As people realise the impact of waste packaging on the planet, they’re making small lifestyle changes through independent brand innovations. But with convenience still high on people’s priority list, how is reusable, recyclable shopping platform Loop taking the circular economy mainstream?

TOMS has donated $5 million to organizations working to prevent gun violence in the US, making it the largest corporate donation to this specific cause. With little legislative movement on the polarizing issue, brands are finding fresh support by taking a side and showing their values.

With more circular initiatives surfacing – from small start-ups to corporate strategies – not everybody is on the same page about what a circular economy entails. As global debates in academic, business and consumer circles heat up, will a zero-waste lifestyle move from a fringe movement to the mainstream?

‘Fast fashion’ retailer C&A has launched a line of ‘Cradle to Cradle Certified’ t-shirts that turn into compost after 11 weeks. Amid rising consumer concerns about climate change, is the initiative enough to convince conscious shoppers that the brand is committed to fix the broken fashion industry?