| This is a machine translation. The quality and accuracy of machine translation can vary. JEPLAN does not guarantee the accuracy of the translation and accepts no liability for possible errors. Please refer to the official text in its original Japanese version if there is any doubt. Some content (such as images, videos, files, HTML links and acronyms) may not be translated or may be inaccurate due to the technical limitations of the system. |
JEPLAN, INC. (Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Masaki Takao; hereinafter “JEPLAN”) has sponsored YOKOHAMA MARATHON as an official partner since 2022. YOKOHAMA MARATHON 2026 (hereinafter “the Event”), to be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, marks the fifth year of this partnership.
At the Event, JEPLAN will promote resource circularity by collecting warm-up clothing at the starting area and used clothing at the venue. Continuing from last year, JEPLAN has also collaborated with PUMA Japan K.K. (hereinafter “PUMA Japan”) to produce participant T-shirts made in part with recycled polyester derived entirely from textile waste. In addition, for the first time this year, an upcycling workshop using unwanted fabric and T-shirt yarn*1 will be held.
 |
YOKOHAMA MARATHON is a large-scale event with 30,000 runners participating each year and actively promotes sustainable event management. At marathon events, warm-up clothing worn by runners to stay warm until shortly before the start is sometimes left behind at the starting area, creating a waste-related challenge. To address this issue, warm-up clothing has been collected at the Event since 2023. As awareness of the initiative among runners has grown, the amount of clothing left behind decreased last year.
This year, JEPLAN, YOKOHAMA MARATHON, and NPO HpRun*2 will collaborate to form a collection team and collect warm-up clothing at the starting area. In addition, at the YOKOHAMA MARATHON FESTA held at Rinko Park near the finish area, the JEPLAN booth will collect unwanted clothing, including sportswear. The collected warm-up clothing and other garments will be reused or recycled through the BRING platform, helping to reduce waste while promoting resource circularity.
For the first time at the Event, an upcycling workshop will also be held using unwanted fabric and T-shirt yarn. By making keychains, bracelets, and tassel charms, participants will experience upcycling that gives new value to materials that would otherwise be discarded. The workshop will provide an opportunity to deepen understanding of clothing circularity and the effective use of resources.
Going forward, the JEPLAN Group will continue to collaborate with partners in Japan and overseas and work together as one group to advance the circular economy in pursuit of its mission to “Circulate Everything.”
*1 Material made by cutting unwanted T-shirts or fabric into long, narrow strips and processing them into yarn-like strands.
*2 A student organization that operates HpRunClub and organizes events promoting environmental conservation through
accessible activities, with the aim of promoting sports and social contribution initiatives (https://www.hprun.jp/npohprun).
About YOKOHAMA MARATHON 2026（https://yokohamamarathon.jp/）
Organizer: YOKOHAMA MARATHON Organizing Committee (City of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama Sports Association, and others) Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026 <Events>
-
- Full Marathon / 42.195 km
- Pair Relay / First runner (approx. 22.7 km), second runner (approx. 19.5 km)
- Bayside Highway Run / approx. 20.3 km
- Minato Mirai 7 km Run / approx. 7 km
- Enjoy Run (wheelchair, family, and junior high school categories) / approx. 3 km
Collaborative Initiatives at YOKOHAMA MARATHON 2026
1. Collection of Warm-Up Clothing Left at the Starting Area
JEPLAN, YOKOHAMA MARATHON, and NPO HpRun will work together to collect used warm-up clothing left by runners at the starting area.
2. Used Clothing Collection
Unwanted clothing is being collected at locations throughout Yokohama before the Event and will also be collected at the JEPLAN booth during the YOKOHAMA MARATHON FESTA on the day of the Event.
* For details on collection locations, collection periods, and accepted items, please refer to the clothing collection notice on the official YOKOHAMA MARATHON 2026 website.
3. Production of Participant T-Shirts Using Recycled Textile-Derived Material
The participant T-shirts for the Event use BLANK APPAREL™, which incorporates recycled polyester derived entirely from textile waste as part of its material. JEPLAN and official partner PUMA Japan have again collaborated to create an original T-shirt design for the Event, providing runners with a tangible opportunity to experience resource circularity.
 |
4. Upcycling Workshop
An upcycling workshop will be held where participants can make small items such as keychains, bracelets, and tassel charms using unwanted fabric, T-shirt yarn, and other materials.
Through upcycling, which creates new value from materials that would otherwise be discarded, the workshop will offer participants an accessible opportunity to consider clothing circularity and the effective use of resources.
* Details, including the date, time, and participation method, are available on the JEPLAN page of YOKOHAMA MARATHON 2026 ONLINE EXPO.
About BLANK APPAREL™（https://blankapparel.jp/）
Making polyester more sustainable. BLANK APPAREL™ is a blank apparel brand for printing applications, including apparel, uniforms, merchandise, and promotional items. Its products incorporate BRING Material™, recycled polyester made from recycled factory textile scraps and used clothing, as part of their material. Products can be collected through the BRING collection platform and circulated into various resources.
About BRING™ (https://bring.org/pages/recycle)
BRING™ works with a wide range of brands, retailers, and other partners to collect used clothing and textile products from consumers and circulate them as resources. By collaborating with diverse partners, BRING promotes reuse with visible destinations and recycling that makes clear what collected materials will become. Circulating clothing and textile products filled with people’s memories in ways that consumers can understand and support: this is the circular economy that BRING aims to realize.
【The original press release is in Japanese】