Global Challenges

The consequence of unconstrained growth

For decades, economic growth has been the driving force behind human progress. But this pursuit of prosperity has come at a staggering cost. The signs of strain are everywhere:

Forests cleared to expand agriculture, leaving fragile ecosystems exposed.
Rivers running dry as industrial and agricultural demands outpace nature’s ability to replenish.
Entire species vanishing under the weight of human activity.

The numbers reveal the urgency:

One in four species is at risk of extinction.
By 2050, 90% of animal species will lose habitat to agriculture.
The extinction rate of species is now up to 1,000 times higher than pre-industrial levels.

This isn’t just a biodiversity crisis. It’s a challenge to the systems that support life as we know it.

Breaching Planetary Boundaries

The impact our societies have on the planet is best described with the Planetary Boundaries framework. Resulting from decades of Earth science research, this model shows the major processes that support life on our Earth and where safe limits are before we risk disrupting the stability, resilience and liveability of the planet irreversibly.

As marketing gambits talk about reducing impact per product, an inconvenient truth remains: 6 boundaries have already been transgressed and all indicators are worsening. As long as we don't rethink our economic model, the ability of nature to sustain our societies will continue to erode, with dire consequences for all.

The Planetary Boundaries framework also shows the interconnectedness of all variables. Economic growth requires land, freshwater and energy, driving climate change, pollution, and biosphere degradation. It's obvious we can't plant our way out of this problem. We need a systemic look at what growth entails on a planet with limited resources.

The fashion industry's hidden cost

Fashion is a significant driver of this crisis:

The industry generates 10% of global carbon emissions—more than aviation and shipping combined.
By 2030, emissions from fashion are projected to increase by 60% because of increased production volumes.
Fast cycles of production and synthetic materials accelerate land degradation, resource depletion, and waste pollution.
The fashion industry is increasingly using plastics as raw materials, polluting our environment for many generations into the future and with toxic consequences for our health.

Behind every garment is a web of complex supply chains that stretch across continents. Commodities pass through countless hands, obscuring accountability and making systemic change harder to achieve.

The challenge shouldn't be framed as trying to reduce impact per product to produce more. The challenge is to protect the state of our ecosystems. To operate in the safe operating space shown on the Planetary Boundaries framework. This requires a shift in mindset from singularly looking at impact per product to taking action to protect what must remain of nature. It requires environmental stewardship.

Why growth must be rethought

This crisis isn’t rooted in a lack of innovation or technology. It’s driven by an assumption that economies can expand indefinitely on a finite planet.

Unchecked growth fuels:

Deforestation to feed expanding populations.
Resource extraction that depletes the planet faster than it can recover.
Pollution that compounds biodiversity loss and climate instability.

Rethinking growth isn’t about regressing or returning to simpler times. It’s about forging a new future where humanity thrives within nature’s limits.

Conservation, transparency, and accountability are no longer optional—they’re essential.