Instead of packing clothes, customers are encouraged to rent clothing from the company.
As of July 5, 2023, Japan Airlines Co. and Sumitomo Corporation have begun testing a clothing rental service for passengers during their stay in Japan. This initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism while providing convenience for travelers. By minimizing the weight of aircraft, the airline hopes to reduce fuel consumption and minimize CO2 emissions. Currently, the service is under trial until August 2024.
Japan Airlines Co.
The Clothing Rental Process
This pilot program is called Any Wear, Anywhere. Passengers only need to pack their underwear and toothbrush, while clothing options can be freely selected based on preferences, sizes, styles, and colors through the Japan Airlines website before boarding. The airline also offers large suitcases for storing the rented clothes. Each person can choose up to 8 outfits per month, with selections made 2 weeks in advance.
The clothing inventory will be categorized into small, medium, and large sizes, along with styles such as smart (formal), smart casual (business casual), or mixed, multi-style options.
Clothing Pricing
The cost of an outfit will range from 4,000 yen (approximately 679,000 VND) to 7,000 yen (over 1.1 million VND). Women can choose items such as linen shirts, trousers, and long skirts for summer wear. Men traveling in winter can rent faded jeans, hoodies, and warm jackets for 7,000 yen (over 1.1 million VND).
The clothing comes from surplus stock from retailers and second-hand garments collected from the parent company. Once passengers select their outfits, the clothes will be delivered to their hotel or accommodation. At the end of their trip, the clothing is collected for cleaning and recycling. If any items are damaged, passengers will be charged.
After passengers select their outfits, the clothes will be delivered to their hotel or accommodation.
The Benefits of Ditching Bulky Luggage
According to the Any Wear, Anywhere website, reducing luggage by 10 kg can decrease CO2 emissions by 7.5 kg. This is equivalent to stopping the use of a hairdryer for 78 days with an average use of 10 minutes per day.
If the trial is successful, Sumitomo will consider expanding the plan to airlines with flights to Japan, such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysia Airlines.
The number of tourists visiting Japan has significantly increased since the pandemic. According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, in May, the number of visitors to Japan reached 1.9 million, more than 11 times higher than the same period last year. Government data also indicates that in Q1 2023, the average spending per tourist was about 50,496 yen (over 8.5 million VND) for shopping.
Sumitomo hopes this program will help address the issue of clothing waste. However, it is still too early to conclude whether this plan will effectively protect the environment, as clothing rentals also come with various ecological consequences.
Tourism in Japan is significantly increasing after the pandemic.
The Indian Express reports that the washing and packaging of clothing can lead to water pollution and increase the demand for plastic and detergents. Furthermore, the transportation of clothing for passengers also contributes to energy consumption.
It is known that the aviation industry accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. The European Commission predicts that by the middle of the 21st century, aviation emissions will triple compared to 2005 levels unless significant measures are taken to address this issue.
To combat this, the global aviation industry has launched a goal to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Japan Airlines’ clothing rental plan is also a small step in this movement.
