Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, has announced four new Impact Targets covering Soil Health, Women’s Empowerment, Pesticides, and Sustainable Livelihoods. These ambitious new metrics form part of its ongoing 2030 Strategy and detail plans to galvanise change at the field level in key areas. The new targets sit alongside the first … [Read more...]
Helping African fashion entrepreneurs launch their brands globally
A six-week, intensive digital programme called Re-roll Station hopes to help African fashionistas launch their brands into the global market. The aim is to provide creative entrepreneurs with actionable steps to grow brands that are environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and profitable. Re-roll is the brainchild of Cher Potter and Kesiena Harry. Harry is the Programs … [Read more...]
Unlocking growth in SA fashion sector with sustainable design
Nurturing sustainable design and production processes could unlock global growth for South Africa’s fashion sector, as the industry looks to revive local textile and manufacturing capabilities that prioritise both social and environmental wellbeing. This is the view of sustainability consultants Sarah Botha and Laura Llonch, who in collaboration with STADIO School of … [Read more...]
Recycle and reuse your trash for a cleaner environment
According to the EPA, the average person produces approximately 4.9 pounds of “solid waste” or trash per day. Thankfully, you can recycle many everyday household items to help promote a cleaner, greener environment. Recycling and reusing items can help each individual to produce less trash that goes into landfills, ultimately harming our soil, air, and water. We’ve come … [Read more...]
Futurist returns to Design Indaba with green message
As part of the Design Indaba Festival 2020, Paris-based futurist Li Edelkoort will host inspiring new trend seminars in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Edelkoort’s ever-popular three-hour presentations form part of the official programme for the event’s 25th anniversary celebration. Her upcoming talks will take place in two parts. For the first part of the seminar, the … [Read more...]
The denim industry’s dirty little secret
Pollution from the world’s largest denim companies like Wrangler, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein is contributing to the terrible air quality that’s killing 4,400 people every single day in China, SumOfUs reports. And worst yet, these companies won’t reveal how much toxic carbon they’re spewing into the atmosphere from burning coal — one of the key contributors to both … [Read more...]
Buy local this festive season
This festive season is likely to be another 'big spender' for South African consumers – how you spend that money can make a positive impact on the country and its people. You can walk into any shop at the moment and get the message: this is the season when we spend it. In fact, South Africans spend almost twice as much money in December than during any other month of the … [Read more...]
Recycle Swop Shop helps local community
Why a Recycle Swop Shop should be coming to a school near you. I was invited to take a look at a Recycle Swop Shop project in the settlement of Du Noon, Cape Town, by project manager Mariah van der Westhuizen. When I arrived the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Women, old and young, as well as children were queued outside Inkwenkwezi Secondary … [Read more...]
Are your Levi’s poisoning you?
Over the weekend South Africans joined the global call for Levi's to Detox. Over 700 activists in over 80 cities around the world made their voices heard and demanded that Levi's eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its clothing and supply chains. Through street art and creative confrontation Greenpeace demanded Levi's, the world's biggest jeans producer, to "go forth" and … [Read more...]
