Japan Airlines is launching a clothing hire service which will target foreign tourists visiting Japan to help save them from overpacking. The airline says it hopes the clothing hire service will contribute towards ambitious sustainability goals because passengers won’t have to check so many bags in for their flights.
Ahead of their flight, passengers will be able to use the ‘Any Wear, Anywhere’ service to select a set of clothing that corresponds with the season and the type of visit they have planned. On arrival in Japan, the clothing will then be delivered direct to their hotel,
Japan Airlines will work alongside the Sumitomo Corporation, which will run the reservation system and provide the clothing rental service. During the trial, the airline will monitor whether there has been any reduction in the weight of luggage being checked in by passengers.
Alongside helping passengers make sustainable choices, Japan Airlines hopes the initiative will reduce the weight of checked-in luggage, which in turn will bring down fuel burn – saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Clothing available for hire will either come from excess stock or pre-loved items, and once travellers are done, they can just return them without needing to wash or iron anything they’ve worn.
Japan Airlines is one of many global carriers that have signed up to become greenhouse gas emission ‘net zero’ by 2050, although there is growing concern that the incredibly ambitious target won’t be achieved.
While airlines are talking up a whole range of sustainability initiatives, such as replacing single-use plastic with sustainable alternatives like bamboo cutlery, along with recycling and fuel-saving techniques, the industry admits that widespread use of ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ will be key to cutting harmful emissions.
Despite airlines plugging the use of SAF, however, its use is still extremely limited, and it could take many years of production and supply to meet the needs of the aviation industry.
