Promoting sustainable shopping with RUKAMO’s unsold inventory

Unsold inventory is a global issue prevalent across the globe and Japan is no exception. Every year, its fashion industry produces 2.8 billion articles of clothing, half of which are not sold and subsequently disposed of.

Similarly, in recent years, the food industry saw an estimate of 6.43 million tons of excess stock thrown out as trash. These alarming figures indicate that resources are managed ineffectively in many industries and this could lead to irrecoverable damage to the environment.

Cushioning the impact of unsold inventory is RUKAMO, an e-commerce website by Hamee Corporation. It prides itself as an ethical solution to the problem of unsold inventory.

This online shop provides manufacturers and retailers a platform to put their sleeping stock up for sale. Their consumers also gains access to purchase these products at a high reward rate of 50 percent. Consumers can find over 3,000 participating brands at RUKAMO.

RUKAMO’s objectives are also relevant to goal 12 of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) by the United Nations. Goal 12 points out the importance of responsible consumption and production. It reinforces how economic growth and sustainable development cannot be achieved without reducing mankind’s ecological footprint.

It also highlights that effective management of shared resources is vital. A large disparity still exists between populations in different parts of the world. Many are unable to meet their basic needs.

This platform is more than just a marketplace for surplus goods. The nature of its structure promotes sustainable shopping habits. By selling excess stock, it encourages consumers to make a conscious decision to buy products that have already been made and use it to its fullest lifespan, as opposed to purchasing a freshly manufactured product.

Over time, this doesn’t only translate to an overall reduction in waste. It also increases people’s awareness of sustainable living and environmental issues, ultimately building an environmentally conscious society.