Workplace dress codes ease in Japan as Dutch textile recycling rules face hurdles

Environmental considerations and rising temperatures are driving changes across corporate practices and apparel regulations internationally. In Japan, rising summer temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius in Tokyo have prompted businesses to encourage employees to trade formal suits and leather shoes for lighter, breathable clothing to safeguard worker health, while commuters increasingly rely on sun parasols.

Meanwhile, policy efforts in Europe to curb garment waste face implementation hurdles. In the Netherlands, legislation holding apparel manufacturers responsible for textile recycling has produced limited results. Analysts note that brands can fulfill legal mandates by paying nominal fees of a few cents per piece of clothing, allowing companies to meet statutory requirements without fundamentally curbing fast-fashion production or restructuring supply chains.

Sources: NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), NRC