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According to a report by Nikkei on March 27, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will compile industrial environment guidelines that are conducive to recycling and sustainable development for the fiber, textile, and clothing industries for the first time. The plan lists 11 items, including Designing recyclable clothing materials and using recycled fibers are encouraging everyone from large clothing companies such as Fast Retailing to small and medium-sized enterprises to take action in response to the European Union (EU) decision to ban products with non-recycled materials from entering the market.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to announce the aforementioned specific guidelines in the near future. The scope of recycling includes: (1) using plant-derived materials and recycled fibers; (2) reducing carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process; (3) reducing carbon dioxide emissions through reuse of cooling water and other measures. Water consumption; (4) Review the discard problem due to overproduction that exceeds demand; (5) Easily recyclable materials and designs, such as standardized, easy-to-remove buttons and zippers; (6) Provide maintenance services and parts that are easily accepted by customers. Target companies include fiber companies such as Toray and Teijin, as well as clothing companies such as Fast Retailing and Samyang Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to stipulating matters that must be followed from manufacturing to distribution and consumption, the guidelines also require companies to formulate business plans that comply with the standards before production and sales, and consider designing special marks to let customers know at a glance that products comply with the standards.
It is understood that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to incorporate this guideline into the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) by 2026 and become a unified national standard. The purpose is to more objectively demonstrate Japan's environmentally friendly efforts at home and abroad. The goal is to start from 2027 Make it a standard specification of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
In recent years, the "fast fashion" business model has had a huge impact on the environment. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Recyclable Textiles sets out a vision and specific actions to ensure that textile products entering the EU market in 2030 are long-lived and recyclable and use recycled materials wherever possible. Made of fiber and contains no harmful substances. If the new guidelines can become ISO standards, the EU will be more receptive to Japanese-made textile products. In addition, Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises can also avoid the "certification fatigue" caused by the complex procedures and financial burdens of various certifications.
Not only Japan, but also independent initiatives by European and American clothing brands are making progress. H&M of Sweden and Patagonia of the United States are planning to switch to producing all products using recycled fibers, and some brands require upstream fiber companies to obtain certification to prove compliance with environmental standards.
As for the domestic part, the Department of Resources and Recycling of the Ministry of Environment released the " Textile Recycling Guidelines for the Chain Brand Apparel Industry and Department Store Retail Industry " last year (2023), setting out 15 action measures. The industry will propose implementation methods and schedules for each measure, and submit reports Textile recycling plan; it is hoped that brands and department store operators can form a sustainable fashion alliance (currently 7 brands and department store operators have joined, such as Decathlon, SOGO Department Store, etc.) and be awarded the sustainable fashion mark by the Ministry of Environment.
According to the guidelines set by the Recycling Department, the brand clothing industry can design clothing with a single material or use recycled materials, establish a digital product passport, disclose the carbon footprint of textiles, provide clothing repair or recycling services, set up second-hand clothing special areas or share and rent services, etc. , promote the reverse recycling and recycling of brand clothing.
The department store retail industry can set up used clothing recycling points in the premises, provide discounts or points for used clothing recycling promotion activities, provide multiple used clothing recycling channels, or promote it during clothing seasons, festivals or sustainable living festivals. Guide and deepen the concept of sustainable recycling for consumers in their daily lives.
In addition, the Recycling Department also calls on public agencies, schools and private enterprises to jointly promote circular procurement of textiles. According to the " Guidelines for Circular Procurement of Apparel and Textiles for Government and Private Sectors ", purchasers are required to include materials, accessories and supplies when formulating procurement contracts. Commercial responsibilities, etc. are basically included in the regulations; starting from green design, we first specify that materials and accessories should use easily recyclable materials, and they must be recycled and remade into raw materials after use, so as to achieve a clothing-to-clothes circular procurement model.
At the same time, the Recycling Department is also formulating a draft of "Key Points for Donation of Quantitative Identification of Textile Materials and Smart Sorting Facilities Setup and Operation" (tentative name). Currently, the Textile Industry Research Institute has completed a textile material sorting instrument. In the future, the Ministry of Environment can subsidize recycling According to the processing industry, the simpler the recycling material is, the more conducive it is to subsequent recycling; this key point is expected to be released in the second half of this year.