A pioneering new project has been launched to create the first study of circularity across the supply chain of the Italian fashion industry. The SDA Bocconi School of Management, one of Europe’s leading business schools, and advanced energy solution provider Enel X have partnered to launch the Monitor for Circular Fashion initiative.
Key players, including Candiani Denim, Dedagroup Stealth, Intesa (Gruppo IBM), Manteco, Radici Group, Save the Duck, Vibram, Vitale Barberis Canonico, Vivienne Westwood and YKK, are already on board.
The Monitor for Circular Fashion, part of the SDA Bocconi Sustainability Lab, aims to engage a cross-section of the Italian fashion industry, in collaboration with the sustainability consultancy Eco-Age. Companies involved in the project are being chosen for their sustainability and circularity credentials, and will share ideas on the opportunities and challenges of circularity.
One of the main points concerns the key role of transparency and traceability in supply chains, seen as the way to substantiate sustainability and circularity claims to all stakeholders, including consumers.
Circularity will be assessed through an innovative methodology developed by Enel X and the SDA Bocconi School of Management Sustainability Lab’s research team.
The project is aiming to publish a report in September which will highlight best practices, gaps and how Italian fashion companies can best apply circular economy principles along the value chain.
The Monitor for Circular Fashion will also take part in – and take on board – the UNECE project ‘Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in Garment and Footwear sector’, as well as the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
Francesca Romana Rinaldi, co-ordinator of the Monitor for Circular Fashion at SDA Bocconi School of Management Sustainability Lab, said: “The scientific approach is essential to enhance and grow the numerous pilot projects in circular fashion.
“With the Monitor for Circular Fashion we want to support companies in measuring circularity performance, identifying the main KPIs for each circular fashion business model.”
Livia Firth, co-founder of Eco-Age, added : “I am very excited that Eco-Age is playing a strategic role in amplifying the key outputs of the research and in engaging new partners for the SDA Bocconi Monitor for Circular Fashion powered by Enel X, to place Italy at centre of the global discussion on sustainable fashion.”
