Today’s ESG Updates
- Shein Acquires Sustainable Fashion Brand Everlane: Fast-fashion retailer Shein acquired Everlane in a deal that sparked criticism from consumers and industry observers concerned about the future of the brand’s sustainability-focused identity.
- Italy Strengthens Stake in Payments Group Nexi: State-backed investor CDP Equity announced plans to increase its holding in Nexi to nearly 30% as the payments company faces falling share prices and renewed private equity interest.
- Climate Change Threatens Global Plant Habitats: Researchers warn that rising temperatures and shrinking habitats could place thousands of plant species at risk of extinction, disrupting ecosystems worldwide.
- India Warns Over Fuel and Foreign-Exchange Pressures: India’s finance minister urged a greater focus on fuel, fertiliser, and foreign-exchange management as rising energy costs and geopolitical tensions continue to strain the economy.
Everlane sale to Shein sparks criticism over sustainability commitments
Shein, the online retailer closely associated with ultra-fast fashion, has acquired U.S.-based clothing brand Everlane, which built its reputation on transparency and sustainability. The deal was finalized through the sale of L Catterton’s majority stake in Everlane, with reports valuing the acquisition at around $100 million. Everlane said it would continue operating as an independent brand and keep its sustainability commitments, despite growing criticism from customers and industry observers following the deal.
Many critics said the acquisition damaged Everlane’s ethical reputation, while analysts pointed to the company’s financial difficulties and rising debt as key reasons behind the sale. The move is also being viewed as part of Shein’s wider effort to improve its public image and expand beyond the ultra-fast-fashion market.
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Further reading: Shein, the Face of Fast Fashion, Buys the Sustainability-Minded Everlane
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Italy’s CDP equity to increase stake in Nexi
Italy’s state investor CDP Equity has announced plans to raise its stake in digital payments company Nexi to as much as 29.9%, positioning itself as the group’s main shareholder. The move comes as Nexi faces falling share prices, pressure from investment funds, and renewed takeover interest from private equity firms. CDP Equity stated that the investment would help stabilize the company’s shareholder structure and support its long-term industrial strategy.
Nexi, which operates across 25 countries and processes around €1.8 trillion in digital transactions annually, has struggled to maintain investor confidence following rapid expansion through acquisitions after its 2019 stock market listing. Analysts have linked the company’s weakened market position to technological disruption in the payments sector and uncertainty surrounding existing private equity investors seeking to exit their holdings.
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Further reading: Italy’s CDP Equity to raise stake in payments group Nexi to 29.9% in strategic move
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles selected by our Editorial Board that have gained significant interest from the public:
Climate change threatens global plant habitats
Climate change could place thousands of plant species at risk of extinction by 2100, according to a new study examining more than 67,000 vascular plant species worldwide. Researchers found that between 7% and 16% of species could lose over 90% of their suitable habitat as rising temperatures, drought, changing rainfall patterns, and wildfires reshape ecosystems globally. Scientists warned that many plants may struggle to adapt as the environmental conditions needed for survival continue to shrink.
The study also found that simply helping species migrate to new regions may not fully solve the problem, as climate change is reducing the overall availability of suitable habitats. Researchers noted that declining plant diversity could weaken ecosystems, reduce carbon absorption, and further intensify global warming.
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Further reading: Climate change threatens global plant species as habitats shrink
India warns over fuel and foreign exchange pressures
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for greater attention to fuel, fertilizer, and foreign exchange management amid mounting economic pressure from rising global energy prices. The remarks follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for Indians to conserve fuel, limit foreign-exchange spending, and avoid unnecessary gold purchases amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and supply disruptions in the Gulf region.
India has been affected by higher crude oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Sitharaman warned that increasing costs for fuel, fertilizers, and gold were creating challenges for the country’s external finances. In contrast, repeated fuel price hikes this month have added pressure on consumers and government revenues.
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Further reading: Indian finance minister calls for focus on ‘3Fs’ – fuel, fertiliser, forex
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Clothes on a clothing rack in store Cover Photo Credit: Jason Leung
