Beards banned for Japanese workers over environmental issues!

London, June 19 (ANI): Bosses in a Japanese city have come to the defence of their decision to ban beards at work places by saying they are being environmentally friendly.

According to the bosses in the northeastern city of Isesaki, forcing office workers not to sport facial hair will mean they will be less likely to need the air conditioning on in the summer months, Sky News reported.

Civil servants are already being encouraged to forego jackets and ties during hot weather as part of a "Cool Biz" campaign.

A city official said there had been no complaints from employees since the ban was introduced last month and that it was a necessary part of Cool Biz.

The Japanese Ministry of Environment introduced the campaign in 2005 in an attempt to cut the country's consumption of electricity, thereby reducing Japan's carbon footprint.

Human rights lawyer Fumio Haruyama has criticised the ban, saying it violates personal freedom.

However, the move seems to be part of a growing trend in Japan.

A growing number of Japanese workers are being forbidden from coming into work unshaven because the public supposedly find it "unpleasant".

One major convenience store has said it will not hire men with beards and would fire staff for growing facial hair. (ANI)