ECOALF
"UPCYCLING THE OCEANS" activities

"UPCYCLING THE OCEANS (Up-Cycling Oceans, hereafter "UTO")" is a project led by the European-originated sustainable fashion brand "ECOALF (Ecoalf)" that collects, sorts, and recycles marine plastic waste and gives a new life as a product.

Fishermen take the marine debris they pull up from the ocean floor to the port, separate it, recycle it, and transform it into new products.

UPCYCLING THE OCEANS

Photo of the activity of recycling ocean plastic bottles into sneakers

Confronting environmental issues through fashion

By collecting ocean plastic and upcycling it into new products, UTO raises the issue of ocean pollution and proposes a sustainable lifestyle for the future. In addition, a portion of the sales of the BECAUSE collection, which is made up of cut-and-sew items that symbolize the brand, are donated to UTO's activities funds. By enjoying fashion and supporting Ecoalf, customers can participate in environmental conservation and awareness activities.

Collaboration with collaborative partners

Efforts to address SDGs and environmental issues cannot be achieved by individuals alone.

Based on ECOALF's track record of over 10 years in Europe, we will lead action and community building in Japan. We aim to establish UTO in Japan by collaborating with governments and local governments and with partners across industry boundaries.

Activity report

"UTO JAPAN T-shirt" released

Released "UTO JAPAN T-shirt", which is made by separating and recycling PET bottles from collected marine garbage and other materials and manufacturing them through the unique route of the Japanese "ECOALF". (2021, 2025)

"UTO JAPAN T-shirt"

BOTTLES → PET CHIPS → SPINNING → KNITTING → T-SHIRTS

Marine garbage collection stocker installed in Shima City

Shima City took the lead in setting up a marine debris stocker at Anori Fishing Port with the cooperation of the Mie Gaiwan Fisheries Cooperative Association Anori Office. We have begun a demonstration experiment in which fishermen are asked to bring back plastic bottles and other marine debris that gets caught in their nets during fishing and put it into stockers. (2021)

Marine debris stocker installed at Anori fishing port in Shima City, Mie Prefecture

Holding and participating in environmental conservation activities (cleanup events)

Location (2020～2025): Shinjuku ward, shibuya ward, setagaya ward (tamagawa), taito ward (asakusa), sumida ward (sumidagawa park), edogawa ward (kasai rinkai park) in tokyo, saitama city (urawa) in saitama prefecture, zushi city (zushi beach) in kanagawa prefecture, nishio city (kira waikiki beach) in aichi prefecture, osaka city (shinsaibashi) in osaka prefecture, shima city in mie prefecture, maniwa city (kawakami river park) in okayama prefecture, miyakojima city in okinawa prefecture

Cleanup event held on Miyakojima in May 2022

Cleanup event held in Shibuya in September 2023 (World Cleanup Day)
Eight new employees also participated.

A cleanup event held in Futako-Tamagawa in July 2023 (Marine Day).
It was conducted by members of Miss Earth Japan Tokyo Saitama.

"ACT NOW! Shinjuku Cleanup Event" co-hosted by ECOALF
and Shinjuku Takashimaya in April 2024 (Earth Day)

Cleanup event co-hosted by ECOALF and
JR Nagoya Takashimaya in June 2024 (World Oceans Day)

In November 2024 (World Vegan Day), we held the event in Shinjuku. We held the event from our Yotsuya headquarters to Shinjuku Gyoen, with new employees joining as well.