CASE STUDY #1

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

FASM 400 | CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN FASHION MERCHANDISING ALINA SRICHINDA | SYD ULDRICK
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UNIQLO
BUSINESS
UNIQLO is a Japanese private-label brand dedicated to creating classic and
comfortable clothing for trendy young urban professionals. They are an
international and omni-channel brand that provides affordable quality clothing
with the use of innovative textiles and concepts. UNIQLO's evolving garments,
called Lifewear, are intricately designed to improve the lives of their
consumers. Making simple apparel with a not-so-simple purpose.

MISSION
“To continuously provide fashionable, high quality, basic casual
wear at the lowest prices in the market - casual wear that anybody
can wear whenever and wherever.”
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UNIQLO
SOCIAL COMPLIANCE
UNIQLO's social compliance is illustrated on their website as well as reported
in more detail by their operator Fast Retailing's website. This company, which
has been working towards sustainability for two decades, has recently
nominated Doraemon as green ambassador as they kick off new efforts to
protect the Earth and reduce their footprint. UNIQLO's magazines, LifeWear
and UT, document how their clothing is creating a better world.

VALUES
"Unlocking the Power of Clothing"
"Aiming for harmony, the sustainable stewardship of natural resources and
responsible development of human potential, we focus on planet, society and
people. We believe that our clothing has the power to change the world for the
better."
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Accountability & Progress

40% 85%
Although the Fashion Transparency Index Reported decreasing
information of UNIQLO's efforts and production, this year, UNIQLO
has released a more in-depth report that includes their initiatives and
better transparency within their company's operation including all
suppliers and factories. FTI CSR/ESG
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Accountability & Progress

ACCOUNTABILITY
Ning Pan is the Fast Retailing CEO of Uniqlo committed to CSR goals.
This Fast Retailing team is responsible for campaigns such as
RE:UNIQLO, UNIQLO X CHARITY, and UN Women Global Partnership.
Fast Retailing publishes yearly Sustainability Reports which outline
the goals for UNIQLO in it's relationship to people, society, and the
planet.

LEADERSHIP
Through the Fast Retailing website you are able to see all the leaders
in CSR and their statements on UNIQLO's responsible future and past
efforts. A lot of updated and detailed information is provided as well,
showing news about how UNIQLO is living up to it's mission and
values.
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KUYICHI COMPETITIVE PRACTICES

PEOPLE GOTS certified

5/5 While there are many other cotton

certificates, GOTS has the most strict
standards. Not only do the abide by
OCS percentages they also have
regulations regarding water treatment,
PLANET chemical use and labour rights.

5/5 Transparency Pledge

This pledge dedicates apparel brands to
ANIMALS more transparency within their supply

4/5
chain. Pledged Brands must provide
detailed information of all
Sustainable clothing, ethically made for all the manufacturers to ensure human rights
change-makers out there due dilligence.
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MATE THE LABEL COMPETITIVE PRACTICES

PEOPLE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

4/5 MATE is constantly reviewing and updating

their policies for recruiting, hiring, and
onboarding. This year they have focused
their efforts on donations, employee
training, and reimbursements to ensure an
PLANET inclusive environment and accountability

5/5
for actions.

Non-Toxic Materials
Mate is very transparent about all
materials used in every garment produced
ANIMALS by them. They understand there are

5/5
thousands of chemicals used in apparel
that could be hazardous to our health and
Clean Essentials that are easy on your skin and the the conditions of farmers. They ensure all
environment fabric is natural and non-toxic.
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Assessment
GOOD ON YOU OUR REVIEW 60%
ANIMAL WELFARE
"It's A Start" 3/5 ACHIEVEMENTS
Canopy Style
UN Women
Responsible Down Standard
LABOR CONDITIONS
2/5
Blue Cycle
Clothes for Smiles
"Not Good Enough"

SHORTCOMINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
3/5
Although UNIQLO seems to be very aware
environmentally and socially with the targets they
"It's A Start"
are presenting, they lack numerical goals and fail
to disclose progress on these targets
OUR RATING
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Practices Performance
SCM
Reduce Greeenhouse gasses and Zero emissions They reduced some greenhouse gasses by switching to LED lights
of hazardous chemicals by 2020 but there is little updated progress on supply chain emissions

UNIQLO is known for their innovative textiles, some that replace

PRODUCTS
They design with a minimalist conept in mind and use
animal based textile but there is no public documentation of all
FSC alternative packaging for their products
their materials and fabric

MARKETING Doraemon was named sustainability ambassador in

their new campiagn "The Power of Clothing"
Although they have new sustainable projects like BlueCycle there
is no report in efforts for sustainbability as an overall brand

They claim to focus on strengthening communities and Through their initiative "Clothing Support" they donated
COMMUNITY creating partnerships to bring value to the lives of others returned clothing to those in need, but it seems their efforts are
on the smaller scale for such a large brand

EMPLOYEES They employ refugees, LGBTQ and people with disabilities

and promise high quality work from their employees
They have been accused of large scale labour-rights violations
and have no commitment to monitor code of conduct

They have been making efforts to add more sustainable products

PLANET Through technology and innovation UNIQLO
hopes to move towards a more sustainable society
to their collection, but their initiatives dont really improve their
current production standards
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Recommendations
Direct Transparency
Although operator Fast Retailing provides some overall information on
their manufacturing and sustainability procedures, UNIQLO has little to no
data on their own website. While their apparel website is cluttered with
"feel-good" articles, none give concrete evidence of improvement in their
goals.

Fair Labor Association

While there is information on labor quality there is no direct information
on the conditions of the factories or workers. It would be beneficial for
UNIQLO to join the Fair Labor Association. This will not only ensure safe
working conditions and fair wages but improve the lives of their
employees through worker empowerment initiatives.
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Recommendations
Inclusivity Programs
UNIQLO boasts of it efforts to hire people with disabilities and provide their
LGBTQ employees with leave benefits, but that should be the minimum
required for any company. UNIQLO needs to start conducting awareness
initiatives as well as focus efforts in contributing to these minority groups.
These groups should feel valued by the company, not just highlight stories
to give the impression of inclusivity.

Circular Fashion Practices

In order to progress towards a Circular Fashion Economy, it is important
for consumers to have information on what their garment is made from
for proper after-life use/disposal. UNIQLO can start by providing a
fabric portfolio on their website and better return methods. This could
easily promote their innovative textiles and advance their efforts in
their new RE UNIQLO program which has no published plan for real-life
procedure.
 SOURCES
“ABOUT UNIQLO - UNIQLO.” Google Sites, sites.google.com/site/r490uniqlosite/home/about-us.
“About.” MATE the Label, matethelabel.com/pages/about.

“CSR Information for Fast Retailing Co, Ltd.” CSRHub, www.csrhub.com/CSR_and_sustainability_information/Fast-Retailing-Co-Ltd.

Fashion Revolution, 2020, pp. 1–70, 2020 Fashion Transparency Index.

Fast Retaililing, 2010, Our Responsibility to the Environment, www.fastretailing.com/eng/sustainability/report/pdf/csr2011_e_14.pdf.

“How Ethical Is Uniqlo?” Good On You, 25 Mar. 2021, goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-

uniqlo/#:~:text=Uniqlo%27s%20labour%20rating%20is%20%27Not,list%20all%20of%20its%20suppliers.

LilyLily Rosen Marvin studies English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa. When she’s not writing about sustainable fashion. “How Sustainable Is Uniqlo?”
Eco, 21 Nov. 2020, www.eco-stylist.com/how-sustainable-is-uniqlo/.

“News & Updates.” About the Disclosure of GU Core Partner Factory List | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD.,
www.fastretailing.com/eng/sustainability/news/1712151300.html.

│
“THE POWER OF CLOTHING / UNIQLO Sustainability.” PLANET Unlocking The Power of Clothing. UNIQLO Sustainability,
www.uniqlo.com/en/sustainability/planet/.

“The Reality behind UNIQLO's Corporate Social Responsibility Promises.” War on Want, waronwant.org/news-analysis/reality-behind-uniqlos-corporate-social-
responsibility-promises.

“Supply Chain Disclosure.” Transparency Pledge, 2021, transparencypledge.org/.

“UNIQLO MASTERPIECE.” UNIQLO Masterpiece | UNIQLO US, www.uniqlo.com/us/en/page/masterpiece.html.

“Uniqlo.” Index.impakter, 15 Mar. 2021,

index.impakter.com/uniqlo/#:~:text=UNIQLO%20stores%20employed%20105%20refugees,as%20of%20August%2031%2C%202019.

Zoe. “Certifications: Why GOTS Is the Organic Champion: Kuyichi Pure Goods.” Kuyichi, 2 Dec. 2019, blog.kuyichi.com/2019/02/19/cotton-certifications/.