MONGRANDO, Italy — Italian woolen mill Biella Manifatture Tessili, which is controlled by textile specialist Marzotto Group, has received the ISO 14001 green certification.
The certification confirms that the production process is eco-friendly and controlled over the entire pipeline, constantly evaluating its environmental footprints, as well as its efficiency. “Biella Manifatture Tessili has invested around 3 million euros over the last three years, proving that [environmental] issues hold a strategic importance for us,” said Davide Favrin, ceo of Biella Manifatture Tessili.
The company operates the Marlane, Guabello and Fratelli Tallia di Delfino labels, which are positioned in the fast-fashion, contemporary and high-end textile segments, respectively. Clients of the company include a range of renowned brands including Hugo Boss, Canali, Brioni and Kiton.
On Thursday, at the company’s headquarters in Mongrando, a few kilometers from Biella, in the Piedmont region, Favrin was handed the certification by Emanuele Castagno, executive vice president certification of Rina, the Italian institution releasing ISO certifications.
“We had to set a range of goals to target and constantly evaluate them in keeping with a steady improvement. It forced us to work toward the performance enhancement, as well,“ explained Favrin, who said the company has already reached 28 out of the 50 goals in the first five months of the year. The goals were set in 2016, when Biella Manifatture Tessili applied to obtain the ISO 14001 certification.
Reducing water consumption by 30 percent, cutting down the emission of total carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides by 10 and 30 percent, respectively, as well as replacing existing lighting with more efficient and eco-friendly led lights, were among the goals the company was challenged to reach.
Other initiatives included the establishment of a dedicated office to supervise on the company’s effort toward sustainability and “listening to our employees to get their advice,” Favrin continued. The executive contended that educating workers on the company’s efforts is part of a broader intention to “raise general awareness on the topic.”
“The certification is above all a starting point. We are working to obtain the SA8000 [corporate social responsibility] certification by the end of 2018 or in the first months of 2019 at the latest,” added Favrin, underscoring the importance of an all-around ethic approach.
Only six textile companies in Italy have obtained both certifications to date; these include Ratti SpA and Marzotto Lab, which are controlled by the Marzotto Group, as well.
Biella Manifatture Tessili posted revenues in the region of 110 million euros in 2017 and employs around 350 workers split between the 193,750-square-foot unit in Mongrando and the nearby Strona factory.