Material import / purchase

We only purchase and import the most carefully selected cotton.

As one of the world’s leading cotton manufacturers and Japan’s top cotton manufacturer, Marusan Industry procures carefully selected cotton and organic cotton from the major cotton growing countries around the world, primarily America and Australia.

What we look for when procuring
Our buying policy

1． Going to the growing location and checking the production situation and cotton quality

When harvest time approaches, our procurement staff go to the growing locations and check on the production situation and cotton quality of the year’s crop. Making actual visits to the cotton fields and speaking directly to the cotton farms to check on the cultivation conditions is an important aspect of stably procuring better quality cotton.

We then purchase raw materials from those suppliers who meet our extremely exacting standards. In order to ensure a continuous, stable supply of quality raw materials, each year we exchange opinions and review our evaluation standards as necessary.

2．Cooperation for sustainable procurement

Procuring raw materials

We select suppliers of cotton, a natural material and agricultural crop, based on scrutinization of the following criteria: respect for human rights, health and safety, environmental protection, and legal compliance. We then procure raw materials from those suppliers who meet these standards, mainly in the U.S. and Australia.

Producers in the U.S. and Australia promote the Cotton LEADS program, and in America, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a nationwide improvement program seeking sustainable cotton production.

We believe that production that considers the impact of cotton on agricultural land and farmers is important for sustainable production and purchasing. We therefore agree with the concept of the Cotton LEADS program and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, have become a member, and support their business plans.

　・What is the Cotton LEADS program?

　・What is the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol?

Procuring organic cotton

Compared to when we initially began working with cotton, those who use cotton products are now much more aware of organic cotton and we handle an increasing volume each year. 

We procure organic cotton based on the standard that the supplier is GOTS-certified.



We require GOTS certification because it means that a supplier has fulfilled the respect for human rights, health and safety, environmental protection, and legal compliance requirements.
・What is GOTS certification?

3．Fair and impartial selection and evaluation for a stable supply

Supplier selection is an integral factor in stable supply. We select suppliers who are able to provide stable, safe, and secure raw materials. We believe another crucial element for stable supply when dealing with suppliers is price. Therefore, we negotiate price in accordance with cotton market prices and purchase at a transparent, appropriate price. Regardless of the size of the supplier, big or small, we always select and evaluate any suppliers who want to start business with us anew from a fair and impartial standpoint. We conduct our procurement activities after a comprehensive evaluation based on these standards.

Cotton trivia

All imported raw cotton first arrives at our Ikazaki and Konan factories where it goes through a bleaching process for purification, as the first step on its path to becoming a variety of cotton products. Over 90% of the entire domestic market of daily-use and medical cotton products is made with Marusan’s bleached cotton.

Eco-friendly fibers

Recently, cotton has been receiving attention for being an eco-friendly fiber that is gentle on the earth. Each square acre (approx. 4000m²) of a cotton field absorbs seven tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually and produces 16.5 tons of oxygen (O2) purifying the earth’s atmosphere. Using natural cotton helps reduce the petroleum energy used to manufacture synthetic fibers. The fiber itself is easily recyclable with little impact on the environment when disposed of, making cotton an ecological fiber that is environmentally friendly and recyclable.