The Monitor for Circular Fashion Shares Its Commitment with the European Commission and the United Nations

The Monitor for Circular Fashion recently reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainability and circularity in the fashion sector by actively participating in two significant events: the presentation of the Circular Fashion Manifesto at the European Commission's “Textiles ecosystem stakeholder event” and the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) event “Vision and Visibility: Scaling transparency.”

The Circular Fashion Manifesto is a declaration of commitment signed by 28 companies part of the Monitor for Circular Fashion at SDA Bocconi. These industry players have committed to improving the traceability and transparency of their supply chains, in line with the standards set by UNECE. This commitment was officially presented to the European Commission DG GROW and UNECE, highlighting the industry's intention to move towards more circular business models.

The goal of the Manifesto is clear: to facilitate the transition to a circular economy in the fashion sector. To achieve this goal, the commitment includes eight actions derived from the "Textile Transition Pathway" and is implemented through 14 pilot projects. These projects, developed between 2022 and 2024, are coordinated by the SDA Bocconi research observatory and adopt an open innovation and partnership approach in the supply chain.

The Monitor for Circular Fashion presented the Circular Fashion Manifesto during the “Textiles ecosystem stakeholder event” organized by the European Commission, dedicated to the textile ecosystem. The event, held on June 4, 2024, provided an important platform to discuss strategies and actions necessary to promote sustainability in the sector. The presentation of the commitment was well received by institutional representatives, highlighting the importance of a collaborative and transparent approach to addressing sustainability challenges. In addition to the Monitor for Circular Fashion, the panel “Transition Pathway for the Textile Ecosystem” included notable organizations such as INDITEX, Adidas, and Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, moderated by Cecilia Nilsson Bottka of DG GROW.

Simultaneously, the commitment was also presented at the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) during the event “Vision and Visibility: Scaling transparency” on June 19 at the Triennale in Milan. This event emphasized the importance of international standards to ensure a traceable and transparent textile supply chain, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The commitment was part of a series of interventions by industry experts, including Paul Roeland (Clean Clothes Campaign), Mirmukhsin Sultanov (Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association), and Mark Draeck (UNIDO), moderated by Maria Teresa Pisani of UNECE.

With the Circular Fashion Manifesto, companies have committed to making their processes more transparent and traceable, promoting a more responsible supply chain.

The Monitor for Circular Fashion continues to lead the industry towards positive change, demonstrating that sustainability and circularity are not only possible but essential for the future of the fashion industry.

SDA Bocconi School of Management