Title:	MADE IN ITALY: BUILDING AWARENESS. THE ROADMAP TO CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WHICH THE ITALIAN FASHION SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING
Author(s):	Dalia Gallico
ISBN:	978-989-8533-73-9
Editors:	Theodora Issa, Tomayess Issa, Pedro Isaias and Ana Hol
Year:	2017
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Environmental Ethics, Sustainable Fashion, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Ethical Consumption, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Sustainable
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	19
Last Page:	26
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	The italian fashion industry has a clear opportunity to act differently, pursuing profit and growth while also creating new value for society and therefore for the world economy. It comes with an urgent need to place environmental, social, and ethical improvements on management’s agenda. To continue the growth trajectory, the fashion industry needs to address its environmental and social footprint. The earth’s natural resources are under pressure, and the fashion industry, although not the most obvious contributor, is a considerable one. Social conditions -also in the fashion industry - are far from those set forth in the United Nations’ goals for sustainable development. With current trajectories of production and consumption, these pressures will intensify by 2030 to the point of threatening industry growth itself. With resources becoming even scarcer, the industry will face rising costs from labor to materials and energy. Based on conservative projections, fashion brands’ profitability levels are at risk in the range of at least 3 percentage points if they don’t act determinedly, and soon. The facts show a clear need for acting differently.so Italy decided to bring order and clarity and some months ago launched the Road Map to sustainable fashion made by a working group promoted and coordinated by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Textile and Health Association that is the technical, SMI the Association of all the Italian Fashion Brands. The working group is composed of the most important Italian Fashion Brands: Prada, Armani, Gucci, Valentino, Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna, etc. The Guidelines on eco-toxicological requirements for articles of clothing, leather goods, footwear and accessories contribute to implementing the objective of drawing a road to a sustainable fashion and encourage the adoption of a responsible management models along the supply chain. The Guidelines encourage the introduction and evolution of virtuous and sustainable practices through an effective utilization and management of the chemicals in the production chain and they are intended to ensure standards of chemical safety higher than those prescribed by law for the articles, for the benefit of consumers and of the community. The Manifesto for the sustainability in Italian Fashion aims at designing an Italian way to a responsible and sustainable fashion as well as fostering the adoption of models of responsible management throughout the fashion value chain to the benefit of the economic system of the whole country. Therefore the world’s first Green Carpet Fashion Awards, Italia 2017, during Milan Women’s Fashion Week, will feature major brands such as Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada and Valentino as well as emerging designers, whose vision and creativity represent the future of sustainable fashion. Following the manifesto program Fashion brands with targeted initiatives will be best placed to improve their environmental and social footprint and counteract the rising costs of apparel production. They will pull ahead of their competitors with innovative ways of doing business and efficient production techniques that minimize the use of water, energy, and land, as well as hazardous chemicals. By realizing better working conditions and improving workers’ safety, they will minimize their operational and reputational risks and create significant value for themselves and the world economy. This paper explains the roadmap to chemical and environmental sustainability which the italian fashion system is currently undertaking, the size of the challenge and the need for innovation, collaboration and supporting regulatory action to close the gap.
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