Today’s team-wide meeting was an inspirational one (and I’m normally a hardened, cynical New Yorker). The phrase “Here For It” resonates strongly with this newsletter, specifically, embracing the idea of becoming a more sustainable organization is one where the most important thing we can do is to simply be here for it.
It’s clear that there is no silver bullet strategy that will magically make Adore Me a world leader in the sustainability movement tomorrow and we’re not going to solve the existential threat of climate catastrophe ourselves. But the most fundamental thing we can all do, individually and collectively, is to be present for the challenge.
I’m not an activist, but the brand identity conversation hammered home that we don’t all need to be Extinction Rebellion marchers. We can all choose to start taking some small actions, whether that’s changing individual behaviors, transforming the way we do business, or even just clicking on some articles in this newsletter. Improving our impact on the environment is no longer a political or social issue. It’s just a necessary reality.
The first step is to just embrace that we’re here for it 🙌.
Happy Reading,
Ranjan
WHAT WE’RE READING
How Salesforce, Google, others use tech as a ‘force multiplier’ in sustainability innovation
Coverage of a recent panel featuring sustainability leaders from Salesforce, Google and Higg (the leading company in fashion sustainability benchmarking) which explored the technological side of sustainability.
Some tools profiled include:
- Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer
- Salesforce’s Sustainability Cloud
Don’t let the negative 20% stop your sustainability story
“Why don’t companies talk more about the good things they do for society?”
Bob Langert, former VP of Sustainability at McDonald’s, believes most big companies avoid talking about their sustainability efforts out of a fear of what the “negative 20%” will say.
He refers to a recent NYT piece on Nestlé (this was an excellent piece), and this 60 minutes interview with Jamie Dimon, as examples of how it’s done best.
Fun Fact: The first Chief Sustainability Officer at a corporation was appointed within DuPont in 2004.
Inside The P2P Sharing Platform For Luxury Apparel That Connects Wearers Via Local Dry Cleaners
A new NYC-based clothing rental/sharing startup has a unique angle: use existing dry cleaners as distribution points.
For the New York readers, you can download the Wardrobe App here.
Wasteful packaging is going out of fashion
Vogue Business writes about the world of sustainable packaging. Some companies in the space worth checking out are:
- LimeLoop: Reusable vinyl shippers
- Braiform: Closed loop hanger system
- Complast: Biodegradable, bio-based bags
- BetterPackaging: Compostable courier satchels
Dirty fashion | Changing Markets
A data visualization-packed report which primarily covers viscose-supply chain practices, but also touches on a number of big questions around sustainable fashion.
The State of Fashion 2020: Navigating uncertainty in the fashion industry – McKinsey
While not fully sustainability-focused, McKinsey’s annual industry must-read report is out, and the topic is mentioned a number of times.
The full PDF is 108 pages – enjoy!
This Bioplastic Made From Fish Scales Just Won the James Dyson Award
British product designer Lucy Hughes has invented a biodegradable plastic made from fish guts. The resulting product is strong, flexible and translucent, with a feel similar to plastic sheeting. It biodegrades on its own in four to six weeks.
Is shopping at Primark really a way to be greener?
A surprising statement from the CEO of one of the fastest, cheapest fashion outlets around: Primark. He argues that their hyper-efficient, land-only supply chain (no air freight), and in-store buying means “no delivery vans puffing their way up and down a street.”
It’s a good reminder of just how complex the debate over what is environmentally friendly is.
This Is What Climate Change Sounds Like
The NY Times profiles The Climate Music Project – a group that tries to bring the difficult to comprehend topic of climate change to life with music.
