Circular Threads: the report

Tondo has presented the first Italian study on the relationship between Textile industry and Circular Economy in Northern Italy.


To download the report: https://docsend.com/view/zbhfcu97zibu2qtq


To download the executive summary click here.


Milan, 18 October 2021 – Tondo is pleased to present “Circular Threads”, the first study that aims to investigate the link between the Italian textile and fashion industry and the Circular Economy. You can download the report here.


The study, carried out in collaboration with Fondazione Pistoletto, Associazione Tessile e Salute and rén collective, analysed the level of sustainability and circularity of textile and fashion companies in Northern Italy, with a particular focus on the Biella district, a pole of excellence and reference for the Italian textile sector.


The study aims to provide an overview of the current situation and to accelerate the transition towards the circular economy in the textile sector, identifying the best practices implemented and the main challenges faced by companies.


Specifically, a three-level analysis was conducted: for the first level, desk research, a series of sustainable and circular actions for the textile industry were identified and it was verified which of these actions were implemented in a sample of 300 companies in Northern Italy. As a second level of analysis, a questionnaire was submitted to a sample of almost 70 companies to assess the level of circular and sustainable practices implemented in a number of key areas. Lastly, a detailed analysis based on material flows was carried out for 2 companies in order to calculate the circularity index at product level using the Ellen MacArthur Foundation methodology.


Considering the strategic importance of the Italian fashion and textile industry, the transition towards more circular and sustainable production models represents not only a necessity but also a relevant economic opportunity. However, the state that emerges from the study reveals a lack of implementation of circular economy practices with only a few notable exceptions that are paving the way towards a more circular industry.


In order to accelerate this important transition, some actions are becoming increasingly relevant and should be pursued by textile and fashion companies in the near future.


In particular, based on the results of the study, more attention should be given to: product design, transparency, supplier selection, industrial symbiosis, research and development activities for new sustainable and circular materials, and finally a wider cultural change that could support the transition process.

Francesco Castellano

Francesco Castellano is a seasoned business leader and strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning research, finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has held impactful roles, including serving as a consultant at Bain & Company, launching Uber operations in Turin, and working as Managing Director of a Swiss start-up. In recent years, Francesco Castellano founded Tondo, a hub of... Read more

Francesco Castellano is a seasoned business leader and strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning research, finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has held impactful roles, including serving as a consultant at Bain & Company, launching Uber operations in Turin, and working as Managing Director of a Swiss start-up.

In recent years, Francesco Castellano founded Tondo, a hub of organizations dedicated to promoting Circular Economy approaches and supporting companies in transitioning to sustainable and circular practices. He is also the ideator and coordinator of the Re-think Circular Economy Forum, a high-profile event held across Italy to showcase innovative Circular Economy solutions.

Francesco Castellano collaborates with European institutions, serving as an expert for the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative and mentoring startups in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) New European Bauhaus Booster Program. Through these roles, he actively supports the development and scaling of circular economy ventures across Europe.

He is also a sought-after speaker and lecturer, sharing his expertise on Circular Economy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at universities and international events. Francesco holds executive education certificates from prestigious institutions such as MIT, Harvard, and the University of Virginia, further solidifying his credentials in strategy, sustainability, and innovation.

Fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish, Francesco Castellano combines his diverse skill set with a passion for Circular Economy, Cleantech Innovations, and Entrepreneurship. His strong background in Corporate Strategy, Sustainability, Innovation Development, and Finance enables him to drive impactful change in every initiative he undertakes.

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