illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Deutsche Welle or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: An investigation by Earthsight has exposed a direct link between European fashion giants like Zara and H&M and deforestation in Brazil, facilitated by their cotton supply chains 
• Despite sustainable labeling, the cotton used originates from areas known for environmental and human rights abuses

🔭 The context: Brazil, the fourth-largest cotton producer globally, has seen rampant deforestation in the Cerrado biome, primarily to expand cotton farming 
• The investigation tracked 816,000 tons of cotton linked to significant European brands, produced under questionable environmental conditions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The cultivation practices in Brazil's Cerrado region, including illegal deforestation and land grabbing, contribute significantly to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, impacting global ecological balance

⏭️ What's next: The report highlights the need for stricter supply chain controls and transparency among major brands to prevent environmental abuses 
• Better Cotton and brands involved are reassessing their standards and commitments towards more sustainable practices

💬 One quote: "It's shocking to see these links between very recognizable global brands that apparently don't make enough effort to have control over these supply chains," (Rubens Carvalho, head of deforestation research at Earthsight)

📈 One stat: The Earthsight report estimates that in the last 12 years, Cerrado land equivalent to 40,000 football fields has been destroyed within SLC's farms

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