Achieving recycling-oriented manufacturing! Introducing the "Refine" towel

Sales will begin in mid-November 2023 at stores and the UCHINO Online Shop.

Uchino Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo / CEO: Uchino Nobuyuki), which proposes a healthy and comfortable lifestyle from bath time to good night's sleep, is pleased to announce the release of "Refine," a towel made from recycled cotton yarn spun from collected towels, as part of its efforts to achieve Goal 12 of the SDGs, "Responsible Consumption and Production."

The "towel collection activity" started in October 2021 as an effort to utilize and recycle limited natural resources. The first phase was carried out as a trial that also served as market research, from October 10 to November 1, 2021, at three stores in the Kanto region. The second phase began the following year on February 10, 15, at stores in department stores nationwide, and is still ongoing. When the activity first began, it was carried out for a limited period of time, but now collection boxes are permanently installed in 11 stores nationwide, and the collected towels are used for "reuse" and "recycle". The circle of interest, concern, and sympathy for the activity has expanded, and in some cases customers have contacted stores directly about towel collection, and an increasing number of customers are bringing towels because they feel it is a waste to throw them away and hope that someone or something can use them. In recent years, awareness of the SDGs has spread rapidly, and there is a sense of increased awareness of environmental consideration and the 30Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).

[Towel collection results]

Period: February 2022 to the end of September 2
Number of pieces: Approximately 9,500
Method: Collection boxes will be set up in stores and within the company
Target items: New and used (washed) towels made by our company and other companies

<Reuse Activities> We deliver towels to welfare facilities and organizations in need.

In collaboration with Mottainai Japan, the company currently delivers mainly to welfare facilities, orphanages, and children's cafeterias across the country.
What is Mottainai Japan?
Non-profit organization Mottainai Japan (https://mottainai-japan.com/）
Based on the spirit of "Mottainai," we widely collect edible food that would otherwise be thrown away, as well as usable daily necessities, and donate them to welfare organizations and governments both in Japan and overseas that need them. By spreading the "Mottainai spirit," we hope to contribute to the realization of a bright, healthy, and smiling society.

<Recycling Activities> The circular towel "Refine" is born!

This towel is woven using recycled cotton yarn spun from collected towels for the weft and organic cotton for the pile. The unique, patented long pile structure means that the pile yarn is less likely to come loose than regular towels, making it more durable.

Organic Cotton Towel Refine　
Bath towel (approx. 70 x 140 cm) / 6,600 yen
Small bath towel (approx. 50 x 100 cm) / 4,180 yen
Face towel (approx. 34×85cm)/2,420 yen
Available colors: beige, light blue, dark green
*Available from mid-November