#02. How can we re-consider the 'human tradeoff' of circular technologies?

Cotton (open) diaries #02.

Technology, efficiency and speed are given priority lane in this race towards achieving sustainable fashion environmental targets, whilst the social and human elements of our species are often left aside. “We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives us abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much, and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity.” - The Great Dictator speech.

Countless times I’ve been told the future of #cotton is #recycledcotton or recycling cotton or ag waste into cellulosic fibers, and I agree that these have a huge potential to diversify the set of solutions we rely upon! However, these are not the solutions that will lift the cotton-growing rural communities out of poverty nor provide enhanced food security, as many may believe…

In this thought-provoking article, Alden Wicker cleverly outlines what are some of the thoughts I’ve been reflecting upon since I started being in contact with farming communities and the human side of the supply chain. I highly recommend a read!

Please feel free to share your thoughts below or on this LinkedIn post