Sustainability Pulse #113
Sustainability Trends & News Worth Exploring — May 22, 2025
Hi friends,
This week's round-up feels like a quiet reckoning. Between a study on recycled PET in home textiles and the EU finally rolling out its standard for measuring fashion's environmental impact, there's a growing sense that we're not just tweaking at the edges anymore; we're being asked to rethink the whole system.
From Benin's locally grown cotton to smart textiles that can monitor your health, the spectrum of innovation is broad. There's also a lot of tension in the air: Burberry is cutting jobs, Dior had a data breach, and new reports call out how toxic our everyday leggings might be.
But it's not all doom. I loved reading about regenerative wool farmers in Australia, a brand using deadstock to make backpacks, and the rise of vintage and resale, plus, Eliza Faulkner's dreamy dresses still going strong despite the slowdown in sustainable fashion.
It's clear we're in a moment of transition. Consumption patterns are shifting, slowly but surely. Maybe this is what "deconsumption" actually looks like, not an end, but a beginning.
Sustainability assessment of home textiles made of recycled PET fibre using life cycle assessment and life cycle costing analyses
Recycled polyethylene terephthalate fibre in home textiles lowers overall impact.
Human carcinogenic toxicity and global warming showed highest environmental impact.
Chemical use and HFO electricity cause the most environmental and economic burden.
Electricity substitution revealed the lowest impact with 95 % solar energy use.
ReCiPe midpoint (H) method was applied to eighteen environmental impact categories.
ARISE IIP chooses SAP cloud sustainability to boost Africa's role in decarbonising the textile industry
Benin is one of Africa's largest cotton producers of cotton. Supported by ARISE IIP, Benin Textile produces high-quality home textiles like bed linen and towels using locally sourced cotton. These products are distributed to a range of leading European retailers.
A smart acoustic textile for health monitoring
Wearable electronics, such as smart textiles, are of potential use in healthcare monitoring, human–machine interfaces andenvironmental analysis. However, the scalability and reliability of the technology is restricted due to challenges related to rapid material degradation, potential toxicity, high production costs and heavy computational workload. Here we report an acoustic-based smart textile technology.
Sustainable fashion – can we dress well without harming the planet?
The fashion industry thrives on constant reinvention. Fast fashion companies pump out millions of garments daily, often at low prices, but at a high cost to both the environment and workers' rights.
Sustainability in the age of SHEIN: Unraveling fast fashion's façade
It's never been easier to buy cheap, trendy clothes. But there's a dark side to the SHEIN (Temu, Trendyol) hauls all over your #foryoupage. Fast fashion purchases come at the expense of people and the planet—an issue that sustainability activists are bringing to light.
Sustainable duo weaving tapestry of eco-conscious fashion with jute
Scroll, add to cart, buy now and the promise of one-day delivery, affordable fashion- check, trending outfit- check, sustainability…
5 fashion industry trends from the 2025 Met Gala
Guests were encouraged to wear clothes that reflected the theme of "Tailored for You" and responded with fanciful takes on menswear, suits and Black dandyism.
What is the value of the PEF and PEFCR?
**BIG NEWS** Europe now has a standard methodology for calculating product environmental footprints, with specific category requirements for apparel and footwear.This PEFCR will provide a standard, science-based reference that will support the betterment of product footprint in the apparel and footwear sector, support compliance with multiple EU legislation, and foster collaboration 🌍
The future of fashion is already here
According to Dustin White, CEO of sustainable technology company Lab Denim, sustainable innovations already exist but are underutilized due to entrenched business models and risk aversion.
Why QVC is targeting Gen X with a TikTok livestream shopping event
The shopping network is marking year two of its "Age of Possibility" platform by celebrating women over age 50 with a slate of special programming.
Government to unveil new cybersecurity after Harrods and M&S attacks
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will tell tech experts and business chiefs that cybersecurity is "not a luxury but an absolute necessity" as he announces a £16 million package to boost defence at home and abroad.
Trump wants Americans to break one of their biggest habits
President Donald Trump advocates for Americans to reduce their consumption habits. He uses examples like children needing fewer dolls to illustrate his point, suggesting that cutting back supports his economic goals. This stance is part of his broader tariff policies to reduce reliance on imports.
Read More (Under Paywall)
How One Brand Is Defying the Slow Fashion Slowdown
Montreal-based Eliza Faulkner's ethereal frocks are more popular than ever, even as other sustainable businesses struggle. Her secret? Putting design first, and applying slow fashion principles to how she runs her business, too.
Read More (Under Paywall)
Nobody's Child launches pre-loved resale platform with eBay and Reskinned
British fashion brand Nobody's Child has expanded its commitment to circular fashion by launching a pre-loved resale initiative in partnership with eBay and textile recycling platform Reskinned.
Biomaterials firm shakes up leadership as it preps for commercial growth
Gozen's co-founder Ece Gözen is moving into a creative role as the company prepares to target more brand partners.
ThredUp launches curated vintage collection
The online pop-up shop is partnering with Beyond Retro to offer more than 17,000 pieces of womenswear inspired by and sourced from the 1970s through the early aughts.
EBay launches resale trend report
Louis Vuitton was the most-purchased designer label on the platform in the first three months of 2025, while Birkenstock topped the list of fastest-growing brands.
A beginner's guide to vegan fashion (and how to spot 'greenwashing')
Songyi Yan, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
The RealReal's Sales and Profits Rise in Q1, but Investors Want More
Shares of the resale company fell despite an 11 percent sales gain in the quarter and some relative protection from tariffs.
CSUN: Popularity of Fast Fashion Declining as People Become Sustainability-Conscious
Tung leads CSUN's Sustainable Fashion Program, which started in 2022 to raise awareness of fashion sustainability issues and to cultivate sustainability-conscious global citizens.
Are Your Favorite Leggings Full of Toxic Chemicals?
I was scrolling through Instagram recently when I came across a video of a woman dramatically taking off her leggings and throwing them in the garbage. "Leggings are destroying women's hormones," Pippa Campbell, whose Instagram bio describes her as a "functional hormone nutritionist," declared in the caption.
Meeting the Australian Wool Growers Bringing the Land Back to Life
In the harsh, dry landscapes of Western Australia, Di and Ian Haggerty are proving that regeneration is possible even in the most challenging conditions. Their innovative approach to farming earned them the Ryan Young Climate Leader Award at the 2024 Textile Exchange Conference and is reshaping what's possible for wool production in Australia.
Deadstock is key to Cotopaxi's circularity strategy
Patchwork backpacks help the Salt Lake City brand shrink climate emissions and water use.
Burberry plans 1,700 job cuts as revenue sinks
Following a significant profit decline for fiscal 2025, the company said it planned to focus on heritage products and a streamlined inventory strategy.
On is raising some prices, but it isn't because of tariffs
The athletics company saw net sales increase 43% and plans to increase pricing to further differentiate itself as a premium brand in the market.
Dior Data Breach Exposes the Rising Stakes of Digital Trust
A tranche of information about some of Dior's most valuable customers was exposed last week in a data breach in Asia.
Breaking the bottleneck: How fashion brands can overcome supply chain bottlenecks
The fashion and beauty industries have always been fast-moving and dynamic, but in 2025, supply chain bottlenecks are threatening to slow down even the most agile brands.
Can sustainability transform the future of the British fashion industry?
Last year's rocky retail landscape also seems to be coming home to roost in 2025. Online retailer Matches went into administration in March 2024, and eventually closed in July, taking with it almost 300 jobs.
Fungi, bacteria, and the future of fashion
As the fashion industry faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental footprint, a new wave of bio-based textiles is emerging. Researchers and designers are turning to bacteria and fungi to create sustainable, biodegradable fabrics that could revolutionize clothing production.
AN ERA OF 'DECONSUMPTION' IS UPON US; HERE'S WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR FASHION
"Brands built on speed, seasonal churn and passive consumption will find it hardest to adapt."
I really hope you're enjoying The Sustainability Pulse, my weekly newsletter looking at sustainability in the fashion industry. If you find the tips and insights useful, please share these articles to help spread the word.