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 holds a Master degree in Business Administration, and he has gathered almost twenty years of experience in research, finance, consulting, and business management. During this time, he was engaged in different types of projects as a consultant at Bain & Company, launched Uber operations in Turin, and worked in the FP&A department at General Electric.Lately, he founded To... Read more

Francesco Castellano holds a Master degree in Business Administration, and he has gathered almost twenty years of experience in research, finance, consulting, and business management. During this time, he was engaged in different types of projects as a consultant at Bain & Company, launched Uber operations in Turin, and worked in the FP&A department at General Electric.

Lately, he founded Tondo, a cluster of organizations focusing on spreading Circular Economy approaches and concepts, and supporting companies in the transition to a clean and circular future. Francesco is also the ideator and coordinator of the Re-think Circular Economy Forum, a format of events organized in many different locations in Italy showcasing the most relevant Circular Economy solutions.

Francesco has been a guest speaker at different universities and events, like Federico II University, Bocconi University, LIUC - Cattaneo University, Pavia University, Padua University, Catholic University, IPE Business School, 24ORE Business School, Campus Party, Torino Stratosferica, Visionary Days.

Francesco is passionate about Circular Economy, Cleantech Innovations, Venture Building and Entrepreneurship.

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