Sustainability
Roundtable

LifeWear clothing is designed to make everyone's life better. Driven by that philosophy, UNIQLO aspires to create a new industry that pursues business activities and sustainability in tandem. That means developing products based on customer feedback; making, transporting, and delivering just the right amount of clothing at the exact time that it is needed; encouraging customers to wear their favorite clothes for longer; and maximizing the value of clothes by not throwing them away when they are no longer needed. That’s the future we aspire to achieve. We are only able to conduct our business because we live in a stable society. We aspire to create a business that encourages more and more people to choose LifeWear and to see the world steer in a better direction.
UNIQLO holds an annual sustainability briefing to discuss this business approach and how it should be developed. Here, we introduce what progress has been made, along with specific figures and targets.

The 3rd Annual Sustainability Briefing: LifeWear = A New Industry

We hold sustainability briefings for journalists and analysts to introduce our thinking and initiatives around “creating LifeWear” and “sustaining LifeWear”, and to encourage a deeper understanding of our goals. Those initiatives include: developing stores that use renewable energy and energy-saving technologies; contributing to society by supporting refugees; nurturing future leaders and promoting activities through various foundations; expanding our increasingly popular RE.UNIQLO repair, reuse, and recycling activities; and making clothes that customers can enjoy wearing for longer.

Briefing date:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Speakers:

Koji Yanai
Director, Group Senior Executive Officer Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Yukihiro Katsuta Group Senior Executive Officer Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Masahiro Yubisui Group Executive Officer Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Keiko Mayuzumi Director, Global Environmental Management Sustainability Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

Sustainability-related information

Sustainability Briefing Archive
Fast Retailing Integrated Report
Fast Retailing Sustainability Data Book

Targets and Action Plans

Reducing absolute GHG emissions

(FY2030 targets)

Fast Retailing operations

Reduction in absolute GHG emissions compared
to fiscal 2019 base year

90%
Use of electricity derived from renewable electricity sources
in stores and main offices worldwide

100%
Supply chain

Reduction in absolute GHG emissions compared
to fiscal 2019 base year

20%
Products

Ratio of recycled and other raw materials that emit lower GHG emissions

Approx.50%

Progress on key initiatives

Promoting social contribution
activities worldwide

(FY2025 target)

Investment in social contribution activities

10billion yen level*
Number of
support recipients

10million people
Clothing donations

1million items per year

*Actual combined investment by the Fast Retailing Group, Fast Retailing Foundation, Yanai Tadashi Foundation, and Yanai family

Progress on key initiatives

Improving supply chain transparency
and establishing traceability

Increase transparency in the supply chain
and ensure traceability back to the raw materials stage.

Identify and quickly remedy any issues across the supply chain relating to human rights,
working conditions, and the environment.

Identify and begin disclosing information customers need to feel comfortable when selecting our products.

Progress on key initiatives

Eliminate discharge of
hazardous chemicals

0contamination
(FY2030 target)

ZDHC wastewater compliance rate for major sewing and fabric factories: 99.9% (As of end 2022)
Increase ratio of women
in all management
positions globally

50%

(FY2030 target)

Ratio of women in management positions throughout the Group rose to 44.7% in FY2023.
Promote ethical and
responsible raw
materials procurement

Defined recommended and prohibited materials for each material type in our Raw Materials Procurement Guidelines. Began clarifying guideline compliance status and confirmation procedures.
Reduce water consumption

vs. 2020 levels10%

(by end 2025)

32% of target factories achieved their commitment to reduce per-unit water usage by 10% compared to 2020 levels (2021 result)
Reduce waste

Achieve zero waste (target)

To help achieve zero operational waste from materials used in the process of delivering clothes to our customers, we have reduced and recycled plastic bags used in packaging and reviewed the use of hangers and other items made of plastic.