Mitsui Chemicals and Itochu Enex Begin Demonstration Experiment to Recycle Waste Clothing

Tanseisha and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo City, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Ofcer: Hashimoto Osamu; hereinafter referred to as "Mitsui Chemicals") have begun a demonstration experiment (hereinafter referred to as "the Demonstration Experiment") aimed at establishing a continuous process to transform discarded clothing into new products and reuse them in facilities and other locations, with the aim of realizing a circular economy.

Social background of this demonstration

It is said that approximately 508,000 tons of clothing is thrown away each year in Japan. CO2 emissions related to clothing amount to approximately 90 million tons (from raw material procurement to manufacturing, 25.5 kg per item). Water usage is also approximately 8.3 billion m3 (from raw material procurement to manufacturing, 2,300 L per item), and clothing places a significant burden on the environment. (*1)

While involved in creating spaces, Tanseisha has witnessed the current situation where many businesses are searching for solutions to these social issues. Therefore, by reconsidering discarded clothing in the apparel industry as a "useful resource," we aimed to build a system to give it new value, regenerate it, and circulate it back into society, which led to this demonstration project.
Through the technological developments it has undertaken to date, Mitsui Chemicals has acquired the know-how to compound materials with vastly different properties. It has also built collaborative relationships with companies that have been early adopters of resin compounds made from waste biomass materials, as well as with molding manufacturers, and has sought ways to make effective use of biomass materials while putting the circular economy into practice.

*1: Excerpt from the Ministry of the Environment's "Sustainable Fashion (2020)"

Demonstration Project

In this demonstration, clothing that was scheduled to be discarded will be cut, pulverized, and pelletized, and then returned to the raw materials for molding, upcycling them into hangers, torsos, trays, etc. These will be trial-introduced on April 21st in "LaLaport CLOSET" (LaLaport Closet/Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport TOKYO-BAY North Building 1F, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture), a store operated by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo City, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Ofcer: Shun Ueda; hereinafter "Mitsui Fudosan"), and the sustainability of this demonstration will then be evaluated.
Through verification of issues identified during the evaluation, the company aims to create a series of processes that will give new value to discarded clothing, including unsold clothing from tenant stores within the facility, and reuse it in the facility. Furthermore, going forward, the company will work on developing construction and interior materials for use in facilities and other facilities, as well as expanding into plastic products with various uses, and promoting their use.
Tanseisha and Mitsui Chemicals will continue to utilize their respective knowledge and know-how to work together to find solutions to the challenges facing the realization of a sustainable society.

*2 Upcycling: Adding value to items that would otherwise be discarded and giving them new life as new products.

News Release

Tanseisha and Mitsui Chemicals begin demonstration experiment aimed at recycling discarded clothing
~ Trial introduction of recycled hangers and other items to implementation facilities to realize a circular economy ~

Roles of each company in this demonstration project

Demonstration experiment participating stores

Store name: LaLaport CLOSET
Location: Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport TOKYO-BAY North Building 1F (2-1-1 Hamamachi, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture)
Demonstration content: Utilizing hangers and torsos in stores

This demonstration partner company