■ 19 years of organic cotton promotion project "ORGABITS"
"ORGABITS" is an organic cotton promotion project that started in 2005 with the idea of contributing to the global environment and producers by "bits" together. In order to make it easier for organic cotton to be used and disseminated, more than 150 fashion brands have participated to date, producing a total of more than 11.5 million items (as of the end of June 2024) with the "reversal idea" of delivering products made with 10% organic cotton to 100 times more people, rather than sticking to the 100% amount of organic cotton used for each piece of clothing. ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY ORGABITS COME WITH DONATIONS TO SUPPORT ORGANIC COTTON FARMERS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE CIRCLE OF SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE PARTICIPATED IN ON A DAILY BASIS THROUGH A SINGLE PIECE OF CLOTHING IS EXPANDING.
(ORGABITS official website: http://orgabits.com/)
・Initiatives related to donations
One yen for each product made with ORGABITS is donated to PEACE BY PEACE COTTON, a general incorporated foundation that supports cotton farmers in India.
In addition, we are working to donate 10 yen for each product in collaboration with the brands that participated in the project to NPOs and charitable organizations that are active in various fields such as the environment, welfare, support for developing countries, and reconstruction in Japan and overseas.
This time, approximately 4 million yen, which is a part of the sales of approximately 500,000 project products sold from July 2023 to June 2024, will be donated to a total of eight organizations. The donation will be used to fund the activities of each organization.
This year, the 13th year of the donation donation, which started in 2012, has reached a total of 70,313,282 yen.
In the future, "ORGABITS" will continue to aim to expand the circle of "little good things" with the cooperation of various organizations.
・What is organic cotton?
Organic cotton is cotton that has been organically grown on farmland that has not used pesticides or chemical substances that affect the environment or living organisms for about three years or more according to the organic farming standards of each country. By using organic cotton, we can protect the lives of the people involved in the production and the environment, such as the land where cotton is grown. Believing that choosing organic cotton is the first step towards a sustainable society, TOYOSHIMA aims to popularize organic cotton.
〈Breakdown of donations〉
・Peace-by-Peace Cotton Project
(PEACE BY PEACE COTTON)
Organic cotton products are sold with funds.
The donations collected will be used for projects that will be used to promote organic cotton, such as support for organic cotton farmers in India and support for returning to school.
・Projects to bring smiles to hospitalized children
（Certified Nonprofit Organization Japan CliniClowns Association）
This is a project in which CliniClowns (clinical clowns) regularly visit the hospital rooms of hospitalized children to support their growth through play and conversation.
・Biodiversity Conservation Project in Borneo
(Certified NPO Borneo Conservation Trust Japan)
Borneo's rich biodiversity rainforests are being drastically reduced due to overdevelopment of oil palm plantations. By protecting the remaining rainforests and protecting ecosystems, we will create a future where wildlife and humans can live together.
・LOOM SAKURA PROJECT (LOOM NIPPON)
LOOM stands for "Love Of Our Motherland."
This project aims to plant cherry trees in Minamisanriku Town, which was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and to make Minamisanriku Town a famous place for cherry blossoms.
・Global Supporter
(Plan International Japan)
Under the message of "Until we are all equal," this initiative aims to solve various issues faced by girls and children around the world, such as climate change and child marriage, toward the realization of a world where everyone is equal.
・Blue Ocean Project (NPO Japan Sea Turtle Council)
This project not only protects sea turtles, but also preserves marine animals and the seaside environment, and explores and realizes ways to preserve the lives and culture of people living near the coast, fishermen, and people who come into contact with sea turtles.
・Children's cafeteria regional network support project
(Certified NPO National Children's Cafeteria Support Center, Musubie)
Under the slogan of "More Connections," this is an initiative that aims to create a society in which no one is left out by further expanding and deepening the connections created by the children's cafeteria, which is also a multi-generational exchange center in the community.
・Projects to deliver medical care to places where medical care cannot be reached
(Certified NPO Japan Heart)
This project aims to realize a society in which all people can feel "glad to have been born" by providing medical care to people who are unable to receive medical care due to economic circumstances or social factors. We provide free surgeries in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, support activities in disaster-stricken areas in Japan, and support for children facing childhood cancer and their families when they go out.
