[On-Site Report]
In recent years, food loss isn't the only major form of waste that the world is dealing with. There is now growing concern over "clothing waste." Not only are fashion trends hard to predict, they can also change quickly. This means that the apparel industry is constantly over producing across a wide range of products in order to ensure that it can keep up with demand. Of the 2.9 billion clothing items imported to or produced in Japan every year, nearly half end up getting thrown away. This week's episode shows how some apparel companies are trying to overcome "clothing waste" by using IT technology and innovative recycling techniques to reduce waste and cut costs while still remaining competitive.
[World Perspective]
When people think of dwindling natural resources, probably few would consider sand. But the material plays a crucial role in everything from making concrete to filtering water, and supplies are running low. A construction boom in developing economies has helped exasperate the problem -- according to a U.N. report, 40 billion tons of sand are used worldwide a year, which represents a threefold increase in the past 20 years. Countries are now scrambling to secure sand, including Japan. We take a close up look at how one domestic company is trying to meet the nation's needs.