Poland's Foodsi raised $1.3M in seed funding, increasing its total round to $2.6M. Founded by Mateusz Kowalczyk and Kuba Fryszczyn, Foodsi connects restaurants and stores with customers, offering discounts on surplus food. Europe generates 59M tons of food waste yearly, costing $140B, while Foodsi offers consumers deals up to 70% off on excess food items. Investors AIP Seed, Satus Starter, and AC/VC Impact Fund backed the funding to help Foodsi address food waste and expand its impact.

The UK will ban disposable vapes on June 1, 2025, a win for Trojan Electronics' campaign. With vaping risks addressed, focus now turns to e-waste from small devices, stronger repair laws, battery recycling, and VAT-free electronics repairs.

Fleek, co-founded by Abhi Arora and Sanket Agarwal, streamlines sourcing for second-hand fashion. It connects 10,000+ sellers to wholesale suppliers, enabling the trade of 2.5M pieces. The market is expected to hit $350B by 2028.

Shein launched 'Shein Exchange' in Germany, following its earlier launches in France and UK. The platform allows consumers to buy and sell used Shein items. More than 4.2M new US customers joined in 2023.

Amazon has eliminated plastic air pillows from its global packaging. As of October 2024, all North American shipments now use 100% recycled paper fillers. The change aligns with a broader shift to reduce plastic by 17% in 2022 and 9% in 2023.

DHL Express introduces its Label-Free service for returns. Available in over 50 countries, this eco-friendly solution allows consumers to return packages using a QR code, removing the need for printed labels. The service targets industries like fashion and technology.

eBay is investing $1.2M into its Circular Fashion Fund to support startups that promote sustainability. The fund provides financing, mentorship, and networking. Launched in 2022, it now covers the U.S., Germany, Australia, and the U.K.

Vestiaire Collective, celebrating 15 years in resale, hosted a luxury item treasure hunt with 250 high-end pieces priced at $19.48. Brands like Gucci and Dior were part of the event. The platform grew 25% in 2023 and is expanding in the US.

Amazon expands its “Climate Pledge Friendly” label to Belgium and Sweden, making sustainable products easier to find. Belgian customers get access to 70K products. Faict promises faster growth, aiming to help consumers make greener choices.

Fjällräven has launched a peer-to-peer resale marketplace in the U.S., powered by Archive. This platform allows customers to buy and sell used Fjällräven products. The resale market in the U.S. was $43B in 2023 and is expected to reach $73B by 2028.

DoorDash and BioPak collaborate to provide affordable sustainable packaging for restaurants in WA & SA. With new regulations, DoorDash merchants can access special pricing on BioPak's products, helping them reduce plastic waste.

Oakland-based Trove strengthens its grip on the U.S. branded resale market by acquiring Recurate. Trove's platform now supports peer-to-peer resale, giving brands more flexibility in secondhand fashion. The company’s CEO, Terry Boyle, sees resale as key to growth.

Shein has announced a €10M ($13.3M) investment in its new Designer Incubator Program. This initiative aims to support 250 emerging European designers over the next five years. Through Shein X, designers retain ownership of their work while accessing Shein’s global platform. Nearly 100 French designers have already benefited, including Mathilde Lhomme. Shein plans to further its sustainability efforts through this program, emphasizing circular fashion choices. The company’s EMEA president, Leonard Lin, stressed the importance of empowering European talent while advancing Shein's sustainability goals.

GLS Germany partners with hey circle to offer reusable shipping options. By using hey circle’s durable packaging, companies reduce up to 76% CO2 emissions and 94% waste. Costs are comparable to single-use boxes, making it an eco-friendly switch.

Uber Eats partners with Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan for a $100 (or £80) five-course delivery menu. Ingredients come from Rogan's Cumbrian farm, with local meat, electric vehicles, and seaweed packaging enhancing sustainability.

Zara will launch its ‘Pre-Owned’ platform in the US by October 2024, offering secondhand sales, repairs, and donations. The service already operates in 16 European countries. Inditex, Zara’s parent, sees this as part of its sustainability push.

Amazon launches a pilot project in Frankfurt, Germany, using trams to transport packages across the city. The goods are carried by electric vans to a tram, then moved to cargo bikes for final delivery. This fits Amazon's green logistics push.

Reboxed's new platform, ReboxedOS, empowers brands to scale resale and recycling programs. Founded in 2019, the London startup helps retailers like Three Mobile, aiming to rehome 100M devices and promote sustainability.

ThredUp and Vestiaire Collective join American Circular Textiles in petitioning to end double taxation on secondhand apparel. The move aims to promote sustainability, make resale more appealing, and support the growing circular economy.

Shein's emissions increased by 45% to 16.7M metric tons of CO2e in 2023. The rise is linked to its ultra-fast fashion production model, which produces up to 100K pieces per day. Meanwhile, reports reveal child labor issues in its supply chain.

Tingit, a Lithuanian startup, has raised $545K to expand its fashion repair marketplace. Currently available only in Lithuania, Tingit plans to scale across Europe. The service simplifies repairs with an app-based video upload process.

Sephora UK partners with DHL to manage its supply chain, including a new carbon-neutral distribution center in Coventry. This five-year deal supports Sephora's UK expansion strategy, aiming for sustainable growth.

Newless, a new UK-based fashion service, lets customers transform old clothes into custom pieces. The process is easy, with prices ranging from $88 to $188. Newless will also hold pop-ups where customers can upcycle garments live.

Amazon Warehouse has rebranded as Amazon Resale, offering used and pre-owned items with average discounts of over 25%. The platform also supports sustainability, having helped donate over 160M items in 2023 alone, extending product lifecycles.

Depop and Selfridges are leveraging AI analytics from Truss to enhance their second-hand fashion offerings. The project, supported by the UK government, aims to automate pricing, optimize product recommendations, and lower carbon emissions. With fast fashion cycles shortening, AI insights have become essential for retailers.

Amazon has launched its first micromobility hub in Norwich, adding to over 40 similar hubs across Europe. The Norwich hub is part of a £300M investment to electrify deliveries, using electric cargo bikes to cut emissions and deliver thousands of packages weekly.

Carousell and Lazada have launched a seamless trade-in feature for iPhones. Customers can trade in their old phones for discounts on new purchases at LazMall. The service uses Carousell's technology to provide an easy, eco-friendly way to upgrade devices.

Amazon's new Berlin micromobility hub will use e-cargo bikes to deliver 1.5M parcels annually, part of a $437M investment to decarbonize their German transport network. This initiative, starting July 2024, aims to reduce emissions and traffic in Berlin.

Shein is investing $270.5M in Europe over 5 years. $54.1M is for R&D. The $216.4M fund targets sustainability and recycling tech. This shift could reduce reliance on China and improve Shein's image before a potential London IPO.

Grover raised €50M in a bridge financing round, including investment from Cool Japan Fund. This capital will help Grover, a leader in rental commerce, to promote a circular economy and expand its global reach.

Whole Foods Market partners with Too Good To Go to sell surplus food. The app, with 100M users, helps cut food waste and offers discounts. The program, now at 450 Whole Foods stores, saves millions of meals. Whole Foods aims to cut waste by 50% by 2030.

Mango, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will open 500 new stores by 2026 in markets like the U.S., Spain, and India. Mango Home will launch standalone stores. The board expands to nine members, and CEO Toni Ruiz becomes a shareholder.

Amazon Prime Day 2023 was its biggest sales event yet, with 375M items sold. Despite efforts to reduce plastic and emissions, experts highlight the negative environmental impact. From plastic waste to carbon emissions, the damage is significant.

Shein is investing $270M in the EU and UK over five years. $216M will go to the Circularity Fund for textile recycling startups. The rest will support local businesses and the Shein X program for independent designers.

Amazon announced climate-related expectations for key suppliers. They must provide decarbonization plans and meet net zero targets by 2040. Scope 3 emissions are 75% of Amazon’s footprint. They reduced carbon emissions by 3% in 2023. Amazon will prioritize suppliers with net zero plans.

Zara has 61.8M items on Vinted, highlighting consumer trends and fast fashion’s dominance. Vinted also lists 59.7M H&M, 21.8M Shein, 21M Primark, and 10.2M Mango items. Circular fashion’s impact is debated as overproduction and short desirability cycles persist.

Vinted's research shows 65% of members have at least 25% second-hand items in their wardrobes. Over 40% of members in the UK, Germany, France, and Poland report over 50% second-hand wardrobes. CEO Thomas Plantenga sees great potential for second-hand fashion growth.

Recyclehero, founded in 2020 by Nadine Herbrich and Alessandro Cocco in Hamburg, collects old clothes and recyclables from homes in five German cities. They use climate-neutral e-bikes and aim to boost local recycling and reduce waste.

OTTO presents its new Circular Collection, featuring 18 items including trousers, tops, and dresses, priced from $20 to $70. All items can be recycled into new fibers. By 2025, OTTO aims for full sustainability and climate neutrality by 2030.

Deliveroo, in collaboration with EEE Moto and EcoWay, has launched a month-long electric bikes pilot in Dubai. This initiative aims to explore electric bikes and battery-swapping technology as greener alternatives for delivery services.

Vietnamese fashion brands are booming thanks to TikTok. Celebrities like Jennie from Blackpink and influencers are driving the trend. The brands focus on quality and sustainability, unlike Chinese fast fashion giants Shein and Temu.

Decathlon's new resale platform allows Belgians to sell sports gear directly to each other. The service is aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices. Initially available only in Belgium, it might expand to Europe if successful.

Swappie has secured €17M ($18.5M) from the European Investment Bank to enhance its refurbishment processes, reduce carbon footprints, and expand R&D in robotics. This funding, backed by the InvestEU guarantee, aims to make refurbished smartphones more accessible and sustainable.

Vestiaire Collective partners with Sojo to offer tailoring and repair services. This addresses the issue of 65% of returns due to incorrect fit. Sojo provides zero-emission pick-up and delivery, enhancing the resale value of items.

Shein's resale platform is now in Europe. Starting in France, it will expand to the UK and Germany. This follows its successful US launch in 2022, with 4.2M users joining in 2023. Shein aims to boost circular fashion with this expansion.

Amazon's Project PI combines AI and computer vision to detect damaged items before shipping. This new tech operates in several North American warehouses and aims to expand. Human reviewers decide if flagged items are resold or donated.

Amazon is making over 1M deliveries using e-cargo bikes and foot in the UK. New micromobility hubs in cities like London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast are part of a $300M investment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040.

BuyBay launches You Grade, a SaaS product for retailers to resell returned items in their own distribution centers. This software increases resale profitability and reduces CO2 emissions, extending product life by up to 80% of original value.

EU-Parliament approves Right to Repair directive with 584-3 vote, expanding repair rights to smartphones, tablets, appliances. Manufacturers required to offer repairs during 2-year warranty, extendable by 1 year. Consumers to benefit from transparent repair costs.

New EU rules aim to reduce packaging waste with targets set for reduction and recycling. By 2030, certain single-use plastic packaging will be banned. The regulation emphasizes reuse, refill options, and recycling to build a circular economy.