Innovation and transparency: the fashion textile industry meets at Centrocot

 A rich and constructive discussion on key issues for the future of the textile and fashion supply chain. Entitled “Innovation, Legality and Sustainability: certifying the future of the fashion supply chain,” the conference organized by Centrocot on September 15 in Busto Arsizio, part of the “ZDHC Solutions Roadshow” program, brought together companies and institutions to explore highly topical issues such as transparency, sustainable chemical management, and social responsibility.

After greetings from Anna Deligios of the Varese Chamber of Commerce and Luigi Galdabini, President of Confindustria Varese, the conference got underway. The topic of legality was discussed with lawyer Danila Passantino of Confindustria Moda, who illustrated the key points of the new Memorandum of Understanding that aims to regulate contracts in the fashion supply chain with the goal of combating irregular work and contractual dumping. “Legality and sustainability are no longer options,” she said, “but essential conditions for competing in global markets and protecting our Made in Italy brand.”

Worthy of note was the speech by Grazia Cerini, CEO and general manager of Centrocot, whose laboratories are among the most advanced in Europe. She explained how certifications and digital platforms such as OEKO-TEX® and ZDHC help companies transform regulatory obligations into opportunities for innovation and reputation. In a global market that demands ever greater guarantees, Italian companies are proving to be one step ahead. “In this context,” Cerini emphasized, “our companies are ahead of the game,” not only with established protocols, but also by anticipating regulations with the latest innovations. The event provided an opportunity to award the first Italian company certified as “Responsible Business” (Tintoria Vago in Busto Arsizio): a new Oeko-Tex certification scheme that verifies compliance with due diligence throughout the supply chain and essentially tells the world that the company is fully compliant in all respects.

The subsequent panel discussion, “Sustainability in Action,” moderated by Aurora Magni, provided concrete testimonials from leading companies and operators who have made the path to sustainability their competitive advantage. Speakers included Soledad Zausa and Gaia Zucca (Decathlon), Barbara Cimmino (Yamamay), Chiara Ferraris (Radici Group), Marino Vago (Tintoria Vago), Roberto Grassi (Grassi), and Antonio Massafra representing workers.

The final presentation was given by Marta Simonetti, Europe Region Manager at ZDHC, who illustrated the latest developments in the “Roadmap to Zero” program for eliminating chemical risk along the supply chain. In ten years of work, much progress has been made, said the ZDHC manager, especially in the textile sector, but there is still much to be done, particularly in the leather and footwear sectors.

The day ended with a visit to Centrocot’s MultiLab and its Textile Recycling Experience, introduced by President Mario Montonati: a tangible example of how innovation can transform textile recycling into a resource for the circular economy.