Zero-waste certification for fashion brands to fight textile waste

STRIPE International Inc. (hereinafter STRIPE) is a mother company of multiple popular fashion brands in Japan. It is a Japanese SPA (specialty retailer of private label apparel), a company which designs, manufactures and sells its products. (Major fast fashion brands such as ZARA and H&M are examples of globally known SPAs.)

STRIPE announced it obtained ‘Zero waste certification’, an accreditation given to businesses aspiring to achieve zero-waste, in October this year. The company was evaluated for its “zero-waste workplace challenge” in which workers visualized and sorted their waste thoroughly at workplaces; also making effort to reduce waste by replacing disposable paper cups with reusable tumblers. STRIPE had announced earlier this year it will work on human rights due diligence and avoid the use of animal fur and skin for their products to achieve SDGs. The zero-waste workplace challenge was part of its attempt to tackle these goals.

The certification is accredited by Zero Waste Academy, a nonprofit organization in Japan based in Tokushima prefecture. The organization examines the action plan applicants across the country hand in and confirms their exercise on-site, then gives accreditation to those who have achieved a certain standard. There are certifications for nine various aspects. Following are the certifications and their evaluation criteria.

1. LESS BOX: reducing waste by keeping packages simple, using reusable boxes for delivery.
2. CHOICE: cut back on complimentary items for customers that are single-use only or making effort to reduce them.
3. SYSTEM: curtail waste by using replacements of paper and other equipment in daily work.
4. ZW WORKER: business and workers understand the value of zero-waste and are making concrete effort to reduce waste.
5. DESIGN: using unutilized, repairable or recyclable resources at stores that would otherwise be thrown away.
6. SELECT: selling upcycled products or merchandise made from recycled material.
7. REPAIR: offers repairs and maintenance service for sold goods.
8. TRACEABLE: creating a workable system to avoid discarding products.
9. ACT WITH YOU: offering scheme for customers to learn and participate in zero-waste strategies.

STRIPE was approved four certifications. LESS BOX, CHOICE, ZW WORKER and REPAIR. ‘earth, music&ecology’, one of STRIPE’s brand that is popular among young women, achieved SELECT and ACT WITH YOU independently. ‘koe’, ‘E hyphen world gallery’ and ‘Green Parks’, fashion brands also produced by STRIPE, were approved of SELECT certification.

Accreditation will visualize and encourage consumers to choose products that are social good, eco-friendly and sustainable. Since STRIPE produces multiple fashion brands that are widely chosen by many consumers, this effort will influence a great number of people on what products to choose and how to make use of them instead of discarding the textiles after use. Businesses will credit from this scheme too, for it clearly shows what effort each business are making to tackle environmental issues and shows their contribution towards creating a sustainable consumption and production scheme.