
Climate Rising: Extending Apparel Lifespan with ThredUp
From Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny
December 23, 2025 · 37 min · Episode 272
About this episode
The episode features a discussion on ThredUp's mission to extend apparel lifespan and reduce waste through resale.
In this special holiday crossover episode from Harvard Business School’s Climate Rising podcast, Professor Mike Toffel talks with ThredUp CEO James Reinhart about the company’s mission to extend the life of apparel and reduce waste through resale. As thrifting becomes more popular and circular business models gain traction, Reinhart explains why ThredUp built a national logistics and tech platform, how it collaborates with big brands, and the growing role of AI and automation in the industry.
People in this episode
Host: Mike Toffel
Guest: James Reinhart
Topics covered
- apparel lifespan
- resale
- circular business models
- thrifting
- AI in industry
Keywords
- ThredUp
- apparel
- resale
- sustainability
- AI
- automation
- circular economy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ThredUp, Harvard Business School
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