Raw Material Procurement

The Ryohin Keikaku Group has used organic cotton since 1999. From 2023, we have set a goal of sourcing 100% socially and environmentally responsible cotton and are working to ensure the stable procurement of sustainable cotton by adding more options, not limited to organic cotton.
Cotton that the Ryohin Keikaku Group evaluates as socially and environmentally responsible includes organic cotton, ¹sustainably grown cotton,²and recycled cotton.³

Kapok is a plant-based fiber derived from the seed pods of the kapok tree. Before petroleum-based synthetic fibers such as polyester became widely used, kapok was commonly utilized as filling material for items like pillows, stuffed toys and life jackets. Its main production regions include Indonesia, Thailand and India. Kapok trees require minimal pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation. As they grow into large trees over a lifespan of more than 70 years, they continue to absorb significant amounts of CO₂. Since harvesting the seed pods does not require cutting down the tree, kapok is gaining attention as a material with exceptionally low environmental impact.

Linen is made from flax, a plant with low environmental impact as it can be cultivated using only small amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and water. In addition to its fibers, the entire flax plant can be used effectively without waste, from its seeds as linseed oil to its stems and roots as building and agricultural materials. Other benefits include its rapid growth and efficient absorption of CO2.

Hemp is said to be the world’s oldest cultivated crop, and its fibers have been used in Japan since ancient times for clothes, religious ropes and straps for sandals. Its seeds are said to be the easiest protein to digest and have been used for food and cosmetic oil. Hemp stems are used for construction materials and automobile interior parts.

Jute has long been used for grain sacks, rugs and other items that make use of its high durability.
Cultivated mainly in hot, humid wetlands in the tropics and subtropics that are unsuitable for agriculture, jute grows rapidly and absorbs CO2 efficiently. It can also be considered as having a low environmental impact since it can be cultivated using very little fertilizer and water and requires almost no pesticides due to its resistance to pests and diseases.

Ramie is a perennial plant (choma) that is fast-growing and can be harvested multiple times a year. The fibers derived from its stalk bark are generally processed using strong acids or alkalis during the production process.
The Ryohin Keikaku Group seeks to source ramie from suppliers that minimize the solvents used in the production process to the extent possible, and that practice wastewater management in accordance with the environmental laws and regulations where the manufacturing plant is located.

The Ryohin Keikaku Group sources only feathers that have been rigorously screened and certified1 by third-party organizations to ensure that the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare2 are respected in the breeding environment, and that the birds have not been force-fed or live plucked. We will continue to implement this policy.
In addition, we are shifting to the use of recycled down, and our goal for FY2030/8 is to source all of the recycled down we use from down that is certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), or an equivalent certification.

The Ryohin Keikaku Group sources wool for apparel and household goods from farms that practice animal welfare, as well as recycled wool.
There are various methods of raising sheep depending on the region, but we source only non-mulesed wool for our products. Non-mulesed wool refers to wool from sheep that have not undergone mulesing, which is a special technique involving the removal of skin and flesh to prevent maggot infestation. This method is commonly used for sheep raised in particularly hot climates. When sourcing wool, we ensure that it comes from farms that do not practice mulesing.

Andes wool is thick and bulky because it comes from sheep raised in a harsh, dry natural environment with temperature extremes. In the highlands of the Andes mountains, where altitudes exceed 3,800 meters, there are none of the flies that necessitate the practice of mulesing—the surgical removal of skin from the sheep’s rump.
However, in Peru, one of the production areas, importing and using Merino wool has become more common in recent years, and the use of Andes wool has declined to the point where it is almost no longer used.
Ryohin Keikaku is seeking to contribute to the industry in production areas by utilizing Andes wool in some of its knit products.

Cashmere is made from the undercoats of Kashmir goats. These goats are raised in highlands where winter temperatures fall as low as minus 30°C, and they grow a soft undercoat beneath the outer layer of hair to protect them from the bitter cold. This undercoat wool is combed out before summer when the goats start to naturally shed it.

Yak wool is from the undercoat of the yak, an animal raised on the Tibetan plateau at an altitude of 3,800 meters, where winter temperatures drop as low as 20°C. To protect themselves from the bitter cold, the yaks grow a soft, insulating undercoat beneath their outer hair. This undercoat wool is combed out before summer when the yaks start to naturally shed it.
The Ryohin Keikaku Group has formulated a procurement policy for suppliers that stipulates animal welfare and proper management of grazing land, and sources yak wool from suppliers that agree to abide by this policy. Moreover, our employees regularly visit suppliers and pastures to confirm compliance.

For the leather used in its products, the Ryohin Keikaku Group procures only leather from livestock raised for meat. The Group aims to source all leather used in its products from suppliers that practice environmentally responsible production by FY2030/8. We define suppliers that practice environmentally responsible production as those who are certified* by a third party as properly implementing environmental measures such as chemical substance management, wastewater management and energy consumption in the leather production process.

Silk is a plant-based fiber taken from the cocoon of the silkworm. Since it contains the same amino acids necessary to make human hair and skin, it is highly compatible with the skin, and has properties not found in cotton, hemp and other plant-based fibers.
In accordance with the Ryohin Keikaku Group Animal Welfare Council, the Ryohin Keikaku Group aims to procure silk that does not take the life of the silkworm.

Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fiber primarily made from wood. The Ryohin Keikaku Group aims to continue sourcing all lyocell used in its products from suppliers that use wood proven not to involve deforestation and forest degradation, and that actively work to reduce environmental impact through proper management of chemicals and wastewater during the manufacturing process.

Rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber primarily made from wood. The Ryohin Keikaku Group aims to source all rayon used in its products from suppliers that use wood proven not to involve deforestation and forest degradation, and that actively work to reduce environmental impact through proper management of chemicals and wastewater during the manufacturing process by FY2030/8.

Paper yarn is made by cutting paper into thin strips and twisting them together. Strong, lightweight, and highly breathable, it provides a cool texture reminiscent of linen. In Japan, paper yarn has a long history, dating back to the Nara Period (710-794).
The raw material of paper yarn is pulp, so it is made from processed plant fibers. The pulps used in paper yarn include wood pulp (mainly from coniferous trees) and non-wood pulp (Manila hemp, hemp, bamboo, and sugar cane bagasse).

The Ryohin Keikaku Group envisions a future in which all synthetic fibers used in its products are derived from recycled or plant-based raw materials. To move toward this vision, we aim to ensure that by FY2030/8, all products using synthetic fibers incorporate materials made from recycled or plant-based raw materials.
Recycled materials refer to certified* fibers such as recycled polyester and recycled nylon, which help reduce the use of fossil-based raw materials and contribute to lowering environmental impact.

Ryohin Keikaku is taking steps to reduce the use of virgin plastic and utilize recycled materials.
Our policy is to expand our lineup of products containing recycled materials, and we are conducting product development using raw materials recycled from products we collect.
In addition, MUJI stores collect a wide range of plastic products, including polypropylene and polyethylene storage items and dust bins. The plastic products collected that meet our standards are resold as second-hand items, and those that do not meet our standards are shredded, cleaned and recycled.

We adhere to the Clean Wood Act and relevant environmental regulations in all countries and regions where we operate to ensure legal logging of our wooden and paper products. *
We obtain copies of certificates such as FSC and PEFC and other official documents from the public sector, as well as purchase and transportation records, to prevent the use of illegally logged wood.

We conduct regular surveys to ensure traceability of the palm oil we use and promote initiatives for the sustainable use of palm oil by verifying origin certificates and other means. Specifically, for palm oil we assessed the amount used in cosmetics, household goods and food, verified the presence of certifications, and evaluated the feasibility of switching to certified palm oil.
In December 2023, we became a member of the Japan Sustainable Palm Oil Network (JaSPON) to gather information and create a roadmap to facilitate the procurement of certified palm oil.

Like palm oil, coffee is a commodity with a high risk of contributing to deforestation due to the expansion of commercial production. In the EU, it is mandatory to prove that these products were produced without causing deforestation. In March 2024, Ryohin Keikaku renewed its original blend coffee series, and began offering new products developed in collaboration with the Daterra coffee farm in Brazil, which has been certified by the Rainforest Alliance.