Ch. 3 - Ethics & Social Responsibility

According to Uniqlo's Corporate Social Responsibility website, their vision is "to make the world a better place through planning, producing and selling clothing, one of life's basic necessities." To ensure that they fulfill their social responsibilities, "Uniqlo designates priority issues to each category stake holder. We particularly consider corporate governance, compliance and the environment as themes common to all stakeholders, and thus include them as priority issues." Below are the most resent contributions from Uniqlo to our society.

• UNIQLO to Donate 3,500 Fleece Products for the 2012 Special Olympics

Uniqlo has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to support the Special Olympics since August 2002. The Special Olympics is an international sports organization that provides opportunities to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Back in 2002 when Uniqlo was first starting to be recognized by the public, it donated more than 37,000 articles of clothing in support of the Special Olympics. By doing so, Uniqlo gain the public respect do to the fact that not many starting companies donate their products. As for this year, Uniqlo will once again donate approximately 3,500 articles of clothing such  as; Fleece Hoodies, Fleece Full Zip Jackets, Fleece Reversible Jackets, official uniforms, Airtech jackets, windbreakers, zip-up hoodies, caps and T-shirts.  In addition of donating a wide variety of its clothing, Uniqlo would also be sending 36 fast retailing group employees to assist in this competitive athletic event as volunteers.

• Hello Kitty T-Shirts To Hit UNIQLO Stores In March For Collaborative Project

This past week on February 7, Uniqlo released a statement through their CSR website, that it had join forces with Hellosmile. Hellosmile is a global organization that seeks to raise awareness about the prevention of cervical cancer. This organization has chosen the internationally adored feline character of Hello Kitty to be their mascot. To help this organization, Uniqlo would start selling exclusive Hello Kitty T-shirts for woman and children. A portion of the proceeds from all Hello Kitty T-shirt sales would be donated to support such organization. This exclusive Hello Kitty shirts will start hitting UNIQLO stores in Japan and 11 other overseas markets from early March 2012.

• UNIQLO Launches Scholarship Program in China

After signing an agreement in December 12, 2011 with the China Education Association for International Exchange, Uniqlo is pleased to announce that it would offer scholarships to university students in China. This Uniqlo Scholarship Program (TBD) as it is called, would "help the next generation of talented young chinese individuals to play active roles in the global economy and contribute to China's future growth by offsetting tuition fees." It would also provide scholarship recipients with opportunities to participate in exchanges with globally active business managers and other people who work internationally. To be eligible to apply to this scholarship, students must be undergraduate. Students must also be enrolled at selected universities in China. According to Uniqlo's CSR website the duration of grants would be of five years. The scholarship program is set to start in September 2012.