The Know Daily - Tuesday 27 January 2026

_{Read in 4m 29s ∙ Listening to Harry Styles ∙}

Some doctors are now “prescribing” storytelling to help adults feel less lonely. In New York, the nonprofit Life Story Club works with healthcare providers to host weekly group sessions where people swap memories, listen to one another and reflect together using simple prompts. The sessions are all about connection and participants say they leave feeling lighter and more supported. Honestly, that’s a prescription we could all use 💗

👗 Fast fashion returns policies

Three quarters of UK retailers now charge for returns, saying it helps change shopping habits to support the environment.

Tell me more.
If it feels like free returns are quietly becoming a thing of the past, you’re not wrong. Clothes are returned far more often than almost anything else we buy online – especially thanks to “bracketing”, where we order multiple sizes or styles with the plan of keeping just one.

To tackle this, brands are starting to gently nudge shoppers towards more mindful habits. Charging for returns is one way, but it’s not the only one. ASOS, for example, has introduced a feature that shows customers their personal return rate as a subtle prompt if you’re sending back more parcels than average.

Why the shift?
There isn’t one single reason retailers are rethinking returns; it’s a mix of practicality and planet-friendly intentions. Returns involve a lot of movement behind the scenes (vans, packaging, handling), so adding a fee can help discourage over-ordering.

More importantly, many brands are framing this as an environmental step. By encouraging shoppers to pause, double-check sizing or buy with a bit more intention, retailers hope to cut down on delivery miles, excess packaging and clothes being shipped back and forth. In theory, that means fewer emissions and less clothing being damaged or wasted along the way.

Does it actually help the environment?
In some ways, yes. Charging for returns can cut down the number of parcels being shipped – a genuine environmental win. And it does seem to be making a difference: over the last year, the number of so-called “serial returners” dropped by a third.

But it’s not a perfect fix. When returns cost money, some people keep items they don’t really want, which can mean clothes sitting unworn or eventually heading to landfill instead of being resold or reused. So while return charges can help cut transport emissions, they don’t solve the bigger issue of overproduction.

Are there other solutions that can help?
Most experts agree the biggest environmental wins won’t come from tweaking returns alone, but from looking at fast fashion as a whole. Around 65% of retailers now talk about recycling, according to a recent report, showing more brands are starting to be open about sustainability. Alongside that, a few genuinely friendlier fixes are gaining momentum:

🗑️ Producer responsibility: putting more responsibility on brands for what happens to clothes once we’re finished with them. In some European countries, companies already help fund collection and recycling schemes, giving them a real incentive to make clothes that last.
♻️ Better recycling infrastructure: investing in tech that can properly turn old clothes into new ones, rather than downcycling them or sending them off to landfill.
🪡 Stronger design standards: encouraging materials and construction methods that are more durable, repairable and recyclable, instead of clothes designed to survive just a handful of wears.
💡 Greater transparency: clearer information about what actually happens to returned items, helping shoppers make more informed choices and pushing brands to do better.

None of these are quick fixes, but together they point towards a fashion system that’s less wasteful, more circular and a lot easier to feel good about.

The Know has teamed up with femme health to bring you an incredible countryside escape! And good news… you’re already entered just by reading this edition!

One lucky reader will win a £1600 voucher to spend on a retreat of your choice at The Dreaming. This is a truly transformative wellness retreat in the heart of Wales, created by Charlotte Church as a magical, nature-immersed sanctuary of ritual, creativity, deep rest and soulful reconnection.

🗳️ Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been blocked by his own party from standing as a Labour candidate in an upcoming parliamentary by-election.

• The bigger story: Burnham, a former cabinet minister and past Labour leadership contender, wanted to run in the by-election to return to Parliament and play a more direct role in national politics. However, Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, decided not to approve his candidacy, arguing it could distract from other campaigns and strain party resources. In response, around 50 Labour MPs signed a letter opposing the decision, saying it denied party members a choice and affects Labour’s democratic process.

🚕 Uber has revealed the most visited destinations in London, whilst Scottish cities took the top spot for late-night journeys.

🇪🇺 The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's X over deepfake concerns regarding its AI took, Grok.

🏛️ An ancient passage that’s almost 2,000 years old has been reopened to the public at this famous Italian landmark.

👩‍⚕️ The main test for bowel cancer is being made more accurate in England, in a move predicted to save hundreds of lives.

🏆 The BAFTA nominations are set to be announced today, with Hamnet and Sinners among the films expected to lead the field.

😠 Hanger affects some people quicker than others, research has found. And on that note, we’re off to find a croissant before it gets the better of us!

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Trivia answer: A) Following in the footsteps of two great dames, it’s the domestic goddess herself!

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