Climate Rising: Extending Apparel Lifespan with ThredUp

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

More episodes of Cold Call

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Cold Call podcast page.