SOME GOOD GREEN NEWS AND STORIES TO LIGHT UP YOUR DAY #2
It’s been a long while since we have shared some interesting green stories and news from around the world, so we’re back with another edition to give you a little update on what is going on in our world. Education is key when it comes to each person’s personal green journey, it’s how we understand our impact on our environment and stay informed on what sustainability issues affect many of our communities.
Without further ado, here’s a round up of a few stories we hope will brighten up your day and encourage you to live a little greener.
Some slow fashion stories and news...
1.Over recent years, we have seen a variety of biomaterials and biofabrics come into the spotlight to be offered as sustainable alternatives to commonly used synthetic ones we have grown used to in our fast fashion. And now, after 3 years of experimentation by California’s MycoWorks, mushrooms or rather mycelium, the underground substance mushrooms sprout from(patented Fine Mycelium), is one of the newest materials to be developed as a vegan alternative to animal leather and is anticipated to be a key component of Hermes’ new handbag launching this winter!
An incredible feat and we hope for more innovations like this that use more sustainable sources so that we get closer to a greener world everyday.
Read more: The might of mushrooms: from fashion to skincare and supplements
2.As we all grow more aware of how rapid production of clothing is harmful to our environment, the changing mindset to buy secondhand or preloved has become more mainstream. This livemint article states just how much potential the resale market has:
“In July, Business of Fashion estimated the global resale market to be worth $130 billion. Thredup has predicted the resale sector to be double the size of fast fashion by 2030. Vestiaire Collective (10 million users), Depop (30 million users) and Vinted (45 million users) have won over consumers in Europe over the last decade, each garnering valuations of over $1 billion. Similarly, the US has been dominated by bigwigs like The RealReal and Poshmark.”
Within South Asia, these western models of reselling have not transferred over seamlessly, however, due to a strong culture of preserving and handing down heritage pieces within South Asian communities, the preloved market certainly has the potential to grow.
Read more: Why the future of fashion is preloved
3.With each year that passes more businesses, corporations, and NGOs all over the world are doing their part to tackle how unsustainable our current fashion industry is. In a small town in Italy called Prato, they have built their fortune by transforming old fabric scraps into new clothes, particularly knitwear and wool. Over 100 companies exist in this district, all involved in one aspect or another of the recycling process and they claim to currently produce around 15% of the world's recycled clothing.
Watch the full video here:
Some general sustainability stories and news...
1.Not long ago, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) was held in Glasgow from October 31st to November 12th 2021. The summit aimed to “bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.” The 4 main goals of the event were to: secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach; adapt to protect communities and natural habitats; mobilise climate finance; and encourage countries to work together to deliver.
Though there is still much progress to be made and could not be accomplished in just 2 short weeks, the summit did see many new pledges made on methane gas pollution, deforestation, and coal financing, to name just a few.
Read more: What the COP26 climate conference really accomplished
2.With COP26 spurring communities to make active change, India’s youth also seeks out better climate education to increase awareness and encourage positive action.
“On the formal education front, India has had an active policy for environment education since the 2003 Supreme Court directive set out a possible way forward; with the goal being to educate each young Indian about the environment, learn about sustainability and the real risks emerging from climate change. There is an active argument in favour of including climate change education (CCE) in schools as it acts as a positive impetus for India’s efforts to meet its sustainable development goal targets (SDGs), a key priority at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference held earlier this November.”
Read more here: Catch them young: School climate education key for sustainable development
3.It’s important that we all think about sustainability in many aspects especially when it comes to your day-to-day impact, and food, of course, plays a very big part. In this TED-Ed video, it “explores the innovative ways countries are revolutionising farming to ensure we can feed humanity in a way that works with the environment.”
Watch the full video here:
Some nature stories and news...
1.The North Atlantic fishing nations have pledged to ban fishing the world’s fastest shark, the endangered shortfin mako. This comes as a critical breakthrough to help protect the species as they have been prized for their meat and fins as well as in sportfishing.
“At the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) this week, countries agreed “to end overfishing immediately and to gradually achieve biomass levels sufficient to support maximum sustainable yield by 2070” for the mako shark.”
Read more here: Atlantic fishing nations agree to ban catches of mako, world’s fastest sharks
2.India’s UNESCO heritage-listed Western Ghats mountain range faces deforestation and the devastating effects of global warming but, at Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, a group of 27 women act as guardians of the rare ferns, tree-hugging mosses and thousands of other plants that may otherwise be lost forever.
“We are trying to salvage what is possible. It is like a refugee camp,” said Suprabha Seshan, one of the curators at the reserve. It is also like a hospital. “The intensive care unit is in the pots and when you take them out that’s like the general ward where they get other forms of primary healthcare,” Seshan added.
Read more here: The women guarding India’s rainforest ‘refugees’
3.Moreangels Mbizah discusses how communities can help in protecting wildlife while telling her own story of becoming a conservationist. Her story particularly expresses how important it is to be aware of nature around you and encourage others to educate themselves on their surroundings. By just being aware, we would all understand better how to be more conscious of the creatures who live next door to us.
Watch the full video here:
These stories are certainly inspiring and we hope it has helped you grow your own knowledge of the world of sustainability.
Stay tuned with us next week where we will be back to share an all new craft/slow fashion story!