The 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) is taking place now in Antalya, Türkiye. “Against a backdrop of record-breaking temperatures, escalating climate impacts and growing energy insecurity, COP31 is a critical opportunity for countries to accelerate climate action and strengthen cooperation.”*  Despite no official US administrative presence at the conference, there is a 19-member US congressional delegation and over 100 US governors, city mayors, business leaders and climate advocates attending (not funded by the US government) representing our communities. We aren’t at the COP31, but what we do at home matters. Our Business Challenge participants represent businesses who take their impact seriously and work to reduce their carbon footprint. I stand with them and believe that our local collective actions make a difference.

Click here for 2026 Business Challenge Garment Gallery

The Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge celebrates these sustainable businesses through the masterful material manipulation of designers expressing the value of reducing, repurposing, and challenging the waste stream. Veteran Rubbish Renewed designers Brenda Jackson for Subaru, DeeDee Johnson for ReStore, Kelly Powell for Mountain Burger, Qristy Kurtz for Fashion Workshop, Sherry Jako for BBT Architects, Nico Brilmyer for Gear Fix, and the Lonza Team including Kari D’Angona transformed their businesses’ trash into stunning garments. New Rubbish Renewed designers Tanner Stonerock for ReGroup Thrift/ReCoHere, and Mattie Rhoades for QuiltSmart stepped up to the challenge and crushed their first Business Challenge pieces.

Celebrate these businesses and designers by exploring their pieces and stories in the 2026 Business Challenge Garment Gallery. Thank you to Jen Lee Photography, Joe Kline Photography, Bruce Couch, and Maddie Phillips for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

*United Nations website