Sustainability is a strategic choice that often implies a radical change in the business model. Radical changes are not achieved through spot initiatives or marketing actions disconnected from concrete projects, meaning real measurable and accountable performances.
Sustainability is an obligatory path too, because all the market indicators converge towards this evidence. Challenging? Yes. Onerous? Of course, especially in terms of creative energy, constancy and transparency towards all the stakeholders, but also profitable: a strategic approach focusing on sustainability in its three key dimensions – environmental, social and economic-organizational – is in fact a competitive factor that directs and multiplies positive effects and that companies can further enhance by joining forces.
TEAMWORK: THE 4SUSTAINABILITY® SYSTEM
Feel the Yarn, the brand through which the Consorzio Promozione Filati acts, has been chosing exactly this approach: each Feel the Yarn company is involved in shared path that makes the 4sustainability® system its own and that implies the upstream adoption of a Charter of Values.
In short, 4sustainability® is the trademark certifying the sustainability performances of fashion & luxury supply chain. The release and maintenance of the mark depend on the regular verification of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) based on an innovative framework aligned to the best methodologies, standards and practices. Its basis is a structured program of concrete initiatives, six protocols to implement operationally the transformation of the business model starting from a “snapshot” of one’s starting situation.
Materials: conversion to the use of lower impact materials for sustainable production
Chem: elimination of toxic and harmful chemicals from production cycles
Trace: process traceability and supply chain monitoring
People: growth of organizational well-being
Planet: conscious use of resources to reduce environmental impact
Recycle: development of reuse, recycling and sustainable design practices
Taking this snapshot allows each company of the Consortium to measure itself by defining strengths and weaknesses and to work on the priorities identified with reference to the 4sustainability® roadmap in a logic of continuous improvement.
POLITICS AND GOALS OF THE CHARTER OF VALUES
Inspired by and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN in the 2030 Agenda, Feel the Yarn takes a clear environmental and social responsibility: by joining the 4sustainability® roadmap, by making the values and action programs it embodies its own, and by orienting its business model to a virtuous path of change.
Value to people
The centrality of the person is a principle from which the commitment of all the companies in the Consortium to guarantee the workplace safety comes from, as well as to increase workers’ skills, to pursue the values of equality and equal opportunities, to promote corporate welfare initiatives in order to intercept emerging needs and enhance personal satisfaction of each individual.
Climate action
For the fashion industry, the fight against climate change to prevent and mitigate its impacts is a crucial challenge. Based on this awareness, Feel the Yarn companies strive to guarantee their effective contribution by implementing a strategy aimed at mapping and reducing the environmental impact from production activities, with reference to key variables such as emissions in the atmosphere, water and energy consumption, contamination of wastewater.
Traceability and transparency in the supply chain
The companies of Consorzio Promozione Filati consider traceability the priority tool to collect the information necessary to transparently report the achievement level of their sustainability goals.
In this sense, the development of an advanced IT traceability system represents an essential opportunity to know, at every stage of the process, the origin of the raw materials and transformation products employed for making their articles, the partners who have been involved and the materials they have used.
Sustainable raw materials
CPF thinks it is essential, in the design and purchase choices of raw materials of its companies, to evaluate and take into consideration alternatives with a lower environmental and social impact, according to standards and initiatives which are structured and recognized by the market.
In particular, the Consortium preferably chooses certified raw materials, thus having a lower social and environmental impact, made according to criteria of environmental protection, biodiversity and respect for the dignity of farm animals.
Recovery, recycle, sustainable design
The transition to a circular economy model is a necessary step to ensure constant and sustainable growth of Feel the Yarn companies. Hence the choice to encourage the implementation of projects aimed at minimizing waste through recovery, reuse and/or recycling practices and the continuous application of sustainable design initiatives in product development.
Chemical risk reduction and monitoring
One of the most significant impacts of the fashion world and, in particular, of the production activity of the companies in the supply chain is linked to the use of chemical products in the different processing cycles.
Consequently, the Consortium companies undertake to seek the best solutions to gradually eliminate the toxic and harmful chemicals to human health and the environment from their production cycles, including the adoption of an assessment and management system of the associated risks in line with the ZDHC – Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals methodology.
