ABS-CBN Foundation and UNIQLO Philippines Join Hands for Ocean Conservation Efforts

ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI) inked its partnership with the Japanese global apparel retailer, UNIQLO, through a Memorandum of Agreement. This collaboration underscores their joint efforts for the Citizen Science program of AFI’s environmental arm, Bantay Kalikasan. The signing ceremony was held last May 30 at UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship store in Glorietta, the largest flagship store in the country and Southeast Asia.

Through the Citizen Science program, a network of scientists can train AFI’s partner communities on the reef, mangrove, and seagrass monitoring within the Verde Island Passage (VIP). ABS- CBN Foundation Managing Director, Roberta Lopez-Feliciano expressed how UNIQLO adds a significant layer of support to the community involvement and research initiatives of the program.

She stated, “this partnership helps us pursue the dream of providing many lives with choices. Because often, the only choice is where to find the next meal. It [also] comes at a very unique moment. Last year, Verde Island Passage was internationally recognized as a Hope Spot. And recently, it is where the Department of Energy is directing for cleaner sources of energy, alongside DENR’s push to keep the ‘center of the center of marine biodiversity’ intact and remain even better for generations to come.”

Lopez-Feliciano also demonstrated her enthusiasm by inviting UNIQLO Philippines to explore some areas of the 1.14-million-hectare passage.

Prior to the partnership, UNIQLO has long embodied the “the power of clothing” through projects that care for the people, planet, and society. Now, joining forces with AFI, UNIQLO Philippines’ Chief Operating Officer, Geraldine Sia further emphasized the common thread that seams this partnership together.

“This partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation reaffirms UNIQLO’s commitment to harnessing the Power of Clothing to contribute to the preservation of the environment for the generations to come. Through the Citizen Science program, we can equip communities not just with the knowledge and capacity to help preserve the environment, but also provide opportunities that can help them with their livelihoods,” Sia stated.

One of UNIQLO’s sustainability measures is to reduce the use of single-use paper in their stores. The brand encourages the use of reusable shopping bags instead by charging PHP 2.00 for each of their FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified recycled paper bags. The proceeds from these sales support environmental causes, such as AFI’s marine biodiversity efforts in the VIP and Haribon Foundation’s forest conservation initiatives.

This joining of hands marks AFI and UNIQLO Philippines’ initial efforts in the protection and conservation of the planet, from ridges to reefs and beyond.

ABOUT ABS-CBN FOUNDATION

ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. is a committed advocate for public service in strategic sectors of Philippine society. A media-backed non-profit organization in the Philippines, the Foundation's pillar advocacies are disaster risk reduction & response, children’s rights and development, education, environmental stewardship and sustainable livelihood. It aims to awaken hope and the spirit of “bayanihan” in every Filipino by implementing projects that promote multi-sectoral partnerships. ABS-CBN Foundation is accredited by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) and is granted the status of Donee Institution by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The Foundation also has a license to operate from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

About UNIQLO LifeWear

Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 2.77 trillion yen for the 2023 fiscal year ending August 31, 2023 (US $18.92 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2023 rate of $1 = 146.2 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,400 UNIQLO stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. The total number of stores across Fast Retailing's brands is now close to 3,600.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and changing the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.