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Meet 29 Women-Owned Brands Making Waves in Ethical Fashion
Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more. Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up some dynamic and responsible women-owned brands rated “Good” or “Great” on our directory. Feminism and sustainable […]
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ACCIONA creates surfboard from retired wind turbine blades
ACCIONA has partnered with Australian professional surfer Josh Kerr and his brand Draft Surf, to create surfboards made from a retired wind turbine blade.
The initial range, crafted from a decommissioned blade from ACCIONA’s Waubra wind farm in Victoria, included 10 prototype surfboards as part of the company’s Turbine Made initiative.
The surfboards, hand-crafted on the Gold Coast, feature repurposed turbine blade strips built into the deck for strength and flex control. The fins of the board, made from recycled fibreglass, are said to provide stability, drive and speed, and the outer shell is further strengthened by incorporating recycled turbine blade particulate into the fibreglassing process.
Kerr said, “When ACCIONA approached us about being part of the solution and working together to create these surfboards, we jumped at the opportunity. At its core, our brand is about enabling the best surfing experience with quality products, in a sustainable way — which aligns with ACCIONA’s vision for Turbine Made.”
Draft Surf founder Josh Kerr with an ACCIONA Turbine Made surfboard prototype.
Launched in February 2025, Turbine Made is an initiative dedicated to exploring ways to transform decommissioned wind turbine blades into new materials and products. It represents the next step in ACCIONA’s efforts to advance circular economy in the renewable energy sector in Australia.
ACCIONA Energia’s global sustainability director Mariola Domenech said, “We know that in the next five to 10 years, countries like Australia will have a large volume of decommissioned wind turbine blades, so we’re acting now to explore new ways to recycle and reuse the material they are built from.
“The creation of a surfboard prototype, developed locally, is an example of how we’re reimagining the materials from decommissioned turbine blades and pushing the envelope of innovation when it comes to the circular economy.”
The Turbine Made initiative builds on ACCIONA’s previous work to repurpose decommissioned wind turbine blades. This includes a collaboration with European fashion brand El Ganso, to create sneakers featuring recycled blade material in their soles and integrating recycled blade materials into the torsion beams of solar trackers at a solar plant in Extremadura, Spain.
The company is also advancing in end-of-life turbine recycling through the development of a blade recycling plant in Navarra, Spain, which is set to become operational in 2026, creating 100 jobs and a processing capacity of 6000 tonnes of material per year.
“Sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s about product stewardship, ensuring that what we build today doesn’t become tomorrow’s environmental challenge,” Domenech said.
“By working with Australian manufacturers, designers and innovators, we can encourage the creation of practical, high-performance applications that benefit both industry and the environment.”
Top image caption: Professional surfer Josh Kerr holding an ACCIONA Turbine Made x Draft Surf surfboard prototype. Images: Supplied.
Our Beautiful and Fragile Planet Takes Center Stage in the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards
Winning images highlight the vulnerability of the earth’s inhabitants and juxtapositions between nature and the human-built environment.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Our Beautiful and Fragile Planet Takes Center Stage in the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards appeared first on Colossal.
Honeywell supports building decarbonisation in Singapore
Honeywell and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) are setting up a Centre of Excellence in Singapore with the goal of driving decarbonisation in South-East Asia.
Leveraging AI and machine learning, the Centre will pilot and deploy building technologies that can deliver a scalable view of a building’s life cycle and total energy use.
With buildings currently accounting for more than 20% of Singapore’s carbon emissions, according to the Building and Construction Authority, the Centre of Excellence aims to work with the nation’s building owners and operators to help reduce commercial building carbon emissions. This is in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the country’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
At the heart of the initiative is Honeywell’s Forge IoT platform — a predictive maintenance and energy-management software solution — which will help customers monitor, manage and optimise their building energy use. Via Honeywell Forge, building decision-makers have an overview of energy management, energy optimisation and predictive analytics — giving them enhanced insight into maintenance needs.
“Buildings represent a significant opportunity for carbon reduction, particularly when owners can effectively monitor and optimise energy use to manage their environmental impact,” said Nigel Brockett, President of Asia Pacific, Honeywell.
“With the integration of new AI-based technologies and access to our Centre of Excellence, building managers across Singapore can now be equipped with real-time data and automation capabilities to help them curb emissions in alignment with the carbon-reduction goals set out in the Singapore Green Plan.”
Nigel Brockett, President of Asia Pacific, Honeywell, shakes hands with Lim Tse Yong, Senior Vice President and Head, Mobility and Industrial Solutions, EDB. Image courtesy of Honeywell.
The Centre of Excellence is expected to begin operations in 2025, deploying building automation technologies through pilot programs with Singapore-based players across sectors including health care, data centres and education.
In 2026, Honeywell expects the Centre to begin serving other nations in South-East Asia based on their specific sustainable building goals.
“EDB welcomes Honeywell’s decision to establish its Centre of Excellence to support the decarbonisation efforts for buildings,” said Lim Tse Yong, Senior Vice President and Head, Mobility and Industrial Solutions, EDB.
“Given Singapore’s focus on environmental sustainability and strengths as an innovation hub, companies can foster partnerships with our built environment and research ecosystems to pilot and deploy sustainable building solutions. We look forward to the impactful solutions this Centre will develop for Singapore and the wider region.”
The partnership with EDB and establishment of the Centre of Excellence supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three ‘megatrends’: automation, energy transition, and the future of aviation.
For more information, visit buildings.honeywell.com.
Top image credit: iStock.com/orpheus26