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Adele Stafford's avatar

I am a sustainability exec in the apparel and footwear sector, specifically for the largest data collection company across supply chain environmental and human rights data, as well as product and material data. And I used to run a small, bespoke brand called Voices of Industry. Sustainability, at scale, is insanely complex, as you've noted, but some of what you're touching on does materially matter. Brand-driven resale, when integrated as an overall part of production strategy, does incentivize a decrease in production volume. It's imperfect, to be sure, but until 'degrowth' becomes a viable model (very unclear on how that squares with capitalism) it's a proven path.

The real kicker here is regulation. And the imminent EU regs like CSRD, CSDDD, French Eco Score and Digital Product Passport (acronym slush) are the critical drivers for enforcing massive shifts in supply chain and human rights practices. We're seeing it first hand. Brands are scrambling, as they should be, and there is a ton of investment being put towards supply chain transparency and impact reduction programs. At the heart of this, environmentally, is the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, which is predicated on production volume and that correlation is quite apparent. So while no brand is going to outright tell you their production volume, public reporting will reveal all (or most). Again, imperfect, but I see a new day on the horizon, albeit very late in arriving.

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Getlemanstimes's avatar

loved the bit in this about monetizing your hobbies -- one of the worst things Millennials did/let happen. somehow between the fleas and craftaculars of the 2010s the idea that you *could* make money with your crafts, which was surprising and cool, turned into the idea that you basically *had* to make money off your crafts, which is oppressive and capitalist. Just let me make my dumb little things and not feel guilty i don't have a social media marketing strategy for them.

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