Last Updated: 2015.02.18
Fast Retailing's All-Product Recycling Initiative to Donate 10 millionth Item of Clothing to Refugees
Across 37 Countries and regions, in Partnership with UNHCR
FAST RETAILING CO., LTD.
to Japanese page
Fast Retailing today announces that its All-Product Recycling Initiative has collected more than 10 million items of its lightly used clothing donated by customers at UNIQLO and GU stores for refugee camps around the world, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UNIQLO launched a re-use and recycle program for its Fleece in 2001, extending this to all of its products in 2006. Now, the program is at all UNIQLO and GU stores in 11 countries and regions, including Japan. Around 90% of the clothing that customers bring in to stores is in good condition, and Fast Retailing began collaborating with UNHCR and other nongovernment organizations in 2007, for donations to people affected by conflicts and disasters around the world. As its first contribution, it provided a total of 130,000 articles through UNHCR to refugee camps in Thailand and Nepal in 2007, and has over the years similarly supplied to 37 countries and regions.
In June 2011, Fast Retailing formalized a Global Partnership Agreement with UNHCR - a first for a company from Asia. Through the partnership, Fast Retailing has donated clothing to refugee camps and provided refugees in Japan the opportunity to take part in internship programs at UNIQLO stores. UNHCR plans to deliver the 10 millionth clothing donation in Uganda in April this year.
UNHCR estimates the number of displaced people around the world at more than 51 million at the end of 2013 - the largest since World War II. Many flee their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their back. Fast Retailing has responded by collaborating even more closely with UNHCR this year, committing to donate 5 million articles of clothing annually. To support this, Fast Retailing will run an in-store donation campaign from April through June to collect 3 million items to donate to Africa.
Alex Aleinikoff, Deputy High Commissioner for UNHCR, commented that, "I am proud to express UNHCR's deep appreciation for the longstanding support of the Fast Retailing Group and its group company UNIQLO. Together, we have partnered to help millions of displaced people around the world. On behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, I would like to personally thank Fast Retailing Chairman, President and CEO Tadashi Yanai and all the staff members and customers of Fast Retailing and UNIQLO for their generous support."
About the All-Product Recycling Initiative - Fast Retailing launched the All-Product Recycling Initiative for the UNIQLO brand in 2006. Today, it collects lightly used clothing donated by its customers from all UNIQLO and GU stores in 11 countries and regions, including Japan. To date, the program has delivered more than 14 million clothing items (as of the end of September 2014) to refugees and disaster victims in 53 countries and regions around the world, including Bangladesh, Philippines, Kenya, Liberia, and Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. Please find the dedicated website for the initiative at this LINK (https://www.fastretailing.com/eng/sustainability/community/donating_clothing.html).