Matsuyama Plant: Rebirth of Teijin Fiber's Uniforms - September 2006

Matsuyama Plant: Rebirth of Teijin Fiber's Uniforms - September 2006

In the mid-2000s, the idea of a "recycling-oriented society" was beginning to spread throughout Japanese society, and based on the Basic Law for Establishing a Recycling-Oriented Society enacted in 1999, waste reduction and resource recycling became strongly recommended as part of corporate activities, whether in the manufacturing or financial sector. In particular, 2006 was a time when domestic measures to achieve the Kyoto Protocol targets were in full swing, and many companies were beginning to implement environmentally friendly initiatives in the name of "CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

Against this backdrop, Teijin Fibers' uniform recycling business attracted attention. Teijin Fibers was an Osaka-based synthetic fiber manufacturer with advanced recycling technology for polyester fibers. Utilizing this technology, the company collected approximately 50,000 old uniforms from the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. The company then used this advanced technology to collect approximately 50,000 old uniforms from the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and disassemble and recycle them at its Matsuyama Plant in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, to be used again as raw materials for polyester.

This project was groundbreaking not only in terms of mere recycling, but also in terms of collaboration among companies, traceability, and the creation of a recycling-oriented supply chain. The concept of considering waste as a "resource" was the very practice of sustainability management that was required at the time, and it was also significant in terms of its contribution to the local economy.

The role of the Matsuyama Plant was particularly important, attracting attention in terms of creating local employment and accumulating technology. This model of integrating local infrastructure and advanced technology set a precedent for subsequent recycling projects in other industries.

This case is still highly regarded as a concrete example of the challenge of realizing a recycling-oriented society through cooperation between companies and businesses, and between cities and regions. Behind the scenes of the recycling project, the wisdom and efforts of companies trying to respond to the demands of the times were packed.