sustainability / Regulation
Fast Fashion’s Bright Present and Cloudy Future
Results from Zara owner Inditex are likely to reflect rising sales, but regulatory challenges loom. That, plus what else to watch for in the coming week.
What Uganda’s ‘War’ on Used Clothing Imports Means for Fashion
In late August, Uganda’s President pledged to ban used clothing imports. It’sthe latest sign that the complicated and controversial secondhand clothing trade is getting increasingly political.
What American Fashion Wants From Sustainability Regulation
The industry’s biggest US trade groups are backing a Californian push for greater corporate climate disclosure. The move puts fashion ahead of many other sectors on a politically charged topic, but reporting alone won’t fix the industry’s sustainability challenges.
What Big Brands’ Sustainability Reports Won’t Tell You
For much of the last decade, advocates for sustainable businesses have argued that reporting on ESG measures would lead to a sustainable future. It hasn’t happened, writes Kenneth Pucker.
Zara-Owner Inditex Says It Will Stop Buying Clothes From Myanmar
Zara owner Inditex is in the process of stopping purchases from Myanmar, the company told Reuters on Thursday, as a result of a campaign by global workers’ union IndustriALL to convince companies to divest from the country.
Big Brands Are Taking Back Unwanted Clothes. Where Do They Go?
Companies like H&M and Primark are increasingly offering to take back unwanted clothes for resale and recycling. Instead they can end up downcycled, destroyed or dumped, according to a new report from Changing Markets Foundation.
Fashion Brands Withholding Key Environmental and Social Sustainability Data
The industry is becoming incrementally more transparent, but big brands still fail to disclose critical information about their environmental and social impact, according to this year’s Fashion Transparency Index.
Why Mushroom Leather (and Other New Materials) Are Struggling to Scale
Late last month, leading materials start-up Bolt threads said it had paused operations for its leather alternative Mylo. The company’s struggle to raise funds points to deeper challenges for the sector, writes Kenneth Pucker.
Chanel-Backed Traceability Company Raises $57 Million
Oritain has carved out a leading position helping brands and the US government detect the origin of commodities like cotton, coffee and leather. Investors are betting tightening regulation will turbocharge growth.
Inditex Ups Sustainability Commitments as Regulators Take Aim at Fast Fashion
The Zara owner outlined plans to expand resale and increase its use of next generation and recycled materials, part of efforts to meet an updated target to halve emissions by 2030.
In Copenhagen, Regulators and LVMH’s Luxury-Only Climate Pact
This week at fashion’s annual sustainability gathering, luxury giant LVMH called for a luxury-only sustainability initiative, while policymakers pressed for an end to throwaway fast fashion.
US Lawmakers Find ‘Extremely High Risk’ That Products Sold on Temu Are Linked to Forced Labour
A congressional report says the Chinese-owned e-commerce business has insufficient systems in place to prevent goods made by forced labour being sold on its platform.