For Vitale Barberis Canonico, sustainability is not a fashion or a trend to follow because the market requires it, but it is something deeply rooted in the company culture and in the values that have been handed down from generation to generation.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2020
In this complex and challenging year, we pursued the activities relating to sustainability with integrity, commitment and the concrete actions which have always characterised us.
We gave maximum priority to PEOPLE’S health, introducing extraordinary Covid-19 protection measures even before they were required by law. Measures which have proved to be effective considering the low number of infections.
We renewed our commitment to the ENVIRONMENT with the conscious use of resources and significant structural interventions in the field of environmental remediation.
We consolidated our medium to long-term strategy, making important investments in the research and development of the PRODUCT, boosting digitalisation and expanding the range of the services provided to customers.
- 1982
- Reuse of the contents of the dyeing tanks to recuperate dyes and auxiliary chemicals and the reduction of water consumption.
- Purchase of first Greenhills farm in Australia
- 1987
Purification system for effluents with biological, active mud treatment and tertiary active carbon treatment
- 1989
Noise level reduction in weaving shops as a result of the study and installation of first generation sound-isolation cabins covering every loom.
- 1996
New finishing department with a number of system improvements for reduction of water consumption and energy.
- 2000
2001New highly-automated dyeing department with a number of system improvements for energy consumption reductions and reuse of contents of dyeing tanks
- 2003
New regenerative thermal afterburner for the treatment of waste gas smells caused by singeing.
- 2005
No Mulesed/Ceased Mulesed declaration system in collaboration with New England Wool.
- 2008
Model 231, including Company Code of Ethics.
- 2009
- Life Insurance for all employees pursuant to Company supplementary agreement.
- ISO 9001 Quality certification.
- New gas central heating system with low-emission steam generators and recuperation of energy from fumes and condensation.
- 2012
- New Company welfare system including supplementary health insurance, Long Term Care insurance, tax-free annual shopping voucher, pension hours time bank fostering ad hoc arrangements for serious or long-term sickness.
- Tessile e Salute (Textiles and Health) Certification.
- 2014
Wool Excellence Club and Wool Excellence Award dedicated to breeders.
- 2015
SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme to promote the supply of sustainable raw materials.
- 2016
Second line of purification treatment using MBR membrane bioreactor and ozone decolourisation to recycle part of the effluents from finishing department.
- 2018
- New Company supplementary agreement for maintenance of preceding agreements and improvement of provisions therein, amongst which safeguarding of salaries in events of serious or long-term sickness and implementation of an exclusive network of discounts with local businesses.
- Formalisation of CSR office.
- First Sustainability Report.
- 2019
- ISO 45001 certification: Occupational Health and Safety
- ISO 14001 certification: Environmental Management Systems
- 100% electric energy bought from certified renewable sources
- Transfer of SustainaWOOL to an independent third party
- H.O.P.E. sustainable fabric range
- Adoption of the Chemical Management 4sustainability protocol for the implementation of the MRSL ZDHC.