Teijin Limited, Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. and Fuji Xerox Co,. Ltd. announced today that they will launch a closed-loop recycling system for uniforms in China. The system is based on Teijin’s ECO CIRCLE™^*1 that incorporates the world's first technology for the chemical recycling of polyester.

Nantong Teijin Co., Ltd., the Teijin group's polyester textile manufacturing and processing company, weaves and dyes recyclable polyester textiles, which are then used for the uniforms designed and produced by Onward Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a Shanghai-based Onward group company engaged in the design, manufacturing and sales of uniforms.

Uniforms worn at Fuji Xerox
Eco-Manufacturing (Suzhou)

From January 2014, the uniform will be worn by 500 customer engineers^*2 at Fuji Xerox (China) Limited, a Beijing-based Fuji Xerox sales company, and 200 production line workers at Fuji Xerox Eco-Manufacturing (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., which recycles used copiers, printers and cartridges.

The uniforms will be collected after their useful lives and sent to the recycling plant of Zhejiang Jiaren New Materials Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Teijin and Jinggong Holding Group in Shaoxing that chemically recycles polyester products as well as produces and sells recycled polyester fibers.

After chemical decomposition, the uniforms will be converted into polyester raw material offering purity comparable to polyester derived directly from petroleum. The raw material then will be turned into high-quality polyester, which Onward Trading (Shanghai) will use to produce new uniforms for Fuji Xerox in China, thereby minimizing the consumption of natural resources.

"We are delighted to collaborate with Fuji Xerox's Chinese subsidiaries and Onward Trading (Shanghai) in a mutual commitment to sustainability through recycling," said Hiroaki Mimori, president of Nantong Teijin. "The Teijin Group has been operating its ECO CIRCLE™ recycling program in China since 2009. Beginning with the startup of Zhejiang Jiaren New Materials' recycling plant next year, we intend to steadily expand our environmental initiatives in this fast-growing market."

The collaborative initiative of Teijin, Onward and Fuji Xerox represents their commitment to reducing environmental burden in China through the development, manufacturing, usage and recycling of uniforms that are functional, comfortable and safety-conscious realizing antistatic.

Yasuaki Nakagawa, president of Onward Trading (Shanghai) said, "By combining Teijin's world's-first closed-loop recycling system and Onward's clothing design, production and merchandising capabilities, our collaborative scheme will facilitate Fuji Xerox's belief that used products are valuable resources, not waste. We would like for our initiative to lower environmental impact while raising environmental consciousness in China."

Masataka Jo, president and CEO of Fuji Xerox (China) and the chief representative of Fuji Xerox in China said, "The three companies all commit to helping reduce environmental loads with our technologies, which led us to establishing this uniform recycling scheme. I expect that this system will raise our employees' awareness to protect environment. Fuji Xerox continues such initiatives, also by offering energy-saving products and solutions, aiming to contributing to growth and reduction of environmental loads in China."

Positioning China as an important market, the three firms continue their efforts to contribute to building a sustainable society in China by expanding the closed-loop recycling system.

*1 ECO CIRCLE™ is a closed-loop recycling system developed by the Teijin Group. The system employs the world's first technology for chemical recycling, which chemically decomposes polyester for conversion into new polyester raw materials that offer quality and purity comparable to those derived directly from petroleum. Repeated recycling achieved with the ECO CIRCLE™ system significantly reduces both energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional petroleum-based processes for polyester production. Teijin works with over 150 registered apparel, sportswear and uniform manufacturers worldwide to develop and manufacture products made from recyclable materials, as well as to collect and recycle these products at the end of their useful lives.

*2 Fuji Xerox (China) engineers will only wear pants.

About the Teijin Group

Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY 745.7 billion (USD 7.4 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.4 billion (USD 7.6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. Please visit www.teijin.com.

About Onward Holdings

ONWARD HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (TSE: 8016) is involved in the apparel business and defines its business domain as “creating a world of fashion that gives refreshment and beauty to people’s lives.” By offering fashion as an integral part of consumer culture, the Group creates new lifestyles and value that contribute to the enrichment of life for all people. The Onward Group is comprised of approximately 70 companies in both Japan and overseas and is a leading company in the Japan fashion industry, with consolidated sales of 260 billion yen in FY ending February 2013. In the fashion industry, its core operating companies include ONWARD KASHIYAMA CO., LTD. in Japan, JIL SANDER S.p.A. in Italy and JOSEPH LTD. in the U.K. among others. ONWARD HOLDINGS CO., LTD. is a global company actively promoting its business both in Japan and overseas. Please visit http://www.onward-hd.co.jp/

About Fuji Xerox

Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. is a 75-25 joint venture between FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation and Xerox Corporation (U.S.A.) that develops, manufactures and markets world-class office and publishing equipment/systems, digital color/monochrome multifunction devices, as well as document management software, solutions and services in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region including China. It also manufactures digital copiers, multifunction devices and printers for worldwide distribution. Founded in 1962, the company currently employs approximately 45,000 people globally, and has more than 80 domestic and overseas affiliates and sales subsidiaries. Please visit at http://www.fujixerox.com/

Press Contact

Corporate Communications
Teijin Limited
+81-3-3506-4055
pr@teijin.co.jp

Corporate Communications
ONWARD HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
+81-3-4512-1070
nhn-koukou@onward.co.jp

PR Group, Corporate
Communications Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
+81-3-6271-5370
globalpr@ml.fujixerox.co.jp