Japanese apparel giant Onward Kashiyama has contributed JPY10 million  to a major Australian environmental initiative, the Australian Land Management Certification System (ALMCS).This first-of-its-kind contribution will go to support the further development and implementation of the ALMCS.

The contribution is thanks to the apparel maker’s Onward Green Project, which was commissioned in July 2008 with Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) support to help improve the natural environment of Australian wool growing areas. The project itself was inspired by a partnership between the ALM Group, AWI and Elders to pilot the ALMCS with wool growers in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

The JPY10 million is a portion of Onward’s Autumn/Winter 2008 sales of five of its apparel brands – Gotairiku, J.Press for men, ICB for women, Kumikyoku and J.Press for children.

Over five months in 2008, stores throughout Japan promoted the Onward Green Project through point of sale material, while swing tickets on garments told Japanese consumers the story of wool’s natural benefits and of Onward’s initiative to preserve the Australian environment in which it is grown.

Onward’s General Manager Product Development and Marketing Mr Hikosaburo Seike who is visiting Australia this week said: ‘Onward is proud to support the ALMCS and through it, the Australian wool growers who are committed to caring for the Australian environment.’

AWI’s General Manager Product Development and Commercialisation Jimmy Jackson noted that the Onward’s initiative was the first ever example of an apparel company going directly to the source and helping with the understanding and extension of formalised, certification-based environmental practices.

‘This is a unique arrangement because the money is going directly to activities that help wool growers improve environmental outcomes in ways that deliver them recognition and rewards,’ Jimmy said.

ALM Group CEO Tony Gleeson said: ‘The support from Onward will further strengthen Australian initiatives to provide price support for wool growers who can demonstrate improving environmental performance.’

The Onward Green Project extends AWI’s existing commercial relationship with the company. Onward Kashiyama is one of the five Japanese partners in AWI’s Japan Marketing Project which aims to create approximately 1 million kilograms of new demand for Australian Merino wool over its three-year term.

About Onward Kashiyama

Onward Kashiyama Co Ltd is the largest apparel manufacturer/wholesaler in Japan with an annual turnover of approximately JPY287,032 million. The number one supplier of apparel to most Japanese department stores, Onward is ranked first in menswear sales and second in womenswear sales in Japan.

Onward manufactures and distributes men's and women's apparel under its own brands, as well as for designer labels such as Sonia Rykiel, Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Paul Smith. Products are sold through its own stores and distributed worldwide to department stores by its own distribution subsidiary.

Onward also has a 16-year agreement with Donna Karan International giving it import, manufacturing, licensing and retail rights to the brand in Japan. Onward Kashiyama has a licensing agreement with Daks Simpson for men's golfwear.

The company has subsidiaries involved in art (Onward Gallery), boat sales (Onward Marine), dancewear (Chacott Co.), golf (Lakeland Country Club), resorts (Onward Beach Resort), and travel (Onward Travel).

The Onward Group of companies endeavours to contribute to the affluence of people’s living environments through its role as a lifestyle culture enterprise and strives to be a company that positions the preservation of the natural environment as a key management issue and one that is friendly to mankind and the environment.

About Australian Land Management Certification System (ALMCS)

The Australian Land Management Certification System (ALMCS) is Australia’s only whole-of-farm, catchment-linked national certification system for land management. It was established by landholders in 2003 after three years of system design and development.

ALMCS is a set of management decisions customised for each farm. It operates on a whole of farm, catchment linked basis to help landowners across Australia continuously improve environmental, social and economic outcomes.

ALMCS is managed and promoted by the Australian Land Management Group (ALM Group), a not-for-profit organisation established by landholders to improve environmental outcomes in ways that recognise and reward landholders and their support organisations.

ALMCS was designed by landholders with help from specialists in ecology, human behaviour, agribusiness, policy, agriculture, information management and system design.

Landholders and catchment management organisations now using ALMCS all share the same commitment to improving environmental outcomes. The ALM Group is the partner they have chosen as a way of documenting their achievements and progress in a way that is recognised by markets and the community.