The Toyota Tsusho Group becomes the first company in Japan to adopt uniforms made using Fairtrade cotton
-Toyota Tsusho and TB Unifashion acquire International Fairtrade Certification for cotton-

  • Food & Consumer Services

2018-01-31

Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota Tsusho) and TB Unifashion Corporation (TB Unifashion), one of its Group companies, hereby announce that they acquired International Fairtrade Certification for cotton via Fairtrade Label Japan in January 2018. International Fairtrade Certification is issued by Fairtrade International.

"Fairtrade" is a trade system that aims to improve the lives of producers and laborers in developing countries and help them become independent through the sustainable purchase of raw materials and products at reasonable prices. In recent years, Fairtrade has attracted attention for its contributions to the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Recognition of the importance of sustainability is starting to penetrate the textile and fashion industries, and domestic markets for Fairtrade products are growing on a yearly basis.

Fairtrade cotton products are cotton products that have been approved by Fairtrade International, and they are required to have certification for every step of the manufacture and sales process, including production, spinning, weaving and dying. For this reason, only a limited number of Fairtrade cotton products have thus far been supplied in Japan.

The Toyota Tsusho Group seeks to create value and contribute to the formation of a prosperous society and, to this end, it is engaged in strengthening the procurement and consumption of sustainable materials in its apparel business. The entire Group promotes the acquisition of certifications that will enable it to handle Fairtrade cotton.

<The Toyota Tsusho Group: a history of Fairtrade certification>

2013
Toyo Cotton (Japan) Co., which is responsible for procuring raw cotton, acquires Fairtrade certification for "Importing"
2014
Toyota Tsusho Fashion Express Ltd. (TFE), which is responsible for OEM textile products, acquires Fairtrade certification for "Selling"
2017
・TFE acquires Fairtrade certification for "Domestic manufacturing" Shinatomo Co., Ltd. ( Shinatomo), which is responsible for procuring yarn and cloth, acquires
・Fairtrade certification for "Manufacturing and selling"
2018
・Toyota Tsusho, which is responsible for coordinating trade, acquires Fairtrade certification for "Manufacturing and wholesale"
・TB Unifashion, which is responsible for planning, manufacturing and selling uniforms, acquires Fairtrade certification for "Selling"


With the acquisition of Fairtrade certification by Toyota Tsusho and TB Unifashion, the Toyota Tsusho Group now has a uniform supply system that uses Fairtrade cotton in every aspect of its upstream and downstream processes. Going forwards, the Group intends to supply administrative and corporate uniforms that utilize Fairtrade cotton and, as part of this initiative, the Toyota Tsusho Group's corporate uniform jumpers will gradually begin to use Fairtrade cotton; this will mark the first time in Japan that a corporate uniform has used Fairtrade cotton.

The Toyota Tsusho Group is also beginning to acquire Fairtrade certification in Vietnam and at its other overseas bases. This will enable the Group to strengthen its supply system and, in the future, contribute to the increased distribution of Fairtrade cotton in general consumer markets.

The Toyota Tsusho Group intends to unite and actively engage in promoting Fairtrade products which, as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, will continue to grow in importance.

Reference

Outline of Toyota Tsusho Fashion Express Ltd.

Company name
Toyota Tsusho Fashion Express Ltd.
Home base
6-27-8, Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Capital
¥84 million
Shareholder ratio
100% subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corp.
Established
1973
Representative
Takeshi Matsushita
Business overview
Planning, manufacturing, and sales of various apparel and fashion goods. Brand character licensing.


Outline of Toyo Cotton(Japan)Co.

Company name
Toyo Cotton(Japan)Co.
Home base
Cotton Nissei Bldg, 1-8-2, Utsubohonmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka
Capital
¥490 million
Shareholder ratio
100% subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corp.
Established
1920
Representative
Mitsuo Okada
Business overview
The sale of raw cotton from around the world to Japanese and overseas spinning industries


Outline of TB Unifashion Corporation

Company name
TB Unifashion Corporation
Home base
1-20, Jokamachi, Minami-ku, Nagoya
Capital
¥50 million
Shareholder ratio
Toyota Tsusho Corp 35% , Toyota Boshoku Corp  50%, Iijima Industry Co., Ltd 15%
Established
2008
Representative
Mitsuru Sugiura
Business overview
The planning, manufacture and sale of uniforms and other textile products; the handling of related products; the collection and sale of used uniforms and other textile products


Outline of Shinatomo CO., Ltd.

Company name
Shinatomo CO., Ltd.
Home base
Central Bldg., 2-11-30 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Capital
¥300 million
Shareholder ratio
Toyota Tsusho Corp 20% , the others
Established
1917
Representative
Mitsuo Kato
Business overview
Textile trading company,engaged in both domestic sales and the export/import of various textile materials and products such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and synthetic fibers.

The information in this release is current as of the date of announcement.
Please note that information may change after the date of announcement. Thank you in advance for your understanding.