Author: sHq_LoGiNz

ATLANTA, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A groundbreaking new report, commissioned by Garson and Shaw, reveals for the first time how secondhand clothing exports from the United States to Guatemala move through the value chain, delivering environmental benefits at home and inclusive economic opportunities abroad.

Conducted by Full Cycle Resource, the report presents the most in-depth analysis to date of how the secondhand trade reduces U.S. textile waste sent to landfill and incineration while powering local jobs, entrepreneurship, and circular economy practices in Central America’s largest economy.

The U.S. generates one of the highest volumes of textile waste globally, with nearly 85% of used clothing ending up in landfills or incinerators each year. As fashion consumption grows, so too does the environmental burden of discarded textiles. However, in Guatemala, what US consumers discard fuels a thriving reuse economy from market stalls to large enterprises employing thousands of employees.

Lisa Jepsen, CEO of Garson & Shaw, said: “This report is significant because it shifts the conversation from waste to opportunity. It offers concrete evidence that global reuse systems are not only environmentally beneficial but also economically and socially valuable. It highlights the need to integrate international reuse into U.S. waste and circular economy policy.”

98% of Guatemala’s used clothing in 2023 (131 million kilograms) came from the U.S., making it the country’s largest supplier. Survey findings suggest that nearly 90% of these imported garments are reused domestically, challenging misconceptions about textile waste dumping and outlining the innovative recycling solutions that exist for non-reusable items.

The study highlights the powerful role of the trade in advancing gender equity. Nearly 60% of secondhand clothing businesses surveyed were women-owned, which is more than double the national average. In a country where over half the population lives in poverty, the trade offers access to much-needed affordable clothing as well as vital income and entrepreneurial pathways.

Secondhand clothing typically arrives in Guatemala in bales that are either “sorted” or “unsorted.” Sorted bales have been pre-categorized by item type and quality, while unsorted bales contain a mix of garments in their original collected state. The report finds that, surprisingly, there is high demand for unsorted bales, because they allow local businesses to perform their own sorting – a process that creates local jobs, adds market-specific value, and offers the flexibility to meet diverse consumer preferences.

“Second-hand clothing shipped to Guatemala goes through multiple layers of value extraction by local sorters, retailers, and vendors,” said Jennifer Wang, founder of Full Cycle Resource and lead author of the report. “In fact, 88 per cent to 92 per cent of clothing is sorted for reuse. What we found is that the activity of sorting locally was not only valued but vital. It adds economic value, creates jobs, and ensures clothing can meet the specific needs of local markets.”

Guatemala-based Megapaca, Central America’s largest used clothing importer, underscored the importance of the trade: “Unsorted bales are the backbone of what we do. They allow us to create thousands of jobs in our sorting centers and stores, while enabling us to meet demand across diverse markets and income levels,” Mario Peña, Co-founder and General Manager, said.

To ensure the continued success of Guatemala’s model and the same for other importing countries, the report provides clear recommendations for U.S. policymakers, including:

• Enhancing public education on responsible textile donating.
• Improving textile collections by harmonizing collection regulations.
• Ensuring new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies fully account for the global reuse economy and avoid unintentionally hindering trade, increasing costs, or reducing the availability of quality second-hand garments.

“To build truly circular economies, the Global North must recognize its role in supporting reuse systems that work,” Jepsen concluded. “By doing so, we can reduce waste at home and contribute meaningfully to sustainability and economic inclusion abroad.”

The full report can be downloaded here.

About Garson & Shaw LLC:
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Garson & Shaw LLC is a leading global wholesaler and exporter of secondhand clothing, committed to maximizing textile reuse and supporting sustainable economic growth worldwide.

About Full Cycle Resource:

Full Cycle Resource (FCR) is a research-driven company specializing in capturing economic and trade dynamics within the global textile industry to advance transparency, circularity, and sustainability.

About Megapaca:

Megapaca is the largest importer and retailer of secondhand clothing in Central America, sourcing primarily from the United States. With 145 stores across Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, it stands as the leading force in the region’s used clothing market promoting reuse and sustainability.

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SOURCE Garson & Shaw

SHANGHAI, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From July 26 to 28, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) convened in Shanghai under the theme “Global Solidarity in the AI Era.” As a strategic partner of the event, China Southern Power Grid (CSG) unveiled an exhibition themed “Empowering Every kwh with AI” and hosted a forum focused on AI-driven innovation in the power sector. CSG also presented a range of AI-powered applications at the China AI Industry Innovation Exhibition, highlighting its latest initiatives to integrate AI into energy and power systems and support the growth of a smarter industrial ecosystem.

In recent years, CSG embraced emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—and achieved a number of breakthrough advances. These include strengthening its technological foundation, deploying a wide range of demonstration scenarios, and helping build an AI ecosystem within the power sector. These efforts have played a key role in building the New Energy System and the New Power System and serving the industry’s transition to low-carbon and environmentally responsible operations.

Looking ahead, CSG will continue to prioritize national strategic objectives, including the Digital China initiative and the broader energy transition. The company plans to deepen its research into AI technologies and expand their application across the energy sector, while strengthening collaboration across the industry value chain. Through these efforts, CSG aims to contribute Chinese solutions and expertise to the global digital and intelligent transformation of the energy industry, and to the long-term goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

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SOURCE China Southern Power Grid (CSG)

BEIJING, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On July 17-22, the U.S. Youth Ambassadors in Xiamen program brought 27 students and teachers from Baltimore, Maryland and Orange County, California, to Xiamen for an immersive cultural and friendship exchange.

Xiamen is home to one of the first four special economic zones in China, established in the early 1980s. Dubbed a window of the country’s opening-up, it has been at the forefront of pursuing high-quality development on all fronts.

On the morning of July 19, American and Chinese youth visited the Wuyuanwan (Wuyuan Bay) Wetland Park, often referred to as the “green lung” of Xiamen. There, they participated in a “nature classroom” focused on the city’s efforts to harmonize human activity with nature—particularly through its wetland bird conservation initiative.

The city’s transformation, particularly the revitalization of Wuyuan Bay and Yundang Lake since the mid-1980s, stood out as remarkable examples of ecological restoration and urban planning.

Once polluted and neglected, Wuyuan Bay has been rehabilitated into Xiamen’s iconic “guest house,” while Yundang Lake now boasts clear water and thriving wildlife.

Since 2002, Xiamen has undertaken a succession of renovation and development projects in five bay areas, namely, Haicang, Wuyuan, Xinglin, Tongan and Maluan. By dredging seawall openings, restoring mangrove shorelines and revitalizing beaches, it has created a pleasant living environment around the bays.

“What has impressed me the most is definitely the wildlife here. Learning that there are over 500 different species of animals or different birds here is very impressive,” Janelli Moriah Gonzalez, a student from Bard High School Early College (Baltimore), said.

Aaron Israel Nava, a student from Orange County Music & Dance, hailed it as a “cool and unique experience.” “As for the nature here, it’s a lot more greenery, and you see a lot more trees than I’m used to in California. I feel like China has embraced more nature than the U.S., considering a lot of the highways and the streets are filled with bushes and trees,” he said.

As part of the visit, the participating youth also planted “friendship trees” and signed them with their names.

Chelsea Nakabayashi, a faculty member at Bard High School Early College (Baltimore), said, despite the heat and humidity in Xiamen, where temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius that day, “[the American youths] just got right to work. They really appreciated the opportunity to engage.”

“I’ve heard the saying that planting a tree is like planting a life,” Nakabayashi said. “I think we share a similar idea with China—one of growth, continuity and hope, even in challenging times.”

Nakabayashi began learning Chinese in high school and first came to China in the 1980s. She eventually earned a Ph.D. at Beijing Normal University and became a dedicated educator. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasized the importance of early connections in shaping future relationships.

“It’s sentimental to know that something we’ve planted here will continue to grow, even after we return to America. It’s a lasting connection—something we’ll always share with our Chinese friends. As it grows, I hope our friendship grows with it,” Gonzalez said.

Copy edited by Elsbeth van Paridon
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SAO PAULO, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, proudly announced that all dynamic models of its inverters sold in Brazil have been officially approved by Brazil’s National Electric System Operator (ONS). This milestone confirms that Sungrow’s products meet the strict compliance standards and accurately represent the dynamic behavior during electromechanical and electromagnetic transients, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to technical excellence and active contribution to the modernization and reliability of the national electricity sector.

Addressing Challenges Revealed by Grid Disturbances

In August 2023, Brazil experienced a large-scale blackout that underscored the importance of accurate dynamic modeling for wind and solar power plants. The event brought attention to the need for greater confidence in the behavior of inverter-based resources during system disturbances, particularly in scenarios involving reactive power support and low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) capability.

As a result, the ONS published a Report (RAP 0012/2023) in October 2023, launching a structured initiative to evaluate and verify the models of inverters and power plant controllers (PPCs), aiming to enhance the reliability and robustness of power system simulations.

Robust Validation Process for Grid Compliance

In close coordination with ONS, Sungrow’s inverters underwent extensive simulation and testing applying PSCAD for electromagnetic transients and ANATEM for RMS-based electromechanical transients, crucial for analyzing dynamic events like switching operations, faults and power electronics interactions. The processes were structured around two key stages, both of which posed significant challenges.

• Inverter Level 1 (L1): Sungrow validated its PSCAD model using a semi-physical controller to ensure alignment between simulation and actual hardware performance.
• Inverter Level 2 (L2): Based on the verified PSCAD model, an ANATEM model was developed and cross-checked to confirm consistency between the two platforms.

Sungrow deeply recognizes and values the role of the operator throughout the process, always with a high technical level and collaborative posture to ensure the robustness of the Brazilian National Interconnected System (SIN).

The company invested significant resources to ensure its inverters successfully met all required modeling verification standards and assembled a dedicated local team, global R&D experts, and specialized consultants to support the process from start to finish. As a result, Sungrow received this official approval for all sold inverters, ranging from central, string inverters to modular inverters.

“This achievement reinforces our commitment to delivering high-performance, grid-compliant solutions that contribute to the stability and modernization of Brazil’s national power system,” said Ada Li, Vice President of Sungrow Americas.

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 28 years. As of December 2024, Sungrow has installed 740 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world’s most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we’re committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com.

 

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SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.