Solution case studies

Promoting up-cycling with the two wings
of the power of manufacturing and the legacy of materials.

Background

Background to the solution

Environmental Challenges Facing the Apparel Business

A study by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has identified the apparel business as the “second most polluting industry in the world.” A framework must be created so that manufacturers, producers, and consumers can work together to reduce the environmental impact of their products.

Our Solution

Solution proposed by Toray International

Commercialization of innovative upcycled products

Toray was the first in the world to develop “Nylon 6” in 1941. Of that inventory, those that had accumulated in the backlog were utilized as “upcycled Nylon 6.” Unlike recycling, which returns products to their raw materials, “upcycling” adds new value to materials, transforming them into products that are both symbolic and familiar. Toray International is able to undertake this business because it has a production line for apparel products and a close relationship with Toray Industries, Inc.

Interview

Joined the Apparel Department Ⅱ,
Business Development Section in 2001

World's No. 1 in waste volume. Making Japanese umbrellas a symbol of upcycling.

The worldwide shift to a circular economy. It is estimated that the market size will reach $4.5 trillion USD by 2030(*1). Toray Group is also embarking on various challenges as part of this movement, which is not only a new growth market but also directly linked to the improvement of sustainability. One of the results of our efforts is our creation of “TSUTSU the Umbrella 621.” We gave form to the concept of upcycling, which is beginning to spread in Japan, by promoting “the world's best umbrella product.” Japan is said to have the world's largest quantity of discarded umbrellas (*2). It is estimated that more than 80 million umbrellas are consumed every year. We want to take the umbrella, which has become a symbol of mass production and mass consumption, and give it a new life as something that is “lovable, unbreakable, and can be used over and over again.” “TSUTSU the Umbrella 621” is our contribution to that end.

*1 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, September 2023, “Current Status and Issues of Resource Recycling Economy Policy”
*2 Japan Umbrella Promotion Council, “Umbrella Import Trends by Year, Trade Statistics of Ministry of Finance”

Building a platform for the upcycling business through the release of the final product.

“TSUTSU the Umbrella 621” carries the legacy of the Toray Group and its hopes for the future. We chose “Nylon 6” for the base fabric. Nylon 6 is a typical synthetic fiber material that Toray succeeded in developing in 1941, ahead of the rest of the world. Fabric losses inevitably occur through the production, development, and distribution of apparel products. Toray Group's proprietary durable water-repellent treatment was applied to these materials to create the umbrella fabric. The ribs, shafts, and other components were made of carbon fiber, which Toray began selling in 1971 and which is light, strong, and rust-resistant. Having envisioned the usage scenarios, we have thoroughly focused on functionality and design. I and other members of the project team are involved in the entire process, starting from such planning and development, through quality assurance, promotion, and sales. The goal was not to release a product, but to create a platform for Toray's “upcycling business” and have it recognized by the world.

Further solutions originating from the Sustainability Vision.

“TSUTSU the Umbrella 621” was just one beginning. Our mission is to create a series of solutions that contribute to waste reduction through the platform established by its commercialization. Having set forth its Sustainability Vision, the Toray Group has identified the “supply of sustainable innovation products” as one of its key themes. This solution matched that theme, and we were able to promote it with support from various parts of the Toray Group. We were also able to reaffirm the dependability of our group members, who have a strong awareness of the issues and a supportive mindset toward their peers, and the underlying strength of our staff, who are able to cover a wide range of trade and legal procedures and complete a huge amount of work within deadlines. By combining Toray International’s strengths, we can create more solutions to contribute to the world. That is what I believe.

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