Guests Florian Egli and Damita Pressl join the hosts in Zürich to discuss a range of topics including the climate conference in Dubai, vegan dog vitamins, snowy weather in Zurich and Munich, improving dog health, challenges at Selfridges, geopolitical implications in Africa, and transforming plastic bottles into garments.
Upcycling plastic from Swiss rivers creates fashionable garments, promoting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
COP28 pledges and growing public discourse provide hope for progress in combatting climate change.
Political and environmental challenges in Niger, including a recent coup and dependency on oil, complicate the situation.
Deep dives
Sourcing plastic from Swiss rivers to create sustainable garments
Peter Horning, founder of Round Rivers, sources plastic from Swiss rivers and turns it into upcycled products, such as jackets. The raw materials are locally sourced, creating a transparent supply chain. The garments are designed to be comfortable and desirable, making sustainability fashionable. The process is also CO2-negative, as it avoids the burning of the discarded materials.
COP28 makes strides with pledges and agreements
COP28 has seen several groundbreaking pledges and agreements, including commitments for wealthier countries to aid poorer countries affected by climate change. The conference has also focused on combatting methane emissions. While there's skepticism about the conference's effectiveness, the growing public discourse and economic opportunities surrounding climate change provide hope for progress.
Niger's political and environmental challenges
Niger faces political and environmental challenges, as demonstrated by a recent coup and a limited Russian presence. The country depends on oil, which it exports through a single functioning refinery. The state of politics, along with the potential consequences of legalizing people trafficking, add to the complexities of the situation.
Exploring the impact and future of department stores
The ownership and survival of department stores have become topics of interest, as global brands navigate sustainability and changing consumer demands. Companies like Signa and Selfridges are adapting to the evolving retail landscape, sourcing materials locally, and creating desirable, sustainable products that align with customer values.
Sustainability and brand management through upcycling
Peter Horning is upcycling plastic from Swiss rivers to create comfortable, fashionable garments. His process involves sourcing discarded materials, like old clothes and water bottles, then filtering and transforming them into high-quality materials. By directly sourcing the raw materials locally, Round Rivers creates a transparent supply chain and reduces overall carbon emissions.
Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, brings us a festive programme as our Christmas market takes place in Zürich. Featuring Florian Egli and Damita Pressl plus Monocle’s Andrew Tuck and Georgina Godwin.