#Recycling / Circular Economy

2025-10-06

RadiciGroup and Ferragamo team up for an eco-design project under the Monitor for Circular Fashion initiative

RadiciGroup, a leading player in sustainable textile solutions, has partnered with Ferragamo to develop “Nova – The evolution of a Star”, an eco-design project that reimagines one of the Maison’s iconic handbags through the lens of circularity.

The initiative was born within the Monitor for Circular Fashion (M4CF), the research observatory of SDA Bocconi School of Management that brings together companies, institutions, and stakeholders from the TCLF sector (Textile, Clothing, Leather, Footwear) with the aim of accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and circular business models. The project was unveiled on September 30, during the launch of the Circular Fashion Manifesto 2025, signed by 27 fashion companies and set to become a European benchmark for circular practices.

Nova: a bag symbolizing circular and responsible fashion © 2025 RadiciGroup

The Nova bag is the result of a collaborative eco-design process involving multiple industrial partners: Radici Yarn (RadiciGroup) for textiles, Conceria Antiba for leather, ICEC and UNIC for certification, and Temera for the digital identity of the project. The design approach was guided by the principles of traceability, chemical safety, and durability, with the use of renewable, bio-based materials: the fabric is made with Biofeel® eleven, a 100% bio-based yarn derived from castor oil and produced by Radici Yarn; the leather parts come from Conceria Antiba with vegetable tanning and certified traceability; finally, the bag was assembled without the use of metals or glues, with a 60% reduction in packaging volume. The results are tangible: the bio-based carbon content—that is, the proportion of carbon in the material derived from renewable biological sources, measured using radiocarbon C14 testing—reaches 84.3% of the total weight, making Nova a concrete example of how aesthetics, innovation, and sustainability can coexist.

“It was a pleasure and an honour for us to take part in this innovative eco-design project, which represents a key step toward a sustainable and responsible future,” said Filippo Bona, R&D Manager Apparel & Technical at RadiciGroup. “Our contribution at Radici Yarn focused on selecting the most suitable materials and engaging supply chain partners, all committed to creating a product that is not only functional, but also respectful of the environment and social responsibility values. For this project we chose Biofeel® eleven, our 100% bio-based yarn obtained from castor oil, a low-impact plant that requires very little water. It is a material that combines lightness, strength, and sustainability, demonstrating that technical performance can go hand in hand with protecting the planet.”

The Nova project shows how collaboration across the entire supply chain can foster innovation and accelerate the circular transition in the fashion industry. A synergy that, through the Monitor for Circular Fashion, is part of a broader European movement aiming to redefine the paradigms of textile, leather, and footwear production in a sustainable way.

RadiciGroup: 21st Sustainability Report published

RadiciGroup has published its 21st Sustainability Report, covering the year 2024, confirming more than two decades of transparency and measurement in the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. From its first Social Report in 2004 to the current reporting aligned with the GRI Universal Standards, the Group is now preparing for its next challenge: the adoption of the criteria that will be set out by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Twenty years of Sustainability Report for RadiciGroup

The RadiciGroup Sustainability Report reaches an important milestone this year: twenty years have in fact passed since the Group published its first Social Report in 2004, qualifying it as one of the pioneering companies in the realisation of voluntary non-financial reporting. The document measures the Group’s achievements and the actions it has taken to reduce its environmental impact, respect social values, and implement good business management practices.

Geogreen inaugurates a new photovoltaic plant: over 5,000 solar panels to produce 5.5 million kWh/year of clean energy

Geogreen and RadiciGroup are speeding up their photovoltaic development with the inauguration of a new solar plant in the Municipality of Isola Dovarese in the Province of Cremona. Participating at the official ribbon cutting were the Geogreen shareholders including President Angelo Radici, the mayor of the Municipality of Isola Dovarese and other local officials.

Circulose restarts commercial-scale production at Ortviken plant in Sundsvall

Circulose today announced the restart of its commercial-scale production plant at Ortviken in Sundsvall, Sweden, marking a significant step in scaling next-generation materials for the global fashion industry. The company plans to resume production of CIRCULOSE®, a recycled pulp made entirely from discarded cotton textiles, in the fourth quarter of 2026.

VIATT 2026 to debut German Pavilion, strengthening European participation alongside key Asian textile hubs

Vietnam’s textile and garment sector continues to be a major contributor to the country’s economic growth, with export revenues expected to reach USD 46 billion in 2025, a 5.6% increase from 2024 . From 26 – 28 February, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to contribute to economic growth opportunities by accelerating digital transformation and green transition across the entire textile value chain. The upcoming edition will respond to the rising demand for advanced technologies and sustainable materials with the introduction of the German Pavilion, alongside strong exhibitor participation from key Asian sectors, as well as several high-profile fringe events.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.