For the first time on record, the average global temperature has exceeded 1.5 degree Celsius over a 12-month period, according to new data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
Last month was also the hottest January worldwide since C3S records began in 1950, with an average air surface temperature that was 0.70 degrees Celsius higher than the month’s average from 1991 to 2020. The previous heat record for January — set in 2020 — was 0.12 degrees cooler.
“The global mean temperature for the past twelve months (Feb 2023 – Jan 2024) is the highest on record, at 0.64°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.52°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average,” C3S said in a new report.
Human-caused climate change — coupled with the El Niño weather pattern warming ocean surface waters in the Pacific — led to last year being Earth’s hottest on record.
“It is a significant milestone to see the global mean temperature for a 12-month period exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures for the first time,” said Matt Patterson, an atmospheric physicist from the University of Oxford, as Reuters reported.
Exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold over the course of a year does not mean the 2015 Paris Agreement has been breached, as that target refers to the average global temperature over a span of decades.
The Paris Agreement goal is to keep global heating well below two degrees Celsius, with the aim of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
Some scientists believe that the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark is no longer a realistic objective, and have encouraged governments to speed up the phasing out of fossil fuels in order to reduce emissions and limit warming.
“Rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the only way to stop global temperatures increasing,” said Samantha Burgess, C3S deputy director, as reported by Reuters.
For the past eight months — since June of 2023 — each successive month has been the hottest ever recorded in comparison with the same month in prior years, culminating in an annual average that breached 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“This far exceeds anything that is acceptable,” Bob Watson, a former United Nations climate chair, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “Look what’s happened this year with only 1.5C – we’ve seen floods, we’ve seen droughts, we’ve seen heatwaves and wildfires all over the world.”
Scientists in the United States have warned that there is a one-in-three likelihood that 2024 will be hotter than 2023, with a 99 percent chance that this year will be among the top five warmest ever recorded, Reuters reported.
“We are heading towards a catastrophe if we don’t fundamentally change the way we produce and consume energy within a few years,” Dan Jorgensen, global climate policy minister of Denmark, told Reuters. “We don’t have long.”
Scientists believe global warming will essentially cease when the world reaches net zero carbon emissions. Cutting emissions by half by 2030 is viewed as especially important, however.
“That means we can ultimately control how much warming the world experiences, based on our choices as a society, and as a planet,” said Zeke Hausfather, Berkeley Earth climate scientist, according to the BBC.
The post World Breaches 1.5°C for an Entire Year for First Time on Record appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/average-global-temperature-record-2024-paris-agreement.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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