What a waste! European textile reuse and recycling on brink of collapse
Ecotextile Talks
Our host Philip Berman sits down with Marie-Jeanne Gaertner, project and policy officer at RREUSE (Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises) to find out why the textile reuse and recycling sector in the European Union is facing an unprecedented crisis. Gaertner says that a recent open letter to the European Commission and member states, penned by RREUSE, explains why the sector is on the brink of financial collapse, with social enterprises bearing the brunt of this turmoil. She notes how the current 'crisis', which has seen several notable business failures in 2024, is unlike any...
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Inside the legal case against 'Shein's £50 billion IPO'
Ecotextile Talks
This episode of Ecotextile Talks explores facing fast fashion company Shein as it considers listing on the (LSE). In the summer UK based charity, , asked the (FCA) to reject any potential request from Shein to list on the LSE. At the moment, we don't know for sure whether Shein has submitted a request to the FCA so as we all wait, we thought that it would helpful for a lawyer to take us inside the legal case against Shein's listing on the London Stock Exchange. Not just any lawyer, but the one representing Stop Uyghur Genocide, from the UK law firm . We...
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Navigating new regulations: The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive explained
Ecotextile Talks
In this episode of Ecotextile Talks, we explore the (CSDD). This significant new European law entered into force on 25 July 2024 and will be rolled out in phases. Hosted by Philip Berman and featuring , Executive Director of , this discussion sheds light on the critical need for companies to uphold human rights and environmental protections throughout their supply chains. Key questions covered include: How will the CSDD reshape human rights due diligence practices in the textile industry? What specific compliance measures must companies implement to align with this directive? In what...
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Monitoring organic cotton from space
Ecotextile Talks
Our host Philip Berman sits down with Claudia Kersten, managing director of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to discuss a cotton monitoring project which is literally out of this world. GOTS is working alongside the European Space Agency (ESA) and artificial intelligence specialist Marple to monitor Indian organic cotton crops from space – using AI and satellite imagery to verify farming techniques and identify fraud. The participants discuss how using satellite imagery and AI can distinguish between organic cotton fields from conventional ones. The project, funded by...
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Can we trust textile factory audits in China?
Ecotextile Talks
Fresh from his high-profile appearance at a recent , Scott Nova, Executive Director of the in Washington DC, gave Philip Berman a hard-hitting interview questioning the reliability of social compliance audits in China. Scott says about auditing companies working in the Xinjiang region: "I'm sure there are some that are actually claiming that they can conclusively demonstrate the absence of forced labor in the region, but no auditor should be working there. It's incredibly disreputable. Even aside from the fact that you can't conduct a methodologically credible audit there, what you were...
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How to come together to decarbonise with Cascale and 'About You'
Ecotextile Talks
In the final edition of our four-part podcast series, produced in partnership with Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, we discuss the need for collective action and pre competitive collaboration to deliver real impact. Regular host is joined by , senior director of the decarbonization program at Cascale, and Magnus Dorsch, Head of Corporate Sustainability, at online retail portal . Topics covered 2 minutes What inspires Joyce and Magnus in their work? 4 minutes What is pre-competitive collaboration, its importance generally and for Cascale 5 minutes Its...
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Taking the carbon out of clothing, with Cascale
Ecotextile Talks
We sit down with Sean Cady, vice president of global sustainability, responsibility and trade for VF Corporation and also elected board director for Cascale, and Andrew Martin, executive vice president of Cascale for our latest podcast on decarbonising the fashion supply chain. This third of a four part podcast series, features a deep dive into how best to tackle carbon reductions in the global apparel industry and take a closer look at Cascale’s shift from tools to programmes.
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Are you ready for the new EU laws on sustainability?
Ecotextile Talks
In the second of a four part podcast series in partnership with , formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, we look at the potential impact on the textile industry of revolutionary new EU laws on green claims and eco-design. Regular host is joined by , senior director of public affairs at Cascale and , co-founder of the consultancy. You can sign up to Cascale's public affairs newsletter, that Elisabeth mentions in the podcast, You can get in touch with Baptiste's consultancy company
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Measuring for impact, with Cascale
Ecotextile Talks
Welcome to a new four part podcast series in partnership with , formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, about the big challenges facing the industry, and Cascale's role in co-creating solutions at scale. The first episode is about Measuring for Impact with host in conversation with: Quentin Thorel, the Group Head of Sustainability of with its HQ in Mauritius. Ciel Textiles supplies fabrics and garments to some of the most iconic fashion brands in the world such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Armani, Hackett, Barbour, Levis, Tommy Calvin Klein, Lacoste and the list goes...
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Ep 2: Cash for Climate Solutions - figuring out fashion’s CO2 emissions
Ecotextile Talks
In the second episode of this podcast series, produced in partnership with the about its (CSP), we take a look at the tool it's built to help decide who should get the funding, and what a winning application looks like. As a quick re-cap, the CSP aims to find, feature and fund any initiative, project or piece of tech with the potential to reduce energy use and/or greenhouse gas emissions at scale in the industry. And it has up to 250,000 dollars per year to award to projects that have the data to show they have the potential to make an impact. In this episode, Ecotextile News...
info_outlineThis episode of Ecotextile Talks explores the legal challenge facing fast fashion company Shein as it considers listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
In the summer UK based charity, Stop Uyghur Genocide, asked the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to reject any potential request from Shein to list on the LSE.
At the moment, we don't know for sure whether Shein has submitted a request to the FCA so as we all wait, we thought that it would helpful for a lawyer to take us inside the legal case against Shein's listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Not just any lawyer, but the one representing Stop Uyghur Genocide, Ricardo Gama from the UK law firm Leigh Day.
We discuss:
- The legal basis for opposing Shein's potential listing, focusing on the UK Modern Slavery Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.
- How these laws could apply to Shein's operations, even though the company produces goods outside the UK.
- The alleged evidence presented to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regarding forced labor in the Uyghur region and its alleged connection to Shein's supply chain.
- Shein's response to the allegations and correspondence from Leigh Day
- The potential next steps in the legal process, including the possibility of a judicial review if the Financial Conduct Authority approves any potential Shein's listing.
In the interests of balance and journalistic integrity, we emailed Shein on 25th September to give it an opportunity to respond to the allegations being made in this podcast by Leigh Day, on behalf of Stop Uyghur Genocide, in particular that its supply chain allegedly features forced labour, and the consequential handling of criminal property in breach of the UK Proceeds of Crime Act.
We asked Shein for either a recorded interview to include at the end of this podcast, or a written statement but as of September 30th no one from Shein had replied.
In the podcast we also invited Shein to record a follow-up podcast with us, to respond to the content of this one.
If you would like to read more about the, "NCA and its failure to investigate imports linked to forced labour - see this Guardian article
If you're interested in this issue, then you might like to listen to another recent edition of Ecotextile Talks entitled: "Can we trust textile factory audits in China?" which has an interview with the Executive Director of the Worker Rights Consortium, Scott Nova.