Making a completely sustainable backpack that is innovative, durable and at the same time a fashion item is possible. This has been achieved by three Italian companies that believe in the importance of sustainability.

 

Radici Group is a world leader in chemistry, techno polymers and advanced textile solutions. Save The Duck is an Italian brand specializing in outerwear that is 100% animal cruelty-free,and Vibram is a leading brand in the production and marketing of high-performance soles.

The three companies have realized an eco-design pilot project born within SDA Bocconi's multistakeholder "Monitor for Circular Fashion" initiative and collaborated by pooling their expertise, resulting in "Anima," a backpack whose name means "soul."

 

 

This innovative accessory is made from two materials: a fabric made from Renycle, a yarn produced by RadiciGroup and 100% derived from the mechanical recycling of polyamide (nylon), which provides significant savings in terms of energy use (-87.4%), CO2 emissions (-89.3%) and water consumption (-90.4%) and is GRS certified and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 compliant for responsible production. The rubber parts, such as the bottom, are made of material from recycled industrial waste from the Vibram factory in Albizzate, certified to ISO standards.

 

Thanks to the teamwork between the three partners, Anima can be easily disassembled and can significantly simplify the recycling of the accessory at the end of its life. The fabric part can be transformed into a new polymeric material that can be used in any industry involving high-performance polyamides. The rubber part is easily transformed into a new accessory: a pouch. The nylon composition, due to the nature of this material, also allows Anima to have significantly less weight than traditional backpacks and have a very low footprint.

This backpack was created to be used for leisure, as well as for work or travel, thanks to a dynamic structure that adapts to the contents and every occasion. The body of the backpack is made of rip-stop, a nylon fabric produced with a woven technology, widely used in the fashion world, which, together with a linear and elegant design, and softness to the touch, gives this accessory a strong fashion component.



This fabric also has as its main characteristics the ability to resist tearing, foldability, and comfort, which is why it is suitable for out-of-town use. The backpack is complemented by a removable computer holder, making it an ideal accessory for professionals and students as well. The result is a durable and extremely versatile backpack.

 

The backpack can exemplify a new concrete solution of circularity in the fashion world, demonstrating that it is possible to create textile and apparel solutions sustainably through collaboration between companies in the supply chain.

The Monitor for Circular Fashion is a multi-stakeholder project involving leading fashion companies and supply chain players with scientific input from the SDA Bocconi Sustainability Lab and Enel X's cross-industry vision for identifying circularity KPIs Various fashion groups and companies joined it. Among them there are Kering Group, Candiani Denim, OVS, Manteco, Vitale Barberis Canonico, Albini Group and Vivienne Westwood, along with Radici Group, Save The Duck and Vibram.

 

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