If you are flying Japan Airlines (JAL) until August 2024 you need not carry a suitcase full of clothes! This is because JAL and Sumitomo Corporation have launched a trial of "Any Wear, Anywhere" clothing sharing service for foreign tourists and business travellers to the country, in a bid to promote circular economy.
- The JAL-operated flights will measure the environmental value of using the service.
- All clothing items available for rent will be obtained from excess stock of apparel and pre-owned clothing, thereby promoting the concept of a circular economy.
- JAL will monitor changes in passengers' checked-in baggage weight and verify the reduction effect of carbondioxide emissions by reduced airplane weight due to use of the service.
- Sumitomo Corporation will be responsible for developing the reservation system as well as for the procurement, laundering, and delivery of clothes.
- Starting with this trial, both companies will continue to explore joint efforts that meet customer needs and generate environmental value.
WHY ANY WEAR, ANYWHERE: The concept of the service is to provide a travel experience with minimal luggage by offering clothing rentals at the destination, thereby creating environmental value.
- By expanding the use of the service, the aim is to create an environment where travellers can use local options for all aspects of their clothing, food, and accommodation, transforming travel and business trips into more sustainable experiences.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS: Wefabrik Inc, started in 2005 by former textile trader employee Fukuya, who wanted to make fashion more enjoyable and sustainable by confronting the massive waste that is causing serious environmental problems around the world, operates an online apparel matching platform called "SMASELL."
- For this trial, Wefabrik will work to procure clothes available for the rentals.
- The Wefabrik mission is to solve the problem of "fashion loss," in which a global total of more than 20 billion garments are thrown away each year.
Hakuyosha introduced Japan's first independently developed dry cleaning service in 1906.
- It will be responsible for the laundering and cleaning of clothes available for rental through the ‘Any Wear, Anywhere service.
- Hakuyosha won the "Sustainability Grand Prize" at the Global Best Practices Awards held in Milan in 2018 in recognition of its commitment to providing high-quality services while also considering the environment, with steps such as conducting independent wastewater analysis at its research institute, the Laundry Science Laboratory, and promoting the use of solvents with low environmental impact.
