Respect for the Environment
Waste Management and Resource Recycling
Basic Approach
Since its brand creation in 1980, Ryohin Keikaku has consistently approached manufacturing from three perspectives: selection of materials, streamlining of processes and simplification of packaging. Over time, as the business expanded, the Ryohin Keikaku Group has continued this approach across its broader operations.
The Group believes that selecting materials in consideration of the global environment and producers, eliminating waste in all processes, and providing customers with only what they really need in the way they really need it, leads to waste reduction and a lighter environmental impact on the planet.
The Ryohin Keikaku Group promotes the efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste in a series of activities from the development to post-use for products, store materials, and other items related to its business activities, thereby contributing to the realization of a circular economy. To achieve this, the Group actively promotes activities such as reducing, reusing, repairing, and recycling from the viewpoints of the Ryohin Keikaku Group, its supply chain, and customers, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of products and materials throughout the entire lifecycle.
Goals
The Ryohin Keikaku Group aims to contribute to society by creating new value through its businesses.
The Ryohin Keikaku Group aims to achieve 100% recyclable and plastic free packaging and materials by 2030 to minimize plastic waste. Furthermore, the Group is taking a proactive approach to decrease the usage of virgin plastics by collecting plastic products sold and promoting resource circulation. The target is to achieve 100% reuse of plastic by 2030.
Management Organization
The Ryohin Keikaku Group systematically conducts and facilitates environmental management.
Risks and Challenges
We analyze waste-related risks and challenges primarily from three perspectives: product planning, supply chain, and society/community. Reducing waste is an ongoing challenge for us, which includes waste from stores, facilities, logistics centers, production processes, and packaging materials. We recognize that waste is a significant social issue as it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and urgent need for final disposal sites. As a company that handles clothing, household goods, and food, we are concerned about the impact of waste on society and will continue to address this issue.
Initiatives
Upcycling and Recycling of Clothing (ReMUJI)
This is an initiative to recycle items that have been used by customers for many years, or items that cannot be sold as a result of a glitch during the manufacturing and distribution process. The clothes are re-dyed with indigo color and given whole new value. Sales of these clothes began at MUJI Tenjin-Daimyo which opened in March 2015. As of August 31, 2024, they are available at 26 stores in Japan. Textile products unsuitable for ReMUJI are recylced into various materials.
Collection, Reuse, and Recycling of Plastic Products
Ryohin Keikaku, aiming to transition to a circular business model, began collecting used PET bottles in July 2020. By collecting and recycling empty bottles for Toning Water, Moisturising Milk, and "My Bottle for Water," when they are replaced, we are working to reduce plastic waste and make effective use of petroleum-based materials.
Since February 2023, we have expanded our collection to a wide range of plastic products, including storage solutions and Dust Bins. We collect these items regardless of damage, sort them by type, and refurbish those that meet our standards for resale as second-hand items. Items that do not meet the standards are shredded, cleaned, and recycled as raw materials for new MUJI products.
Successful recycling requires a sufficient amount of collected material. Beginning in FY2024, we have been regularly conducting the "MUJI CYCLE*1 Product Collection Campaign" to encourage more customers to participate in our efforts. Previously, MUJI passport Miles were only awarded to customers who brought in clothing items, but this was expanded to include plastic products, with a special promotion of 3,000 MUJI passport Miles--three times the usual amount--during the campaign period. As a result, the volume of plastic products collected for FY2024 reached approximately 115 tons*2, more than triple the amount from the previous year.
Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our communication and initiatives, working together with more customers to realize a circular society.
*1 A reuse and recycling initiative that involves collecting certain MUJI products that are no longer needed by customers in stores and repurposing them as raw materials or recycled products.
*2 The method for calculating the collection volume of plastic products has been revised, and the collection volume has been updated from FY2023.
Initiatives around shopping bags
From March 2020 onward, all stores in Japan has abolished the distribution of plastic shopping bags and has then switched to paper bags, with new materials and sizes. In addition to promoting the use of My Bags, we also sell recycled polypropylene bags that are convenient for large items and bulk purchases at 150 yen (consumption tax included). These bags can be returned to all MUJI stores for refund when they are no longer needed.
In June of the same year, we launched a campaign to promote the use of My Bags at all MUJI stores in Japan. MUJI passport miles are awarded to customers who declined to use plastic bags when purchasing products.
Reviewing packaging materials and display materials
With the aim of recycling resources and reducing waste, we are progressively reviewing the materials used for product packaging and point-of-sale display materials in addition to shopping bags. For example, instead of using plastics, we have used recycled papers for the display hooks of our socks and scarfs, from spring/summer 2019 product series. Looking ahead, we will continue to identify all products that require packaging, such as underwear and aroma oil, and carry out plans to eliminate the use of plastic in terms of their packaging or replace it with recycled paper and other alternative materials whenever possible.
What is more, from autumn/winter 2021 we have gradually replaced the plastic tag pins with paper tag pins made from FSC paper, including recycled paper. The paper is twisted to keep its strength and can be used as a pin to hold the tag.
Starting with this fall/winter, all men's and women's inner wear will use paper hangers which can be returned to stores via collection boxes placed at cash register or elsewhere in stores (excluding Café&Meal MUJI and IDÉE). Instead of becoming household waste, the collected paper materials will be processed at factories to be reused as paper hangers.
In this way, MUJI, which aims to create a better relationship with nature, will continue to do its best to help recycle the earth's resources and reduce wastes.
| Goal | Key Performance Indicators | FY2021/8 Initiatives | FY2022/8 Initiatives | FY2023/8 Initiatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eliminate plastic in packaging and various materials 100% |
Percentage of packaging and materials for apparel, household goods and food products that do not use plastic
(except when plastic is required for hygiene, quality and safety) |
Apparel: 14.0% Household goods: 13.2% Food products: Switched from plastic bottles to bottle-shaped cans |
Apparel: 74.8% Household goods: 47.0% Food products: Coffee beans, nuts, and other items sold by weight at some stores |
Apparel: 96.8% Household goods: 64.7% Food products: Recycled plastics and biomass plastics used in some packaging |
|
Total weight of plastic reduction (comparative reduction of current versus previous plastic packaging) |
Apparel: 52t Household goods: Under calculation Food products: 213t |
Apparel: 59t Household goods: Under calculation Food products: 251t |
Apparel: 104.8t Household goods: 60.7t (Estimated annual reduction resulting from the launch of refill pouches for skin care products) Food products: 292t |
"Mottainai Market"
There are products that can be used without any problems, but cannot be sold due to slight scratches, stains, colors, or dyeing conditions during the manufacturing and distribution process. If we just throw these items away, we will be wasting valuable resources. Instead of wasting resources through disposal, MUJI has developed the "Mottainai Market" initiative to collect and sell such products.
This initiative started at MUJI GINZA in February 2021 and was held at 25 stores in FY2024.
In July 2022, the "Mottainai Market" page was opened on MUJI's online store, and we started selling new old stocks. In January 2023, we also started selling used products on online store.
Water bottle and water refilling services
As part of our efforts to reduce plastic waste, from Wednesday, July 1, 2020, we began selling "My Bottle for Water" and installed water refill stations in MUJI stores to provide water supply services at stores.
As MUJI is committed to a better relationship with nature, we are doing what we can to help recycle the earth's resources and reduce waste. As part of our efforts in reducing plastic waste, we have installed water refill stations in MUJI stores and has started a complimentary water supply service. Tap water is used for the drinking water available in these water refill stations. If people bring their own bottles, everyone can easily fill up their own drinking water instead of buying new bottled beverages. We have installed water refill stations in our stores to encourage customers to bring their own water bottles to the store and to advocate not just for the environment, but also for their own health.
We are also selling bottles that can be refilled with water repeatedly. In addition to using the water refill stations at MUJI, we aim to make the act of "getting water" a daily habit without the use of new plastic bottles, making it easier for customers to use the watering machine at their homes or offices. In conjunction with this launch, we has also started collecting unnecessary "self-service water bottles" at our stores. We encourage customers to use this product repeatedly, but if they need to replace it with a new bottle or if it got damaged, they can bring it to their local MUJI store. By recycling the collected products into polyester materials, we can reduce plastic waste and effectively utilize petroleum-derived raw materials.
Efforts to reduce the use of paper
MUJI (Shanghai) Company Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Shanghai Office) is promoting an office improvement project where members can volunteer and discuss new ideas, not just for office renovations but also for better working conditions.
In July 2017, we have introduced a printer that can reuse paper by erasing the ink; this came after a suggestion within the project that secondary use of printed paper should be promoted. By considering whether or not a document should really be printed each time, it served as an opportunity to raise awareness of resources among Shanghai Office members.
We believe that by valuing each individual's awareness and seriously considering even the smallest efforts together, we can bring about changes in terms of knowledge and behavior.
Use of Recycled Materials: Cotton, Wool, etc.
We take cutoffs and leftovers from the production process - pieces normally cast off - to spin and reweave into recycled cotton or wool products. We will continue to make clothing and other products using recycled materials in order to reduce waste and promote recycling of resources.
Our Initiative on Reclaimed Wool
Resource Conservation
Scraps are inevitably produced in the process of making wool products from cutting and other processes. Rather than throwing them away, we collect and reuse them as wool again. MUJI is engaged in the recycling of wool based on the the traditional Japanese principle of appreciating resources around us and not be wasteful.
Reclaimed with Care
Reclaiming wool is as laborious and time-consuming as turning sheep's wool into fabric. Collected pieces of wool are carefully pulled back into raw fibres by color then turned into raw material to be used as yarn again. We work with Japanese mills mainly in Bishu Area known for their craftsmanship to produce high quality wool.
Process of Reclaiming Wool
-
1. Separation of raw materials for recycled wool
-
2. Cut it into a cotton shape
-
3. Spinning
-
4. Weaving
-
5. Remove wrinkles from the fabric and adjust the texture and hardness
Initiatives with Governments
We work closely with the government to address social challenges in partnership with local communities. Multiple stores nationwide have initiated a food drive where they gather excess food from households and distribute it to those who require it. Some of our stores located in Kyoto City have joined the "Shimatsu no Kokoro Ordinance," which seeks to reduce waste by 50%. In the future, we plan to continue collaborating with the government to further our waste reduction efforts.
Data on Waste Management
Compliance with the Container and Packaging Recycling Law
As a specified business operator under the Container and Packaging Recycling Law, Ryohin Keikaku endeavors to aid in the establishment of a circular society. This is achieved through yearly determination of the weight of product "containers" and "packaging" sold, and payment of the resulting recycling commission to the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association.
Report on the Recycling of Specified Home Appliances (Japan)
The total number of televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines that Ryohin Keikaku has re-merchandized, etc. in FY2023 (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) in accordance with the Law for the Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances (Home Appliance Recycling Law) has been shown below.
(1) Number of consigned units for recycling specific household equipment waste (by units / weight / %) *horizontal scroll to view full table
| Item | Television (CRT) |
Television (LCD/plasma) |
Refrigerators and freezers | Washing machines and clothes dryers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of products received at designated collection points | 14 units | 34 units | 8,997 units | 7,037 units |
| Number of products recycled | 17 units | 33 units | 9,147 units | 7,025 units |
| Weight of recycled products processed | 366kg | 509kg | 536,310kg | 282,819kg |
| Weight of recycled materials from processed products | 273kg | 441kg | 432,663kg | 266,230kg |
| Recycling rate (weight ratio) | 74% | 86% | 80% | 94% |
(2) Actual results of recycling by types of material (reported in accordance with Article 47, item 1 of the Enforcement Regulations)
The total weight of relevant parts and materials if they are made transferable for a fee or free of charge to those who will use them as parts or materials for products.
*horizontal scroll to view full table
| Name of parts and materials | Television (CRT) |
Television (LCD/plasma) |
Refrigerators and freezers | Washing machines and clothes dryers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 44kg | 220kg | 200,797kg | 124,181kg |
| Copper | 6kg | 5kg | 9,008kg | 5,237kg |
| Aluminum | 0kg | 17kg | 5,255kg | 6,403kg |
| Mixtures of non-ferrous and ferrous substances | 10kg | 18kg | 68,158kg | 24,429kg |
| CRT glass | 127kg | - | - | - |
| Other valuable materials | 86kg | 181kg | 149,445kg | 105,980kg |
| Total weight | 273kg | 441kg | 432,663kg | 266,230kg |