Global apparel retailer UNIQLO recently organised river clean-ups in conjunction with the launch of its second phase of JOIN: The Power of Clothing campaign. UNIQLO’s JOIN: The Power of Clothing campaign encourages customers to be a part of the environmental sustainability activities that UNIQLO is committed to.
The program also aims to raise awareness on environmental issues, and to inspire action that makes the world a better place.
To ensure a strong local impact on marine biodiversity protection in the Klang Valley, UNIQLO together with local social enterprises, Reimagine Plastic by Hara Makers and Alliance of River Three, recruited 60 volunteers to tackle river pollution issues at Sungai Keroh and Taman Melawati River Three Park.
The initiative saw the volunteers collect close to 200kgs of waste, including single-use plastics, discarded plastic bottles and fabrics from both rivers.
“Over the years, river pollution remains one of the greatest environmental issues. We are happy to join forces with likeminded organisations like Reimagine Plastic and Alliance of River Three. These collaborations underline our commitment in preserving the biodiversity of the marine environment and we hope to inspire Malaysians to join us in conserving our precious water sources and the rich marine life,” said Evelyn Tan, Sustainability Director of UNIQLO Malaysia.
“It was an enlightening experience to have worked together with large corporations like UNIQLO for a greener environment. We are certain that through these initiatives, more people are now aware of the importance of preserving our environment, not just for ourselves, but also for the future generations,” said Lee Yoon, Reimagine Plastic by Hara Makers.
“Among the waste we collect through our activities, we find many single-use plastics, including plastic tags that can be found on apparel. We applaud UNIQLO for being the first in the industry to join our mission, as part of their wider actions to make a positive impact on worldwide environmental issues,” Kennedy Michael, founder of The Alliance of River Three.
The river clean-up initiative is in line with UNIQLO’s commitment towards promoting environmental sustainability and the activities were held with the aim of raising awareness on the importance of keeping rivers clean as water is an essential source of life. UNIQLO hopes that its environmental conservation initiative will have a positive impact on the community by improving the capacity and efficiency in waste collection in the Klang Valley.
As part of the JOIN: The Power of Clothing campaign rollout, UNIQLO is also selling products made of recycled polyester that carries the “Doraemon Sustainability Mode” motif. When customers purchase UNIQLO fleece products made from 100% recycled polyester fabric, UNIQLO parent company, Fast Retailing, will donate US$1 to the Nippon Foundation for each item sold to support activities focused on reducing marine waste. The target is to donate up to US$1 million to the Nippon Foundation.
The full range of the UNIQLO Fluffy Fleece Full Zip Jacket is available at all UNIQLO stores in Malaysia and the uniqlo.com online store. For more information about UNIQLO and its
sustainability initiatives, please visit www.uniqlo.com/my.