January
Could you give away 95pc of your wardrobe?
Curbing your clothes-buying can rewire your spending habits – and highlight everything crass and unappealing about “shopping as performance”.
October 2024
This humble ‘house’ in Nepal has lured celebrities and revived a village
Buy the stunning hand-woven rugs of Phaplu that grace the floors of Happy House, or wander down the road to watch the ateliers at work.
Ever wondered what companies do with their old laptops and iPhones?
Sydney entrepreneur Annette Brodie creates new opportunities for obsolete tech via her social enterprise The Reconnect Project.
What makes this Himalayan valley so alluring is its inaccessibility
In Ladakh’s fabled Zanskar Valley, remote villages, dramatic landscapes and ancient monasteries await adventurers. But will a new highway destroy the remote culture drawing visitors to the region?
August 2024
Green super: Why investors hesitate to walk the talk
Lower investment returns and concerns about greenwashing are proving strong headwinds for green super.
February 2024
The people choosing not to have kids because of climate change
As global temperatures continue to race past previously acceptably levels, Millennials are grappling with the question: ‘Can I promise my child a future?’
November 2023
Growing my own jeans took three years and cost more than $15,000
A textiles teacher set out to make a pair of zero-emission pants. It was a lot harder than she thought it would be.
Unilever gives up pretending soap is virtuous
The food and toiletries manufacturer is turning away from claims that its products are good for humanity.
How a bunch of new grapes has made this winery the one to watch
The move to less-mainstream, more climate-adapted varieties is all part of the owners’ plan to make the McLaren Vale winery Orbis as sustainable as possible.
October 2023
That ‘ethical’ smoothie you love is made by a giant plastic polluter
Innocent markets itself as creating healthy products as sustainably as possible. Few consumers know it is owned by Coca-Cola.
August 2023
This device can save you hundreds on your hot water
Electricity smart meters will increasingly be used to make home energy use more efficient.
SurfStitch founder snags $42m from ABN AMRO for sustainable retail biz
Justin Cameron’s new investor joins other high-profile backers KKR’s David Lang, Investible’s Trevor Folsom and Kardinia Capital’s Kristiaan Rehder.
July 2023
The fashion brand selling clothes otherwise destined for the bin
Returns are a headache for retailers and a sustainability nightmare. A pilot program by Kathmandu aims to repair damaged clothing to sell again.
This airline will rent you clothes for just $41, so you can go bag free
Japan Airlines and Sumitomo will rent travellers a set of clothes – in smart, smart casual or mixed – so they can arrive unencumbered by baggage.
June 2023
Why this Rich Lister is farming Singapore’s rooftops
Peter Barber made his money in video production but is now focused on his moonshot project – farming on top of buildings in one of Asia’s busiest cities.
Nigel Sharps’ Dragonfly Enviro Capital rattles tin for $50m
The fund, which launched last year, aims to deploy the money into high-growth impact-focused businesses. It’s targeting a return of 20 per cent per annum.
Having environmental targets is no longer enough: ex-Unilever chief
Paul Polman ran the multinational consumer goods conglomerate for almost a decade. He says consumer expectations are increasing outpacing corporate ambitions.
May 2023
What would you pay for a sustainable home?
Environmental guilt and rising energy costs are fuelling interest among buyers for sustainable living. And, it seems they’re prepared to pay a premium for it.
How this Melbourne chef made fine dining sustainable
Jason Staudt is a chef on a mission: he is always on the lookout for ways to do more for the planet while also producing fabulous food.
From fashion to solar panels, taint of slavery stalks firms
Grace Forrest’s Walk Free has documented $26 billion of goods coming into Australia that could have forced labour in their supply chains.