Toyota Tsusho : becomes the first company in Japan to adopt uniforms made using Fairtrade cotton-Toyota Tsusho and TB Unifashion acquire International Fairtrade Certification for cotton-

Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota Tsusho) and TB Unifashion Corporation (TB Unifashion), one of its Group companies, hereby announce that they acquired International Fairtrade Certification for cotton via Fairtrade Label Japan in January 2018. International Fairtrade Certification is issued by Fairtrade International.

'Fairtrade' is a trade system that aims to improve the lives of producers and laborers in developing countries and help them become independent through the sustainable purchase of raw materials and products at reasonable prices. In recent years, Fairtrade has attracted attention for its contributions to the realization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals*. Recognition of the importance of sustainability is starting to penetrate the textile and fashion industries, and domestic markets for Fairtrade products are growing on a yearly basis.

Fairtrade cotton products are cotton products that have been approved by Fairtrade International, and they are required to have certification for every step of the manufacture and sales process, including production, spinning, weaving and dying. For this reason, only a limited number of Fairtrade cotton products have thus far been supplied in Japan.

The Toyota Tsusho Group seeks to create value and contribute to the formation of a prosperous society and, to this end, it is engaged in strengthening the procurement and consumption of sustainable materials in its apparel business. The entire Group promotes the acquisition of certifications that will enable it to handle Fairtrade cotton.

With the acquisition of Fairtrade certification by Toyota Tsusho and TB Unifashion, the Toyota Tsusho Group now has a uniform supply system that uses Fairtrade cotton in every aspect of its upstream and downstream processes. Going forwards, the Group intends to supply administrative and corporate uniforms that utilize Fairtrade cotton and, as part of this initiative, the Toyota Tsusho Group's corporate uniform jumpers will gradually begin to use Fairtrade cotton; this will mark the first time in Japan that a corporate uniform has used Fairtrade cotton.

The Toyota Tsusho Group is also beginning to acquire Fairtrade certification in Vietnam and at its other overseas bases. This will enable the Group to strengthen its supply system and, in the future, contribute to the increased distribution of Fairtrade cotton in general consumer markets.

The Toyota Tsusho Group intends to unite and actively engage in promoting Fairtrade products which, as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, will continue to grow in importance.