Bocconi University Launches a Project on the Circularity of Fashion

Attention to the circular economy is no longer a concept shouted out in street demonstrations, but is a reality now assimilated by states, politics, industry and above all by finance, which evaluates those granted to companies operating outside of Italy as risky investments. from the concept of circularity.

The university sector has also moved to closely and scientifically analyze the supply chains, companies and the consequences of industrial behavior on the circularity of the sectors, one of these is that of fashion as described by the Milanese university.

The SDA Bocconi School of Management and Enel

The Monitor for Circular Fashion wishes to involve a representative cross-section of the Italian fashion sector along the entire supply chain in the project, in collaboration with the sustainability consultancy company Eco-Age.

Candiani Denim, Dedagroup Stealth, Intesa (IBM Group), Manteco, RadiciGroup, Save The Duck, Vibram, Vitale Barberis Canonico, Vivienne Westwood, YKK , are some of the protagonists of the sector who have already joined and actively contributed to the observatory.

This community of companies chosen as front-runners of sustainability and circularity in the Italian fashion sector supply chain has already started a virtuous path to discuss the opportunities and challenges of circularity. In particular, the activities focused on sharing good practices to identify or develop new concrete and measurable circularity solutions.

One of the topics of greatest attention is that of the fundamental role of supply chain transparency and traceability as a tool for giving substance to sustainability and circularity claims towards all stakeholders, including consumers.

A Report will be published in September 2021 which will show the macro-trends of the sector; it will measure the ability of fashion companies to apply the principles of the Circular Economy along the entire supply chain; it will highlight best practices and gaps, and finally propose an ambitious plan on how to integrate circularity into one of Italy's major export sectors.

The Report will be based on an innovative methodology for assessing circularity, developed by Enel

A circular approach allows you to radically change the take-make-waste paradigm , thanks to the application of five circular business models (Sustainable Input, Life Extension, Recycling and Reuse, Product as a Service, Sharing Platforms) to ensure that products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, redesigning the production, logistics and distribution processes and consumption methods with the aim of making the use of resources as efficient as possible.

The transition to a circular system will continue to accelerate the movement of the global economy towards a sustainable future. The Monitor for Circular Fashion will join calls to action for circularity at a global level, in particular by supporting key initiatives such as the UNECE project “Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in Garment and Footwear sector” and the European Union action plan for circularity “Circular Economy Action Plan”.

“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.

In the open dialogue with Institutions and Policy Makers, the Circular Fashion Manifesto will give voice to the good practices of the Italian fashion system", states Francesca Romana Rinaldi , Coordinator of the Monitor for Circular Fashion at SDA Bocconi School of Management Sustainability Lab.

"The Circular Economy is at the center of Enel position itself as a public services leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

For this reason we have decided to make our experience and know-how available to support one of the most important and strategic Italian industries, with the aim of making the sector increasingly circular and an example for the global market."

I am very enthusiastic about the fact that Eco-Age is playing a strategic role in this revolutionary project and in involving new stakeholders in this alliance between SDA Bocconi and Enel Livia Firth, co-founder and creative director of Eco-Age.

Category: news - fashion - circular economy - waste - fabrics