#Sustainability

2018-03-29

RadiciGroup sustainability case studies

Recently, at the trade fair Mecspe in Parma, Italy (22 -24 March), RadiciGroup had the opportunity to present its experience in the area of sustainability during the series of meetings, Circular Economy Arena 4.0.

On 23 March, during the morning session, “CIRCULAR ECONOMY: REAL PATHS TO SUSTAINABILITY”, Susanna Caprotti (RadiciGroup Performance Plastics) and Maria Teresa Betti (RadiciGroup Sustainable Communication) gave a presentation entitled “From jackets to automobiles: nylon’s certified path to sustainability”. The objective was to demonstrate how the use of ecodesign could reduce the environmental impact of a product – from the production processes and materials used to the end of life, including the potential recycling of the product itself.

Two sustainability cases were brought to the attention of the engineers and technical professionals in the audience (who received free T-shirts made of RadiciGroup Radilon® nylon). The first case was an experimental pilot project, carried out by all the players in the Group production chain, to recycle wheel trim for reuse in automotive applications, while the second was a 100% nylon vest (fabric, lining, zipper, labels, snaps, etc.) that could be completely recycled at the end of its useful life through extrusion, so as to find a new use in the plastics industry.

As Ms. Caprotti and Ms. Betti emphasized during their talk, “the challenge is to conceive of and realize single-material components designed for disassembly (and this also goes for garments and other products), which can be recycled simply and quickly after separating the different pieces, without sacrificing performance, style, comfort and consumer needs.

Today, RadiciGroup is the only European group able to monitor its entire production process, from polymer chemicals to the manufacture of synthetic fibres and engineering plastics, as well as end- of-life recycling.

The materials are used in numerous application sectors, particularly automotive, furnishings and apparel, and are manufactured using strictly controlled corporate purchase and production processes in order to limit consumption and emissions.

Additionally, in the Circular Economy Arena 4.0, during the session on 22 March dedicated to “NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS”, Erico Spini, marketing & application development director Europe of RadiciGroup Performance Plastics, took the floor to discuss the Group’s experience in the use of recycled carbon fibre in the thermoplastics field. The goal of his presentation, entitled “Recycled carbon fibre for thermoplastics: opportunities and technical problems”, was to highlight the potential advantages and technological challenges to overcome in the use of recycled carbon fibre. By virtue of its high mechanical properties, carbon fibre can be used in metal replacement and, thanks to its low specific weight, is suitable for the lightweighting of parts. Moreover, by adding carbon fibre, possibly together with other additives, good thermal conductibility can be obtained without significantly compromising mechanical properties.

“Today, we are not yet producing a recycled carbon fibre-filled polyamide compound,” noted Mr. Spini, “but we are working on several promising products combining high performance and a competitive price, with the further benefit of lower environmental impact. Based on preliminary comparative data, we note that 30% recycled carbon fibre-filled polyamide (using recyclate from a well-defined source) has mechanical properties close to those measured for products using virgin carbon fibre. These encouraging initial results have to be confirmed by analysing more production lots and testing recycled carbon fibre of different origins.”

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.

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles unveils Trends 2027 alongside new lifestyle zone and product expansion

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2026 will spotlight forward-looking design directions and evolving consumer demand, as the global home and lifestyle market continues to adapt to sustainability priorities, emotional well-being, and diversified living spaces. Taking place from 18 – 20 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the fair will present its latest trend theme, ‘BREATHE UP!’, developed in collaboration with leading international trend forecaster NellyRodi™ Agency, alongside expanded product categories, and the debut of the Home Textiles Lifestyle Zone.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.