researching and developing new products, using cashmere, wool and cotton materials obtained from the RE.UNIQLO project.

By the end of the 2030 fiscal year, Fast Retailing aims to reduce GHG emissions to 90 per cent at stores and office.

Fast Retailing is striving to build a comprehensive supply chain management system, allowing direct application of standards for quality, purchasing, production, environment and employee rights in all stages of the production process.

At UNIQLO stores in Vietnam, the domestically made products currently account for about 60 per cent and it is committed to increasing this in the near future.

According to Nishida Hideki, general director of UNIQLO Vietnam, those projects reaffirm UNIQLO’s commitment to long-term contributions to Vietnamese society.

The Fast Retailing Foundation has joined the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, launched in September 2023. The foundation plans to contribute $25 million over 10 years to help address related issues to the natural environment, education and public health in Asia.

In addition, the Foundation has also launched a scholarship drive for Vietnamese students, with the first group of six students enrolling in universities in Japan in the fall of 2023.

For more than 20 years of cooperation with local factories, UNIQLO provides Vietnamese-made products at 23 domestic stores and distributes to more than 2,400 stores on a global network.

This effort demonstrates our commitment to contributing to Vietnam's economy, while indirectly creating job opportunities for about 240,000 local workers.

Among them, the RE.UNIQLO project was first deployed in Vietnam in 2021, collaborating with the Hope Foundation to collect used costumes and donate them to people in difficult circumstances. Up to now, more than 27,000 products have been given to people in 11 cities and provinces across the country.

In addition, in the goal of developing talent, the recruitment initiative for the position of UNIQLO Manager launched in 2019 has attracted more than 10,000 candidates across the country. Among them, the company selected 145 potential young people for in-depth training, gradually guiding and developing 38 store managers, two regional managers and many key other personnel.

The Recruitment Programme for People with Disabilities was implemented from 2022, in cooperation with the Centre for Disability and Development (DRD).

Out of 91 applications since implementation, 15 employees have been accepted and eight employees are still working at eight UNIQLO stores across the country.

In addition, the company contributes to improving the lives of local people in provinces and cities where there are manufacturing factories, through the Hope Foundation, the "Light for School" scheme and coordinating with the City Sponsoring Association for the Poor Patients, to name a few.

UNIQLO cooperates with the Hope Foundation to implement the "Light for School" programme

UNIQLO commits to accompany long-term development of Vietnam UNIQLO’s Hoan Kiem store opened on November 10, aiming to become an icon of harmony and honouring the local culture and long-term relationship between Vietnam and Japan. Nishida Hideki, general director and COO of UNIQLO Vietnam, told VIR’s Duc Hanh about the company’s strategy, vision, and commitments to the country’s sustainable development.

“Ease into Lightness” collection backs up UNIQLO’s sustainability With continuous efforts in the journey of creating a sustainable LifeWear clothing, UNIQLO is introducing new collection to win the trust of Vietnamese consumers by offering new flavours for 2024.

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