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TURNING GREEN INTO GOLD: A CONVERSATION WITH FREYA WILLIAMS ON THE BILLION-DOLLAR POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINABILITY Mike interviews E. Freya Williams. In this riveting podcast episode, We enjoyed chatting with Freya Williams, author of “Green Giants: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability into Billion-Dollar Businesses.” We dived deep into how sustainability isn’t just good for the planet but can also be the golden goose for businesses aiming to reach the billion-dollar mark. Freya’s insights are not just for the tree-hugging environmentalists but for the hardcore capitalists who want to make serious money while doing good for the world. SUMMARY Freya started by telling the story of a remarkable shoe company that has turned the humble plastic bottle into a fashion statement. These shoes, initially designed for women but now available for men, are stylish, comfortable, and washable, making them practical for everyday wear. And guess what? They are made from recycled plastic bottles, many of which are from ocean waste. What makes these shoes stand out isn’t just their eco-friendly material. It’s their mainstream appeal. Consumers aren’t buying them solely because they’re green; they’re buying them because they’re cool, chic, and high-performance. The sustainability factor is the icing on the cake, giving customers bragging rights about being environmentally conscious without compromising style or comfort. Freya refers to this company as a “green unicorn,” a business that has achieved a billion-dollar valuation through sustainability. The key to their success? They got their product design and marketing right. They understood that to drive demand for sustainable products, the emphasis shouldn’t be on the planet-saving attributes alone but on the mainstream appeal. It’s about making products that people want to buy, and oh, by the way, they also happen to be better for the planet. @milliondollarbookman @thedreamstarter https://lnkd.in/dG7ZCDim

TURNING GREEN INTO GOLD: A CONVERSATION WITH FREYA WILLIAMS ON THE BILLION-DOLLAR POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINABILITY Mike interviews E. Freya Williams. In this riveting podcast episode, We enjoyed chatting with Freya Williams, author of “Green Giants: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability into Billion-Dollar Businesses.” We dived deep into how sustainability isn’t just good for the planet but can also be the golden goose for businesses aiming to reach the billion-dollar mark. Freya’s insights are not just for the tree-hugging environmentalists but for the hardcore capitalists who want to make serious money while doing good for the world. SUMMARY Freya started by telling the story of a remarkable shoe company that has turned the humble plastic bottle into a fashion statement. These shoes, initially designed for women but now available for men, are stylish, comfortable, and washable, making them practical for everyday wear. And guess what? They are made from recycled plastic bottles, many of which are from ocean waste. What makes these shoes stand out isn’t just their eco-friendly material. It’s their mainstream appeal. Consumers aren’t buying them solely because they’re green; they’re buying them because they’re cool, chic, and high-performance. The sustainability factor is the icing on the cake, giving customers bragging rights about being environmentally conscious without compromising style or comfort. Freya refers to this company as a “green unicorn,” a business that has achieved a billion-dollar valuation through sustainability. The key to their success? They got their product design and marketing right. They understood that to drive demand for sustainable products, the emphasis shouldn’t be on the planet-saving attributes alone but on the mainstream appeal. It’s about making products that people want to buy, and oh, by the way, they also happen to be better for the planet. @milliondollarbookman @thedreamstarter https://lnkd.in/dbKMkp8T

Are there increasing requests from customers for sustainable products? This is the type of question that many businesses in the clothing industry are starting to ask themselves. With consumers growing more mindful of their environmental impact, the demand for sustainable and ethically produced clothing is on the rise.   Here at GoCustom Clothing, we recognise the significance of making environmentally conscious decisions. This is why we have taken the necessary measures to attain certifications, assuring our customers that they are investing in clothing that upholds the highest standards of sustainability and social responsibility. If you’re interested in watching the full live show - https://lnkd.in/eMwh5X7m #sustainability #sustainable #sustainablebusiness #ecofriendly #custom Kornit Digital Stanley/Stella Gary Layzell Angus Mitchell

Exciting to see even more validation from senior execs in the retail industry, indicating a significant shift toward integrating circularity into their business models. 50% say that embracing sustainability is not just a nice-to-have, but is a commercial necessity for their business to thrive. Being fully circular in a couple years is pretty ambitious stuff, no doubt, but a great goal nonetheless 🚀

Following on Circ® being named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 list last week... Our Alante Portfolio Impact Highlight: Circ® - Threading together the future of circular fashion Circ is a globally recognized pioneer in chemical recycling of blended apparel fibers. Circ’s process stands out among clothing recyclers because it can take any blend of cotton/cellulosic/polyester garments as a feedstock -  solving a much broader range of the industry’s waste challenge. Their products can directly replace the use of virgin polyester, lyocell, and cotton as well as recycled polyester (traditionally from bottles) and recycled cotton (traditional or mechanical methods) reducing land use and energy intensity. Sustainability is deeply embedded within the “fibers” of Circ’s team, organization, and products. Their aspirational impact is incorporated directly into their 10/10/100 objective to recycle 10 billion garments, representing 10% of the apparel market which will save 100 million trees. They verify progress towards this goal with data-powered measures they regularly report on, emphasizing transparency and a conservative approach. Founders - Peter Majeranowski Conor Hartman #circularfashion #textiletotextilerecycling #circularity #forestconservation Karla Mora Leslie Harwell Tess Maria Krasne Lisa Bougie https://circ.earth/

1% of all post-consumer textiles are recycled into new clothing. 12% is downcycled into something of lesser value 87% of textile waste is pure loss. H&M backed Renewcell who wanted to make fashion circular have filed for bankruptcy. Sad day for circularity when Renewcell as another company struggled to make it profitable with a circular business model. During the first 9 months of 2023 their revenue was 199 million SEK with a loss of 325 million. A lot of circular solutions need big investments to make it happen and to scale up and with the shift in the economy the last years it is more tricky than before. However, there are already enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of the world. So I look forward for more innovation in recycling like Renewcell but meanwhile lets use what we already have smarter. Therefore so happy to see the growth of many secondhand actors for fashion and especially another H&M backed actor Sellpy who for me is the first actor who has really made it easy to sell and buy used clothes. Cant remember when I bought something new last.

A huge loss for the #textiles recycling industry, Renewcell´s people and their partners. Building an high-tech innovation-driven business require a lot from everyone involved, from operators to management and investors.. But I still cannot shake the thought that this company will be reborn 🏋♀️ again when the dust settles. Why? This market is going to explode, stay strong and move our cognitive acceptance level of what is and can be defined as -sustainable- in the #futureproofing of the fashion industry. Even as it looks a bit dark when reading about #renewcell today - just look at the future and keep in mind the industry is moving; Major fashion brands, including adidas, Patagonia, and Levis’Store, are actively collaborating with innovative #textilerecycling startups. These partnerships signal a shift towards #circularbusiness models and a collective commitment to sustainability. Over the last decade, there has been about 250% increase in research and development investments in textile recycling technologies, showcasing a growing commitment to finding #sustainablesolutions. Breakthroughs in #advancedrecycling technologies, such as enzymatic and chemical processes, have increased the efficiency of textile recycling by up to 30%, paving the way for scalable and economically viable circular practices. 👩💻 The global textile recycling market is projected to witness a CAGR of 15% from 2022 to 2026. This growth indicates a significant market opportunity and potential profitability for businesses adopting circular practices. Pioneering companies like Patagonia have earlier reported a 25% increase in profits after implementing circular business models. This success story serves as an inspiration for other businesses considering circular approaches - and they will follow because people are starting to choose recycled (when available). These positive developments all in their own way demonstrate a shift towards a more sustainable and circular ♻ textile 👖 industry, offering hope for a bright future for textile recycling at scale.

Netherlands’ ASN Impact Investors has divested all its holdings in the fashion industry – amounting to $75M investments in twelve well-known clothing companies – citing insufficient progress towards achieving more sustainable business models. The divestment aligns with ASN’s new sustainability criteria, which excludes investments in companies it believes are engaged in fast fashion or who fail to adopt a circular business model. To-date, only 1% of discarded clothing is recycled. ASN encouraged other investors to help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable clothing industry, which is responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.  https://lnkd.in/eP_QQiyK

What’s in and what’s out in the world of sustainable fashion for 2024? As we step into a new year, Catherine Salvidge, WRAP's Strategic Technical Manager for Textiles, shares with Drapers her take on what resolutions she hopes the fashion industry will commit to this year. ❌ OUT: - Rising production levels - Surplus, unsold, and returned products being incinerated or sent to landfill - Non rewearable textiles polluting the global south - Virgin (or conventional) fibres being used to create new products - Exploitative labour practices and murky supply chains - Greenwashing tactics ✅ IN: - Offtake agreements and partnerships between brands and recyclers - Shifting to less water intensive alternatives to conventional cotton, such as organic, regenerative, and recycled cottons - Policy interventions to support the work being doing through voluntary initiatives - Brands offering and prioritising services such as rental, resale, repair, and upcycling - Educating the public on how to care for their clothing, how to dispose of it responsibly and unpicking unsustainable consumption --- Read the full article on Drapers' website at the link below. Let us know in the comments if there are any others you’d add to the list. 👇👇

Are there increasing requests from customers for sustainable products? This is the type of question that many businesses in the clothing industry are starting to ask themselves. With consumers growing more mindful of their environmental impact, the demand for sustainable and ethically produced clothing is on the rise. Here at GoCustom Clothing, we recognise the significance of making environmentally conscious decisions. This is why we have taken the necessary measures to attain certifications, assuring our customers that they are investing in clothing that upholds the highest standards of sustainability and social responsibility. If you’re interested in watching the full live show - https://lnkd.in/eMwh5X7m Kornit Digital Stanley/Stella Angus Mitchell Gary Layzell #sustainablefashion #sustainability #ecofriendly #sustainableclothing