Sustainable bags, for sustainable water sources

Client: charity: water

UNIQLO is serious about reducing its environmental footprint while advancing the UN’s sustainable development goals. They have committed to eliminating the use of unnecessary plastic in their supply chain. To help, they replaced their plastic bags with paper ones. In 2019, to further reduce the likelihood of people choosing a single-use bag- even if it was paper- they introduced a charge.

This charge does more than disincentivise - it raises funds to tackle one of the world’s biggest problems: the water crisis. 1 in 10 people don’t have access to clean, safe water or sanitation. This is the leading cause of death for children under 5, and it’s a problem we know how to fix. UNIQLO partnered with charity: water to do this, donating 5p/c for each paper bag sold across Europe. 100% of these funds are invested in clean water solutions for rural, isolated communities in countries that are low on the UN’s Human Development Index. charity: water works with local partners who deliver the most appropriate, long-term solutions for villages and schools in their area. To date, clean water has been funded for 39,655 people across 5 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Madagascar, Malawi and Uganda.