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The report exposes the destructive nature of irresponsible rayon production, detailing water and air pollution, worker fatalities, and severe health issues in Asia. It identifies a direct link between these polluting factories—operated by conglomerates like Aditya Birla and Lenzing—and major global brands such as H&M, Zara, and ASOS. The document argues that while rayon is often marketed as a 'green' alternative, its current chemical-intensive production is unsustainable, and calls for brands to use their purchasing power to force a transition to closed-loop, non-toxic manufacturing systems.

The report details how the viscose industry in China, India, and Indonesia causes severe water and air pollution, leading to health crises like cancer and birth deformities in local communities. It identifies a lack of transparency in fashion supply chains and argues that a small group of dominant producers, pressured by major brands, could rapidly transition the industry toward closed-loop, non-toxic production systems.

The report details how the rapid growth of the viscose industry in China, India, and Indonesia has led to severe water and air pollution, causing health crises such as cancer and birth defects in local communities. It identifies a lack of transparency in the fashion supply chain and finds that major brands, including H&M, Zara (Inditex), and ASOS, source materials from these polluting factories. The document argues that because the industry is highly concentrated—with 70% of global viscose produced by ten factories—major brands have the leverage to force a transition toward closed-loop production systems and less toxic chemicals.

The report details how the production of viscose, often marketed as an ecological alternative to cotton or synthetics, involves highly polluting chemical processes in China, India, and Indonesia. It documents the discharge of untreated wastewater into local water sources, leading to severe health issues such as cancer and congenital deformities, and the destruction of local ecosystems and traditional livelihoods. The investigation reveals that major global fashion brands, including H&M, Inditex (Zara), and ASOS, source their viscose from these polluting factories. The document argues that because a small group of 10 companies controls approximately 70% of global viscose production, large fashion brands have the purchasing power to force a transition toward closed-loop, less toxic production systems.

The report finds that while Indonesia's national development plans recognize the link between forest conservation and water, energy, and food security, significant implementation gaps and trade-offs persist. REDD+ has catalysed useful governance tools like the One Map Initiative and the Integrated Licensing System, but institutional efforts have been hampered by the use of ad-hoc agencies like BP REDD+. Furthermore, the report highlights that national food and energy targets, such as the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate, often conflict with forest conservation goals.

This report by Trend Asia, CELIOS, and CREA identifies the 20 most toxic coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia, termed the "Toxic Twenty." It analyzes the severe public health, economic, and environmental costs associated with these facilities, arguing that current government retirement roadmaps are insufficient and often delayed by a reliance on unproven technologies like co-firing and CCS/CCUS. The report provides detailed case studies for several plants, documenting widespread respiratory illnesses, loss of traditional livelihoods in fisheries and agriculture, and significant negative impacts on regional GDP.

The report identifies the 'Toxic Twenty' coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, estimating that between 2026 and 2050, they will cause 156,000 premature deaths and USD 109 billion in health-related economic losses. It argues that these plants create a net economic drain, reducing regional GDP and destroying livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries, while criticizing the government's reliance on 'false solutions' like biomass co-firing to extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure.

The report critiques the implementation of biomass co-firing in West Java's coal power plants, specifically PLTU Indramayu and PLTU Pelabuhan Ratu. It argues that the program facilitates 'false' carbon neutrality claims while causing significant deforestation, land conflicts, and ecological damage. The authors highlight a gap between national energy targets and the reality of biomass sourcing, which often relies on illegal logging or 'fraudulent' practices by Perhutani, rather than sustainable energy forests (HTE).