INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
As the prior generation of plastic-based alternatives wanes, a host of new, animal and plant-based options are sprouting up — but challenges remain for unseating conventional leather.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
After achieving a milestone in packaging recycling, Carbios’ unique biological recycling technology stands to fundamentally change the circularity of textiles.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
With the resale market for apparel alone estimated to grow to $77B billion by 2026, sustainability is sure to become an increasingly important factor for consumers to consider when debating where to sell and buy their used goods.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
What some are calling 'a significant step toward accountability' for fast fashion brands, others say is lip service and an inadequate approach to supporting waste-management efforts in communities deeply impacted by textile waste.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
Many would also argue that the fashion industry is not being judged harshly enough and gets away with a lot. But there are steps in the right direction and nuances within sustainability ‘misses’ which, if built on, will generate needed momentum.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
The open-source playbook from TrusTrace, Fashion Revolution and Fashion for Good offers a one-stop guide for fashion brands wanting to fulfill on the new business imperative for transparency.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
It remains to be seen whether the SEC’s proposed climate-disclosure rules will go into effect; but with the EU bringing in sustainable textile regulations and states passing laws on supply chain due diligence, increased scrutiny over the climate impacts of brands and retailers will continue to grow.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
The platform features items from over 100 high-street and high-end designers at up to 60% off. All items are considered new, but feature minor defects that would prevent brands from selling them in stores at full retail prices.
MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Washington-based startup Tidal Vision upcycles discarded crab shells to produce chitosan — a positively charged biopolymer with myriad applications in
sustainable water treatment, textile production, agriculture and more.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Watch out, consumer products industry: Materials-science company Pangaia could be evolving into a one-stop shopping destination for waste-conscious
consumers.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Through new technologies, data collection and third-party verification, brands and retailers now have the critical assurances they need to show that the cotton fiber in their supply chain is more sustainably grown, with lower environmental and social risk.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
As consumer demand for organic cotton soars, so does skepticism over the sustainability of the sector. The response must not be to retreat from organic cotton, but to invest more in supporting farmers to help them make the often-difficult conversion to organic on the ground.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Traceability is the foundation upon which we can truly revolutionize the fashion industry, revealing the actual costs of products and ensuring that the wealth generated from production gets redistributed more fairly.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
A growing number of niche brands are finding success with apparel repurposing; but many larger apparel companies have no best practices in place for managing their enormous volumes of unsellable merchandise. Fortunately, a new sub-industry of upcycling partners is stepping in to ‘reimagine’ increasingly large volumes of deadstock.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Laudes Foundation’s Transparency in Action portal features best practices, expert advice, tools and resources — including information on existing and upcoming legislation — for brands to take informed steps towards transparency and expand their current efforts.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
As consumer-product companies, we have a unique ability to make meaningful change in the broadest sense — and a shared responsibility to our consumers to help make doing the right thing an easy, affordable choice.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Far from simply the latest buzzword, regenerative agriculture is an opportunity for brands to invest in a fundamentally different system that drives numerous
benefits for people and the planet — from boosting climate resilience and reversing biodiversity loss to prioritizing justice, equity and sustainable livelihoods.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Raw material sourcing is more important than ever. Evolving attitudes among brands, retailers and consumers are creating demand for greater sustainability and transparency — starting at the seed and throughout the entire supply chain.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Paying living wages throughout supply chains can mean changing business models, which can seem insurmountable. But a series of case studies from IDH shows how companies and coalitions are making real progress on their commitments.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
Timberloop enables Timberland and its community to work together to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible — critical to the
company’s goal for 100% of its products to be designed for full circularity by 2030.