Ericka Leigh is a sustainable advocate and entrepreneur who spends quite a bit of time doing experiments in textile composting. She shares her observations and studies on social media, which gives her audience an understanding of how clothing/shoes break down (or don't) due to their natural or synthetic construction. It's a fascinating conversation discussing composting, repurposing, and the social ills perpetuated by fast fashion. Check out the episode and don't forget to subscribe and follow.

Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid is celebrating its first anniversary with Planet Aid’s President and CEO Fred Olsson on episode 12. Hosts Monica Johnson and Haley Chitty sat down with Fred as he shared fascinating insights into Planet Aid’s origins, its mission, and his own inspiring journey, starting as a young man traveling and working with various global development projects, to his position at the helm of Planet Aid.

Here is our latest episode of the Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid Podcast. Our guest is Nathan Hryn, the young founder of Acorn Hills Clothing Company, a sustainable clothing brand doing a lot of good for conservation and environmental restoration.

In this episode, we talk to Nate about why he created his sustainable clothing company while in college, where his inspiration came from, his goals going forward, ..and much more.

It's a great conversation! Don't forget to subscribe and get notifications for all of our upcoming podcast.

Podcast hosts Monica Johnson and Haley Chitty, talk with Kanwar Usman, head of textiles at ICAC, discussing the organization's role in the global cotton and textiles industry. They cover ICAC's significance, annual meetings, and Usman's initiatives in advising countries on textiles. The conversation delves into challenges in cotton consumption and production, the impact of synthetic products, and the importance of cotton farming in underdeveloped countries. The movement of cotton, challenges faced by cotton farmers, and efforts to expand beyond traditional textiles are also highlighted. The discussion emphasizes the biodegradability of cotton, regulations like extended producer responsibility, and ICAC's involvement in sustainability scoring and trade facilitation. The impact of high yields on sustainability, the secondhand clothing industry, and the potential for recycling cotton products are explored, along with the regulations and global direction for sustainability.

In the latest episode of Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid, host Monica Johnson speaks with Simon Glimtoft, the mall manager of ReTuna, the world's first recycling mall, located in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Glimtoft shares how ReTuna is leading the way as a global sustainable shopping model.

In Episode 7 of Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid, we talk to Finch and Frog Founder and Owner, Pamela Batzel about the power of language and rhetoric in corporate sustainability messaging. Finch and the Frog is a linguistics-based market research company that helps businesses evaluate and achieve their sustainability messaging goals.

In episode 4 of "Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid," Monica welcomes Tameka Peoples, founder and CEO of Seed2Shirt, the first black-woman-owned vertically integrated apparel manufacturing company in the U.S. Tameka shares her journey and insights on sustainable farming practices and the value of enriching every stakeholder involved in the apparel production process.

Seed2Shirt was born from Tameka's vision of a completely black-owned apparel company, requiring complete control over every stage of the production process, a concept she describes as the opposite of outsourcing. This vertical integration allows Seed2Shirt to maintain ethical, sustainable, and socially impactful practices. Tameka emphasizes the importance of understanding and controlling each step in the value chain, from growing cotton to the final stages of clothing production, which includes:

The company's unique approach extends beyond mere production. Tameka is passionate about creating meaningful impact rather than following popular trends or buzzwords. This commitment is evident in Seed2Shirt's Farmer Enrichment Program (FEP), which supports 8,400 African and 1,200 U.S. farmers. The FEP invests profits back into the community through educational programs, equipment grants, and certifications, breaking away from the traditional extractive business models in agriculture.

Seed2Shirt also tackles the challenge of encouraging farmers to adopt new, more sustainable methods of production. The key has been showing farmers how these changes lead to reduced water usage, increased yields, and higher prices for their certified processes. Despite the financial risks, the Farmer Enrichment Program has committed significant resources to reduce risks and increase rewards for farmers.

An important aspect of Seed2Shirt's mission is addressing the traumatic history associated with cotton farming among Black Americans, stemming from chattel slavery. The company works to reconnect Black Americans with agriculture, helping to heal generational trauma and promoting a positive association with cotton farming.

Seed2Shirt and Planet Aid work together as allies in the textile industry, sharing core values of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. While Seed2Shirt focuses on sustainable production and high-quality textiles, Planet Aid ensures these durable clothes are reused through its yellow bin donation sites.

For those inspired to contribute to sustainability in their community, Planet Aid offers several options, including finding a nearby yellow donation bin, joining their School Program, or hosting a yellow bin.