#3 MUMSTER NEWS ROUNDUP

It's a new month and we're delivering another edition of the MUMSTER news roundup where we share interesting articles we've been reading, update you on projects we're working on and highlight fashion pioneers we admire, let's dive in!?

#1 EU EXPORTS OF USED TEXTILES

A recent report by the European Environment Agency highlighted the issue of textile exports. The amount of used textiles the EU exports has tripled over the last two decades and often ends up in Asia and Africa where their fate is uncertain. What isn't fit for reuse gets downcycled but a vast amount ends up in open landfills and informal waste streams. Cooperation between countries will be essential to better understand the available sorting and recycling capacities and increase transparency and traceability.

#2 PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE ON GREEN CLAIMS

The EU has published a proposal for a directive on green claims. Under this proposal, environmental claims about products or services will need to be specific, proven with scientific evidence, checked by independent accredited verifiers, and communicated to consumers in a clear way.?Brands who produce or import products into the EU will have to back up any green marketing claims with robust and verified evidence or they risk fines of at least 4% of revenue. Claims will have to consider the full lifecycle of a product and must cover all relevant environmental impacts. Self Certified environmental labels with no third party verification will be banned. This proposal is set to come into force sometime in 2024.

On the theme of greenwashing, companies with a higher percentage of women on the board of directors are less likely to make false or exaggerated claims about their environmental performance, according to a recent study.

#3 FOSSIL FREE FASHION SCORECARD

Stand.earth recently released a?new report rating major fashion brands on their reliance on fossil fuels. The results show that fashion companies are not doing enough as over half of the 43 companies examined obtained a D average score based on their climate ambitions, renewable energy use and advocacy, material choices and?shipping footprint.

#4 WHAT THE LATEST IPCC REPORT MEANS FOR FASHION

The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted the urgency of 'acting quickly, acting big, acting now' to limit global temperature increases. The textile sector needs to come up with credible transition plans outlining the actions that will be taken to adapt business models in alignment with a 1.5°C pathway. The focus must be on a just transition that can benefit everyone involved in global supply chains. Engaging with suppliers, providing incentives and resources whilst monitoring?labour and environmental standards in their operations is crucial to curb the sector's impacts. Nature based solutions are also key,?supporting regenerative farming?and reducing the use of synthetic materials.

FASHION PIONEERS : CHANGE MAKERS WE LOOK UP TO!

Mausons is a fashionable men's underwear brand that focuses on raising awareness on the importance of consumers' purchasing power in driving improvements in the fashion industry. This Black-owned brand is inspiring men to contribute to a more sustainable clothing industry. They've recently launched a crowdfunding campaign and your support means a lot!

NEW ON THE BLOG

At the beginning of the month we spoke to Rachel Castillo for International Women's Day, exploring the issues of women exploitation in fashion supply chains and what brands can do to ensure their garments are made ethically. We summarised our conversation in our latest blog post, read it on our MOVEMENT MAGAZINE!

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO??

We are thrilled to be part of the Impact Hub Amsterdam Accelerator program. It's an exciting opportunity, as we're surrounded by experts and like-minded entrepreneurs, we're learning about systems change, strategic partnerships, impact measurement and forming partnership for the circular transition!

We are also working on so many amazing campaigns for our clients Unsalted Amsterdam, Lisa Marin, Sustainable Fashion Gift Card , The Swapshop and RethinkRebels BV: Fashion Sustainability Consultancy .

LET'S JOIN FORCES!??

If you're reading this and like our work, we would love to exchange ideas on a potential partnership! If you’re a brand or organisation and you want to talk about collaborating with MUMSTER, our inbox is always open!

??contact us at [email protected]