KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Japan Airlines (JAL) has initiated a one-year experiment allowing tourists to rent clothes, thereby reducing their luggage weight and promoting sustainable travel.
• The “Any Wear, Anywhere” program permits passengers to rent clothes according to season, size, formality, and color scheme.
• Clothes are either excess stock from retailers or second-hand items. They are delivered to the traveler’s accommodation and collected for washing and recycling after their stay.
• The cost of the service varies; for instance, a female business traveler could rent a selection of clothes suitable for the Japanese summer for ¥5,000 ($35).
• JAL will collect data throughout the experiment to assess whether the initiative is resulting in a significant decrease in passengers’ luggage weight.
• The reduction of 10kg in luggage weight could lead to an estimated 7.5kg decrease in CO₂ emissions.
• The launch of the initiative coincides with a boom in Japan’s tourism sector, with almost 1.9 million visitors in May, marking a 1,191% increase year-on-year.

In a bid to lower CO₂ emissions, Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched a unique Initiative for tourists allowing them to minimize their Luggage by offering rented clothes upon arrival. This effort, dubbed “Any Wear, Anywhere,” is a one-year pilot project that started on Wednesday.

As a part of this innovative approach, passengers flying with JAL can lease clothing as per the season, size, level of formality, and color scheme. The advanced reservation system for clothing, open up to a month prior, allows travelers to specify their trip’s purpose to ensure the availability of suitable attire.

The initiative targets eco-conscious travelers, offering them a sustainable alternative to heavy luggage. The rented clothes are either surplus items from retailers or second-hand garments procured by a partnering company. These clothes are delivered to the traveler’s lodging before their arrival and collected post-departure for cleaning and recycling.

A traveler can obtain a range of attire suitable for various occasions and seasons for a modest price. For example, a businesswoman visiting Japan during the hot summer can rent a collection of five tops and three bottoms, including linen shirts, trousers, and a skirt, for ¥5,000 ($35). Meanwhile, a casual male traveler visiting in winter can rent a wardrobe featuring faded jeans, a hoodie, and a down jacket for ¥7,000.

In addition to promoting sustainable tourism, the “Any Wear, Anywhere” initiative by JAL and trading house Sumitomo aims to study the impact on luggage weight reduction. JAL intends to record and analyze data on whether the project leads to an overall decrease in baggage weight.

The rental service’s website notes that a 10kg drop in luggage weight can potentially result in a 7.5kg cut in CO₂ emissions. This reduction equates to the carbon emissions saved by refraining from using a hairdryer for 78 days.

The clothing rental project launches as Japan experiences a tourism boom in the aftermath of the pandemic. Despite the number of visitors being approximately 30% lower than 2019 figures, a staggering 1.9 million people visited Japan in May, a surge of 1,191% compared to the same period the previous year.