From GM's $900M bet to a plastic problem that won't recycle itself
Digest Newsletter
·
Jun 9, 2026
From GM's $900M bet to a plastic problem that won't recycle itself
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Big moves and awkward truths: legacy automakers are doubling down on domestic battery tech while the planet keeps getting more plastic than a midcentury lawn chair. Meanwhile fashion and consumer labels are under fire — good news for thoughtful, lasting gifts and bad news for cheap greenwashing.
Sustainability
GM’s battery push, plastics crisis, and fashion’s transparency hangover
Auto industry muscle showed up with GM's $900 million center in Warren aiming for 2,500 cells/day and commercialization by 2028 to challenge Chinese suppliers — a clear bet on onshore EV supply chains (report). [P]The UN warns only 10% of plastics are recycled and 52 million tonnes enter oceans yearly, a reminder that recyclable labels aren't a magic fix (UN report). At the same time, Shein’s purchase of Everlane has reignited skepticism about “sustainable” fashion claims, undercutting transparency talk and raising questions for brands that sell purpose as a product (analysis).