YKK Corp. has become a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network, demonstrating the company's commitment to the circular economy. Because YKK has long been a partner to numerous fashion firms that work with the Foundation to promote circularity in the industry, joining the Foundation's Network was a natural next step for the company to take in order to facilitate greater collaboration among many stakeholders.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's A New Textiles Economy report, released in 2017, brought the fashion industry's impact to light and prompted many industry stakeholders to take action to unlock the environmental and economic benefits that a circular economy for fashion can bring to the economy, the environment, and society. YKK has long worked to protect the environment through its products and processes, and it is now even more devoted to actions and advancements that follow the Foundation's circular economy principles.

The circular economy is founded on three essential principles: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

In 1994, YKK took the lead in the fight against waste and pollution by introducing the NATULON® zipper, which is constructed of recycled PET. With products like the GreenRise® zipper, which is made from plant-based polyester, the NATULON® Ocean Sourced® zipper, which is made from ocean-bound plastic waste, and technologies like AcroPlating®, which greatly reduces resource use and eliminates hazardous substances, the company continued to deliver eco-friendly innovations.

The TouchLink® slider, which makes digitally connected garments a reality and enables manufacturers to access the hidden value of garments across their lifecycles, is YKK's latest breakthrough in terms of product and material circulation. The TouchLink® slider makes it simple to deploy product passports and keep them in circulation.

In 1994, YKK issued its Environmental Charter, declaring "harmony with the environment" to be the greatest priority of its economic activities. In March 2020, YKK signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and in October 2020, the company reaffirmed its commitment by releasing its Sustainability Vision 2050, a roadmap for addressing climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management, and human rights, and aligning its efforts with ten UN Sustainable Development Goals. The independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved YKK's carbon reduction targets in March 2021.

YKK is now working on developing products that will work with garment recycling systems and digital product passports. The advancement of these and other technologies will be critical in ensuring that future clothes meet user needs and allowing brands and merchants to design products for circular business models including repair, remaking, rental, resale, and recycling.

YKK intends to interact with prominent actors across industries, learn how to better promote circularity, and collaborate on innovative product developments that might activate circular business models in the fashion industry by joining the Foundation's Network.

Asako Yoshioka, vice president of sustainability at YKK Corp, said that they’re thrilled to be joining a group of like-minded companies focused on building a circular economy. Sustainability has always been a part of YKK's DNA, and joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is another step in their path to help establish a circular economy that benefits the economy, environment, and society.