'Fossil fuels subsidies and polyester taxation,' with Shivam Gusain
Release Date: 07/25/2025
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Ecotextile Talks
Textile sustainability strategist Shivam Gusain argues that the recycling sector has made incineration into a type of all-purpose villain, where the real barriers to recycling are much more practical. Our latest episode fans the flames around textile and clothing incineration and asks whether the textile recycling sector is too quick to blame incineration as the 'bad guy' when the bigger challenge is to build practical recycling capacity amid current waste management and climate pressures. Speaking to host Philip Berman, Gusain says the industry conversation is too focused on incineration...
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In this exclusive interview, Philip Berman talks to Harsh Saini, the outgoing interim CEO of Cascale, to explore the organization's bold new chapter. Following a strategic rebrand and the implementation of a new governance structure, Cascale is evolving to meet the complex challenges of the modern consumer goods industry. Harsh discusses the "unfinished business" of sustainability and how Cascale is empowering its members to move beyond measurement into meaningful, large-scale action. From the acquisition of the Better Buying Institute to the launch of the Manufacturer’s...
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Ecotextile Talks
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The Six-Month Breakthrough That Could Shake Up Sustainable Textiles
Ecotextile Talks
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Just $1000 a Year: Why Organic Cotton Farmers Deserve a Better Deal
Ecotextile Talks
At the moment, organic cotton farmers in countries such as India and Pakistan earn an average of just $1000 a year. Meanwhile, premiums are stacking up through the supply chain, brands are charging more at retail, but the people actually growing the crop see only a fraction of the value. In this episode of Ecotextile Talks, host Philip Berman talks to Bart Vollaard from the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) about why he believes the current premium model isn't delivering for the farmers it's supposed to support, and reveals OCA's ambitious to change that. They discuss how a pioneering new...
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Can fashion brands profit from their own second hand clothes?
Ecotextile Talks
In this episode Ecotextile Talks host speaks with Chief Strategy Officer about the company’s “” model, from white-lable branded resale shops to multi-brand clean-out schemes that can turn underused wardrobes into store credit. They discuss what the real driver is for consumers, how ThredUp’s distribution centres work at scale, why brands decide to plug into this infrastructure than trying to build it themselves. Circularity, policy and impact They also discuss what happens to the garments that do not sell, ThredUp’s aftermarket partners, and what % of items entering its...
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Can Cleaner Chemistry Save Fashion – and Nature?
Ecotextile Talks
Ecotextile Talks, host Philip Berman talks to Frank Michel, CEO of the ZDHC Foundation, about why he thinks cleaner chemistry is becoming a hard ESG requirement rather than a nice-to-have for the global textile value chain. They explore how ZDHC has evolved from its original Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) focus into a broader nature-impact lens that links process chemistry to water quality, biodiversity, climate, and investor risk. Frank explains the thinking behind ZDHC’s new impact framework, developed with environmental consultancy Quantis, which uses lifecycle assessment...
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Welcome to the World of Textile Technology - Singapore ITMA
Ecotextile Talks
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Trump, Tariffs and US Textiles
Ecotextile Talks
Host Philip Berman talks to , President and CEO of the , about the impact of Trump’s tariffs on US textile manufacturing. Kim discusses the challenges posed by tariff unpredictability, including the effects on investment and supply chains, and the winners and losers in the industry. She highlights issues in machinery sourcing, the effect of high tariff rates on synthetics, and the role of major trade agreements like USMCA and CAFTA. Kim also addresses reshoring opportunities, and the strategic need for policy certainty to strengthen domestic production.
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Are environmentalists to blame for cotton’s declining share of the textile fibre market?
Ecotextile Talks
Did environmental campaigners really contribute to a decline in cotton’s global share of fibre production? Well, according to a rather punchy opinion piece in a couple of months ago, the answer is a resounding, yes. The article claims that environmentalists have been intellectually dishonest and fed a binary narrative of cotton bad, synthetic fibers good….which created pressure from watchdogs and investor ESG mandates…which then led to brands moving away from conventional cotton to synthetics…and as a result we are now awash with cheap synthetics clothing. Now, this is a...
info_outlineWhile on his travels in Indonesia, our correspondent Shivam Gusain speaks to Philip Berman about his latest Ecotextile News article on decarbonising the textile industry, fossil fuel subsidies, and polyester taxation.
Speaking within the current context of the volatile tariff war between the US and supply chain countries like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, Shivam advocates for fiscal approaches that reduce the cost of sustainable alternatives rather than excessive taxation.
He emphasises the interdependence of fossil fuels and global stability, saying that removing subsidies and applying levies are deeply political acts.
The full article “Carbon taxes will halt textile sector progress” features in our August 2025 print edition – out today – and is available here on our digital platform for premium members.
You can read the full story in print or online, while at the same time supporting the work that we do to improve the environmental and social profile of our industry, by becoming a member of our global community.
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