A new study using marine sponges collected off the coast of Puerto Rico has found that the planet has already warmed more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Researchers analyzed ocean temperature records from sea sponges going back 300 years, a press release from The University of Western Australia (UWA) said. They concluded that global heating had actually increased by 0.5 degrees Celsius more than earlier estimates.
“So rather than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimate of average global temperatures having increased by 1.2 degrees by 2020, temperatures were in fact already 1.7 degrees above pre-industrial levels,” said lead author of the study Malcolm McCulloch, who is a professor with the UWA Oceans Graduate School and Oceans Institute, in the press release. “If current rates of emissions continue, average global temperature will certainly pass 2 degrees by the late 2020s and be more than 2.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2050.”
Sponges grow slowly in layers, so they can be studied like time capsules of periods before modern data, reported CNN.
For the study, the researchers used long-lived sclerosponges’ calcium carbonate skeletons to extract ocean temperature records, the press release said.
A researcher takes a specimen of Ceratoporella nicholsoni, which was used to calculate 300 years of warming. Clark Sherman
“In particular, we examined changes in the amount of a chemical known as ‘strontium’ in their skeletons, which reflects variations in seawater temperatures over the organism’s life,” McCulloch said in The Conversation.
Using this process, the researchers — who were from UWA, University of Puerto Rico and Indiana State University – concluded that ocean temperatures began to rise in the mid-1860s.
“The sponge records showed nearly constant temperatures from 1700 to 1790 and from 1840 to 1860 (with a gap in the middle due to volcanic cooling). We found a rise in ocean temperatures began from the mid-1860s, and was unambiguously evident by the mid-1870s. This suggests the pre-industrial period should be defined as the years 1700 to 1860,” McCulloch said in The Conversation.
McCulloch said the findings of the study demonstrated that global heating — the combined average of land warming and ocean surface temperatures — had been underestimated by half a degree, primarily during the first stage of the industrial era when shipping coverage was still limited.
“[H]istorical temperature records for oceans are patchy. The earliest recordings of sea temperatures were gathered by inserting a thermometer into water samples collected by ships. Systematic records are available only from the 1850s – and only then with limited coverage. Because of this lack of earlier data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has defined the pre-industrial period as from 1850 to 1900,” McCulloch said in The Conversation. “But humans have been pumping substantial levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since at least the early 1800s. So the baseline period from which warming is measured should ideally be defined from the mid-1700s or earlier.”
McCulloch said the study also found that land surface warming has been accelerating more quickly, meaning even the two degree goal established by the Paris Agreement was at risk.
“Since the late 20th century, land-air temperatures have been increasing at almost twice the rate of surface oceans and are now more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This is consistent with well-documented decline in Arctic permafrost and the increased frequency around the world of heatwaves, bushfires and drought,” McCulloch said in The Conversation.
The study, “300 years of sclerosponge thermometry shows global warming has exceeded 1.5 °C,” was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
“The now much faster rates of land-based warming also identified in the study are of additional concern, with average land temperatures expected to be about 4 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2050,” McCulloch said in the press release. “Keeping global warming to no more than 2 degrees is now the major challenge, making it even more urgent to halve emissions by early 2030, and certainly no later than 2040.”
The findings of the study have been called into question by other scientists who say it has an excessive amount of limitations and uncertainties and could result in public confusion regarding climate change, CNN reported.
One of the main arguments against the accuracy of the findings is that the researchers used just one type of marine sponge from a single location to represent temperatures across the globe.
NASA climate scientists Gavin Schmidt said that — given the range of temperatures on Earth — estimating the average temperature worldwide requires data from the greatest number of locations possible.
“Claims that records from a single record can confidently define the global mean warming since the pre-industrial are probably overreaching,” Gavin said in a statement, as reported by CNN.
The study emphasizes the urgency of reducing fossil fuel emissions as quickly as possible.
“Our revised estimates suggest climate change is at a more advanced stage than we thought. This is cause for great concern,” McCulloch said in The Conversation. “It appears that humanity has missed its chance to limit global warming to 1.5°C and has a very challenging task ahead to keep warming below 2°C. This underscores the urgent need to halve global emissions by 2030.”
The post Controversial Study Says 1.5°C Warming Target Already Breached, ‘Underscores Urgent Need’ to Phase Out Fossil Fuels appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/marine-sponges-climate-change-warming-limit-breached.html
Gone are the days when the act of upcycling clothing was solely associated with at-home DIY projects. Upcycling in fashion is now quickly becoming a creative and sustainable response to the industry’s growing waste crisis. Ahead, discover a curated list of upcycled fashion brands that are repurposing old garments into covetable, one-of-a-kind items of clothing that are a far cry from anything made using a hot glue gun.
What Is Upcycled Clothing?
Upcycling in fashion essentially involves the practice of repurposing post-consumer waste or worn-out pieces of textiles into fresh — and wearable — clothing styles.
By diverting landfill-bound clothing, adding value, and placing them back into circulation, upcycling encourages the very idea of circular fashion. An idea that could potentially prevent waste and reinforce a sense of value in the consumer that is used to tossing away clothing after merely getting 7-10 wears out of them.
The past few seasons have even seen luxury designer brands like Balenciaga, Chloé, and Dolce & Gabbana dabbling with upcycled creations by giving it the high-fashion boost it needs. For its SS21 collection, the statement-making Balenciaga showcased several upcycled looks that included a fur coat composed of dangling shoelaces, and a sheer dress made using basketball net chains.
What Is Reworked Fashion?
Not too dissimilar from upcycling, reworked clothing is the process of reshaping, restructuring, and re-stitching entire garments or parts of them, mixed and meshed with off-cuts, vintage textiles, and trims to produce unique pieces. (More on the behind-the-scenes of the clothing rework process in this podcast episode.)
In fact, studies have shown that clothing reuse activities can conserve between 90 to 95% of the energy needed to make new items, proving that repurposed clothes can significantly lower fashion’s carbon footprint.
Where to Find Upcycled Fashion Brands
According to premium shopping app and fashion data insights platform Lyst, people are growing increasingly curious about upcycled clothing styles. Lyst reports that they’ve seen a 117% rise in demand for upcycled, recycled, repurposed and reworked items year on year.
To keep up with this increasing interest, we scoured the internet to find you the best of the best upcycled clothing brands that are challenging throwaway culture by finding creative ways to repurpose vintage fashion and converting materials you wouldn’t have even dreamt of wearing, into glamorous, one-of-a-kind clothes that are worthy of being addressed as works of art.
Take a look at them below!
Note that the following includes affiliate links and partners. As always all of the upcycled fashion brands featured meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. GOAT Vintage
GOAT Vintage is a BIPOC woman-owned label on a mission to be the upcycled fashion brand that large retailers turn to for supporting their sustainability goals of zero waste production and transparent circularity. Fundamental in their DNA, GOAT Vintage uses no new materials whatsoever — everything is diverted from landfill or used textiles and transformed into “new” styles across the womenswear, menswear and kids categories.
Their upcycled +REWORK collection features a stylish range of clothes that don’t look reworked or pulled apart. From collegiate graphic fleeces, to girly ruffle skirts to the iconic 90’s slip dress, everything is reimagined with zero waste at the heart, with zero compromises on style.
GOAT Vintage partners with retailers who want to launch or expand their sustainable range with next level upcycling styles that are elevated and polished. Beyond streetwear, they design and produce exclusive collections for retailers such as PacSun, Culture Kings and others, to drive home the message that fashion can be truly circular and not a shred more needs to end up in landfill. That’s a message we can all get behind!
Price: $$-$$$$
2. Fanfare
Fanfare is a brand that’s breathing new life into vintage pieces, deadstock fabrics and surplus clothing by transforming them into unique contemporary designs.
Not only do they create upcycled looks but also feature a range of vintage pieces, along with a recycled clothing section on their site that showcases an impressive lineup of handpainted, embroidered and unique patchwork details.
The best part? Starting at $100, you can send them one of your tired old pairs of denim jeans to upcycle it to your customization and liking.
Price: $$-$$$
3. RE.STATEMENT
The upcycled clothing marketplace unlike any other, RE.STATEMENT works with small business designers to convert existing or used materials into pieces that make a statement.
From designers that tie-dye, hand-paint, and embroider appliqués to create distinctive styles you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, this marketplace lets you buy distinct clothing and also offers the unique option to upcycle your own clothes by co-creating with a RE.STATEMENT designer of your choice.
Price: $$-$$$
4. RE/DONE
At an amateur level, many of us have upcycled an old pair of jeans into denim cut-off shorts for the summer. After all, denim just happens to be one of the most democratic and resilient materials that tend to outlive most of the clothes in our wardrobes.
But don’t just take our word for it — take a look at what LA-based RE/DONE has achieved ever since it began partnering with heritage brands like Levi’s to upcycle vintage jeans into modern fits.
Since its affiliation with the timeless denim label in 2014, upcycled clothing brand RE/DONE claims to have diverted over 158,000 pairs of vintage Levi’s from landfills by transforming them into unique collectables.
Price: $$$-$$$$
5. 4KINSHIP
“If you are expecting a perfect piece, these are not for you.” These are just a few words of caution you’re bound to come across while shopping on 4Kinship’s website. This Diné-owned vintage and upcycled fashion brand prides itself on creating repurposed, imperfect pieces “that have a lot of soul” — as the brand so aptly describes it.
Upcycling materials like military parachutes and old curtains, along with a mix of preloved textile and vintage pieces, 4KINSHIP works with the indigenous folk of Dinétah (ancestral homeland of Navajo) and constantly supports projects that uplift their community.
Price: $$-$$$
6. E.L.V Denim
E.L.V Denim is a London-based label that upcycles unwanted post-consumer denim to create genderless, size-inclusive denim styles that are bound to age well in your wardrobes.
We love the fact that most of their denim jeans are vertically patched in contrasting washes at the legs to create unique styles that are sure to give you the illusion of a longer frame.
Moreover, by reusing existing denim materials, the upcycled denim brand reduces its water consumption by using 7 liters of water to wash its denim compared to a whopping 7,000 for every new pair of jeans made.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Shop @ MATCHES | Shop @ Net-A-Porter
7. Hôtel Vetements
This chic French label was born out of the need to rescue and revive discarded hotel linens and textiles to create clothes which capture the symbolism of the hotel experience through meticulous handicrafts.
Hôtel Vetements creates its wearable heirloom pieces using forgotten hotel curtains, upholsteries, cotton sheets, linens and tablecloths that look like they could’ve easily come from a Wes Anderson movie.
In fact, the upcycled clothing brand says that some of their hotel linens like embroidered, silk curtains were sourced from the iconic Ritz Hôtel in Paris and date all the way back to the 1800s.
Price: $$-$$$
8. Farewell Frances
Using a wide variety of vintage quilts and bedsheets, Farewell Frances makes upcycled clothing look every bit as covetable and chic.
The upcycled clothing brand’s range of quilted jackets appears worn-in yet cozy, which have a distinctive Cottagecore appeal to them. An aesthetic that is clearly visible in their styles, since the head designer, Carly Scheck claims to draw design inspiration from her favorite childhood movies and novels like Little Women, Heidi and Anne of Green Gables.
Price: $$-$$$
9. 1/OFF®
1/OFF® is a repurposed clothing brand that makes upcycling in fashion look oh so chic with vintage designer pieces from luxury fashion houses like Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and more. They create one-of-a-kind pieces as its namesake appropriately suggests.
Consider it your gateway brand to owning part of a higher-end luxury label. If that doesn’t sound convincing enough, just take a look at this repurposed halter-neck wrap top that came from a Ralph Lauren men’s shirt.
Price: $$$
Check out 1/OFF® (NL)
10. Chopova Lowena
This noteworthy UK-based upcycling fashion brand is a celebration of Bulgarian folklore that’s seamlessly blended with sporty elements and a bold punk aesthetic. Just as their design aesthetic suggests, the brand is famous for repurposing recycled and deadstock materials like pillowcases and aprons to create their inimitable skirts and sportswear.
Their iconic pleated skirts instantly give off a punk-rock vibe and have been worn by the likes of Madonna and Dua Lipa, to name a few.
Price: $$$-$$$$
11. Frankie Collective
If you’re a streetwear fan, then Frankie Collective is the place you ought to be shopping for your hypebeast attire. The upcycled fashion brand sources vintage pieces from cult brands like Nike, Champion, Adidas, and The North Face to create reworked pieces in ways you wouldn’t imagine were possible.
Expect to find wave color-blocked sweatpants assembled from 3 different vintage Nike sweaters to deceivingly well-constructed corsets and bustiers that don’t look as though they were reworked using a bunch of sweatshirts.
Price: $$-$$$
12. 3 Women
3 Women is a women-founded and owned brand creating upcycled clothing that you won’t believe once belonged to tablecloths, pillow covers, feed sacks, and rice sacks. You’ll also find vintage treasures from L.L. Bean, reworked Levi’s 501s, along with some pieces dating back to the 70s and 80s.
The Money Manifestation Jacket is easily one of their standout pieces that was crafted from parts of a feed sack and tablecloth.
Price: $$-$$$
13. Picnicwear
As its namesake suggests, Picnicwear — founded by upcycled fashion designer Dani — features a range of bright and cheerful summer-in-the-park-worthy clothes and accessories that are made using deadstock and vintage materials — primarily, upcycled towels!
If you’ve ever relished lounging in a towel robe after a relaxing shower, you know these terrycloth materials can instantly evoke a sense of lazy comfort. So, it’s only logical to see these colorful and bright towels turn into a range of covetable clothes for the summer.
Price: $$-$$$
14. Rokit
Having started out as a hip vintage denim store in the heart of London, Rokit launched its range of reworked fashion back in the late 80s, long before any of the younger millennials were even born.
To date, Rokit originals reworks secondhand and vintage clothes, uses deadstock materials, and manipulates just about anything old to create coveted limited edition pieces.
Since the brand started out as a vintage source for denim jeans, it comes as no wonder that some of the star pieces in their reworked collection include hand-dyed Levi’s jeans.
Price: $$-$$$$
Check out Rokit (UK & US)
15. Proche Studio
Your go-to source for pretty patchwork pieces unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, Proche Studio’s meticulous patterns are an absolute treat for your eyes.
Using vintage scraps from quilts and handkerchiefs, these camisole and patchwork pants are our go-to separates for the season. The unique yet wearable pieces are making upcycling in fashion look appealing even for upcycled clothing newbies.
Price: $$$
For More Slow Fashion Content:
About The Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her.
When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
The post The 15 Best Upcycled Fashion Brands Transforming Would-Be Waste into Beautiful Clothes appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
The 15 Best Upcycled Fashion Brands Transforming Would-Be Waste into Beautiful Clothes
This week’s quote is from poet Gary Snyder: “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Nature Is Not a Place To Visit. It Is Home. appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-nature-is-not-a-place-to-visit/
Green Living
Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Colorado’s First-Of-Its-Kind EPR Oil Recycling Program With David Lawes
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Americans dispose of approximately 1.3 billion gallons of used motor oil annually, but only about 800 million gallons get recycled, and most of that is burned as fuel rather than re-refined into new oil. The plastic packaging oil comes in is more problematic: most curbside programs won’t accept them because residual oil contaminates other recyclables. What happens when the companies that make motor oil embrace extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws that require recycling the oil and the containers it comes in? David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association (LPMA), is leading what could become a national model for extended producer responsibility. Colorado just became the testing ground. In September 2024, five major oil companies—BP Lubricants, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Valvoline—founded LPMA as an independent producer responsibility organization.
Colorado gave producers a choice: join the Circular Action Alliance, which manages all packaging and printed paper recycling in the state, or develop their own sector-specific program that demonstrates better outcomes. LPMA chose the independent path, arguing that petroleum packaging requires specialized handling that general-purpose programs can’t provide efficiently. Lawes brings two decades of EPR policy experience to the role, including a decade regulating EPR programs in Canada. The program he ran in British Columbia achieves a 96% recycling rate for oil containers—compared to less than 1% in most U.S. states. “This is not about skirting the law or finding an easier pathway,” Lawes explains. “It is about meeting the same results in an industry-friendly way.”
If Colorado’s model works, it could reshape EPR programs nationwide. We discuss why petroleum packaging can’t be managed through curbside programs, what lessons from Canada’s more developed EPR system apply here, and whether the U.S. needs national recycling standards to harmonize the patchwork of state regulations. You can learn more about LPMA at interchange360.com.
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Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on December 1, 2025.
The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Colorado’s First-Of-Its-Kind EPR Oil Recycling Program With David Lawes appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-colorados-first-of-its-kind-epr-oil-recycling-program-with-david-lawes/
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