Promotion of Green Onward
This project promotes more advanced sustainable management throughout the ONWARD Group.
Under Green Onward, we aim to realize a circular economy by promoting business activities that coexist with the planet.
The Onward Group is committed to building a sustainable society through various initiatives, including the Onward Green Campaign (collection of used Onward Group apparel items for recycling and reuse) launched in 2009 with the aim of establishing an apparel circulation system. Other of its initiatives include recycling protective plastic used during product transportation, reducing CO2 emissions by improving transport efficiency, and engaging in forest conservation activities.
Apparel Circulation Initiatives
Onward Green Campaign designed to create an apparel circulation system
Onward Kashiyama has continued the Onward Green Campaign since 2009 with the objective of encouraging the circulation of apparel to promote the efficient utilization of limited resources and to ensure our precious environment still exists for future generations to enjoy. In 2023, we also started online collection to further accelerate our circulation activities.
We promote an apparel circulation system in which we collect used Onward Group apparel items from customers so that they can be reused or recycled to the greatest degree possible.
Environmental concept store "Onward Reuse Park"
Onward Reuse Park is a store that carefully selects clothing in good condition from among those collected through the Onward Green Campaign and offers them at charity prices after they have been cleaned. Proceeds from the store are used to fund Onward's sustainable initiatives.
Creating new value through Upcycle Action
We are implementing the Upcycle Action program to create new value by utilizing the clothing we collect. This is a project that uses our creative and technical abilities as a fashion company to create new value in clothing that has been collected from customers.
Donation of recycled blankets and work gloves
The clothes we collect are remade into new products such as recycled blankets and work gloves.
The recycled blankets are provided to disaster-affected areas in Japan and abroad and to developing countries in cooperation with the Japanese Red Cross Society. Work gloves are distributed for various purposes, such as for disaster relief, forest preservation, and awareness-raising activities.
Other Initiatives
Recovery of plastic resources and recycling and reuse
In December 2023, Onward Kashiyama adopted the resource recycling platform CicroMate, which efficiently collects and recycles plastics by utilizing the transportation network of logistics company SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.
This is an initiative to collect the hanger covers used to protect products during transportation and reuse them as resources.
Use of reusable hangers and reusable folding containers for delivery
Onward Kashiyama has been using reusable hangers throughout its operations from sewing factories to delivery to stores. These hangers are collected, cleaned, and reused. This hanger circulation system has been in place since 1977. Moreover, we started full-scale use of reusable folding containers in 2001, instead of single-use cardboard boxes, for delivery.
Reduction of CO2 emissions by improving transportation efficiency
Onward Kashiyama has been implementing "Integrated Logistics" since March 2018. Main logistics operations overseas, which were previously handled separately by suppliers and sewing factories, are concentrated at the warehouses of four sites in Asia for efficient import of products to Japan. Promotion of "Integrated Logistics" has led to reduced frequency of domestic transportation to stores in Japan.
Sites for "Integrated Logistics" overseas
China:
Shanghai Area Integrated Logistics Warehouse, Dalian Integrated Logistics Warehouse, Qingdao Integrated Logistics Warehouse
Vietnam:
Nhon Trach Integrated Logistics Warehouse (near Ho Chi Minh City)
Reducing environmental impacts by switching to paper shopping bags
In order to reduce plastic waste emissions in society, the Onward Group is step by step ceasing to use plastic bags and switching to paper bags. In the case of certain plastic bags that cannot be replaced, eco-friendly plastic materials are used. We are promoting business operations that do not impose an environmental burden.
Forest conservation initiatives at Tosayama Onward Rainbow Forest
In November 2008, Onward Holdings became the first company in the apparel industry to sign a partnership agreement for the Collaborative Forest Restoration project promoted by Kochi Prefecture.
We have been conducting thinning and other forest conservation initiatives at the partnership forest, which we named Tosayama Onward Rainbow Forest, in cooperation with members of the local community. In April 2024, Onward Holdings entered into the sixth term of the partnership agreement and will continue its forest conservation activities at Tosayama Onward Rainbow Forest until 2027. Furthermore, we hold activities to deepen understanding of environmental issues, such as forest thinning experiences and workshops in which our employees participate.