What are the leading trends and innovations in the world of circular fashion, and what will it take to bring these strategies to scale?

It’s no secret that the fashion industry has an environmental problem: The global fashion industry accounts for 10 percent of global carbon emissions, 20 percent of wastewater and relies on 98 million tons of non-renewable resources each year. And this is to say nothing of the dwindling life cycle of clothing and the resulting waste of more than 10 million tons of textile waste each year in U.S. landfills alone. The need for urgent action is clear. 

Fashion is ripe for a redesign, and applying circular principles to every phase of a garment’s lifespan has the power to revitalize and reimagine the industry as we know it. Revised design principles and new business models — like resale, rental, and repair — can extend product life and redefine ownership. Technological breakthroughs can enable new textiles made from recycled materials and biological sources. Redesigned recycling systems, manufacturing processes and supply chain flows can reduce inefficiencies and prioritize sustainable solutions. 

This half-day tutorial will follow a garment’s trajectory from sourcing and design to the business model within which it’s sold to its end of life management, uncovering leading circular solutions along the way. Bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the apparel value chain, together we’ll explore what it will take to redesign the apparel industry of today. 

What does it mean for packaging to be recyclable, and what process is needed to confirm recyclability and avoid liability?

Between contentious legal battles and stringent, newly passed regulations, recyclability claims have come under scrutiny in recent months. Is a piece of packaging recyclable when it’s theoretically feasible to recycle it, or only when it’s recycled in practice? How often are specific packaging designs recycled in practice, and can this data truly be collected? When is the chasing arrows symbol instructive, and when is it false advertising? Join this session as we unravel these questions and more to demystify the confusing world of recyclability claims.  

How can cities reduce Scope 3 emissions? And how can circular strategies help?

A small but growing body of evidence shows that circular economy approaches, including reuse and composting, can help cities reduce Scope 3 emissions. You’ll hear from a forward-thinking NGO that has quantified these benefits and a sustainability leader who is putting these ideas into action in one of America’s major cities.

Confusion and chaos often define today’s recycling infrastructure. But a collaborative approach across the value chain—from ensuring a product can be recycled and educating consumers to proper sorting support and identifying end-use markets—can make a difference.

 Join this session to learn how stakeholders in the food and beverage carton industry came together and increased recycling access rates by nearly 240 percent since 2009. In this discussion, you’ll hear how nuts and bolts solutions were identified and how stakeholders worked together to remove recycling barriers, build consumer knowledge, change consumer habits, and more.

This session is sponsored by Tetra Pak. Sponsored sessions are sponsor-created and hosted breakouts, created independently by the sponsor without input from GreenBiz. Please note that attendee contact information will be shared with the sponsoring company.

What role do waste collectors play in your company’s supply chain, and how can you ensure dignity and equity when procuring recycled materials?

The demand for post consumer recycled plastics is outpacing supply. To source this high-demand feedstock companies across industries have partnered with waste collector communities to identify, sort and sell plastics to be recycled. Beyond aiding recycled-content goals, these partnerships prevent waste in the environment and open up the potential for more socially responsible sourcing. But what will it take to build a meaningful engagement with waste collectors beyond one-off partnerships? How can your company do so with equity, dignity and respect for the work of these individuals? What human rights considerations should be top of mind when engaging with workers down the supply chain? Explore these questions with representatives of waste collector communities and the companies effectively partnering with them. 

How can major foodservice and retail companies overcome food waste reduction roadblocks?

The movement to address food loss and waste is going mainstream. With increased investment across the food chain and sweeping commitments by large players such as Sodexo and Walmart, momentum is at an all-time high. How can we ensure that today’s ambitious corporate commitments and investment agendas have a material impact? What role can your organization play in advancing progress?

In this interactive workshop, you will connect with other organizations, investors and businesses shaping a waste-free food future to strategize on deconstructing food waste roadblocks. Experts from Walmart, Sodexo and ReFED will explore key food waste and loss solutions trends, dive deep into two case studies and activate the group’s collective problem-solving skills. Walk away with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities and forge new connections to follow through on food waste action.

What is the state of industrial ecology and the transformation of carbon, and what will it take to evolve these practices towards a more circular economy?

Industrial ecology encompasses some big ideas. It is an approach that uses sophisticated tools to help us rethink how we make things today to preserve materials and energy. We'll look at examples of how to scale up collaborative solutions to support our journey from linear to circular.