Sustainability and fashion, ENEA guidelines for companies

Sustainability, data collection and traceability in fashion: in a online guide the directives for companies that will have to comply with European regulatory obligations such as the introduction of the digital product passport from 2027. This was set up by an international team coordinated by the research agency Enea together with other international partners.

The document, drafted together with experts from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and Reverse Resource, with the support of the Italian Standardisation Body, was published by the European Committee for Standardisation, and presented at an event organised by Digitx Innovation hub, the reference centre for textile companies, retailers and research organisations. "These guidelines represent a technical model on how to concretely collect and manage data along the entire supply chain, in view of the introduction of a tool such as the DPP," explains Gessica Ciaccio, researcher at the Laboratories Cross technologies for urban and industrial districts, ENEA's Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources Department, and coordinator of the project, "which promises to revolutionise the way users read and understand textile products and their life cycle. Although the technical and non-technical requirements to be met by companies in the sector are still being defined'.

In the guidelines, a path is outlined for a 'standardised and integrated' approach to data collection, in which traceability, sustainability and management of supply chain operations are united and travel together. "All in a single operational context," emphasise ENEA, "enriched by concrete examples and ready-to-use public resources.

The collection method includes steps based on existing standards concerning data exchange between companies and the integration of environmental and social sustainability aspects as well as customs controls. All of this by bringing together the results of other initiatives that covered both the traceability platform to support the circular economy and the one on optimised post-consumer waste management. "The guidelines represent the result of an important collaborative effort that synthesises years of research and experimentation in the field," concludes the project manager. "A valuable resource for companies, software developers, and in general for the stakeholders of the textile and clothing ecosystem, including logistics operators, waste collection and recycling operators: subjects all called upon to face a crucial phase of regulatory and digital transition to make production systems increasingly sustainable and circular.