Textiles recycling and reuse efforts are scaling up globally, but so too are upstream efforts to reduce the environmental impact of textiles during design, manufacture and sale. An expert panel discusses a range of textile-related issues including how the clothing industry is addressing the wasteful practices associated with ‘Fast Fashion’, what municipalities can do to keep textiles out of the landfill, and the role Extended Producer Responsibility can play to encourage eco-friendly business practices.
Moderated by Lisa Papania, from the Beedie School of Business, the panel members for this discussion were Lewis Perkins of the Cradle to Cradle Institute Products Innovation Institute, Alexa Kielty, Zero Waste Specialist for the City of San Francisco, and Mark Trotzuk, founder of Boadroom Eco-Apparel. During the discussion a variety of topics were covered including:
- 5:10 – Reconceptualizing the concept of ‘Fast Fashion’ and changing consumer behaviour
- 7:28 – The race to the bottom. Why robust secondhand markets can encourage higher quality
- 10:41 – The potential for Extended Producer Responsibility to transform the textile industry
- 11:52 – Why it’s important to engage with big corporations as thought leaders within industries
- 15:00 – What is the most exciting thing happening in the fashion industry?
Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Conference offers attendees a full day of compelling discussion on crucial zero waste topics. We showcase leaders from a broad range of backgrounds, tackling the vital issues that will define how we move forward in dealing with waste in our society.
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the 2015 Zero Waste Conference on Thursday, October 29, 2015 to hear from industry experts such as our keynote speaker Bill McDonough, the man behind the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, and co-author (with Michael Braungart) of the seminal zero waste works Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things and The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability – Designing for Abundance.
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