Leather & Luxury interviewed Simone Manzi of Taddei, Manzi & C. about the company's further steps in their sustainability journey.
What are your next steps in the area of sustainability?
With 2023, the new project we are working on is the implementation of assessing the environmental impact of our products with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Through LCA we consider all activities in the supply chain: from raw material extraction, production, use, and end-of-life management. Multiple data are collected for each stage, such as water, gas, energy, CO2 and so on. The information obtained is processed with specific modeling software that produces various environmental impact indicators. Interpreting the data provided by this analysis is crucial because it allows us to determine, in a rigorous and scientific way, which products have the least impact, so as to introduce them into production processes and evaluate the results obtained on the finished product. In pursuing this goal, the collaboration with Stahl, which has always been very attentive to environmental issues and compliance with current regulations and specifications, is basic for us. I would also like to mention that after achieving ISO14001 environmental certification in 2021, we are also working to achieve ZDHC Gateway Level 3 certification by this year.
So it is the market that is asking for it? What about the end consumer?
I believe that these assessment methods will be increasingly necessary. Leather companies are moving in this direction, and evaluating the impact of each product will, fortunately, be inevitable. However, I would separate the commercial factor, i.e., the need to adapt to increasingly stringent market demands, from that of a corporate "mission." Of course marketing is important, but for us at Taddei, Manzi & C., commitment to the environment is fundamental and we truly believe that a "green" path contributes, in our own small way, to the well-being of the planet.
However, it must be emphasized that, unfortunately, this message does not reach the final consumer: entering the accessories boutiques of the big names, there are no labels specifying the "green" qualities of the product such as, for example, the words "bisphenol free" or "metal free." For now, this is information that at best travels upstream of the leather supply chain. Instead, such a type of communication-transparent, simple, and obviously not "greenwashing"-could make a difference and carry weight in fashion purchases, especially among young people, who are very aware of sustainability issues.
www.taddeimanziprodottichimici.it
