Carbon neutrality as soon as 2027

Riopele announced its ambitious commitment to become operationally carbon neutral by 2027 through the implementation of a series of measures and projects which will allow all the company’s operations to have a zero environmental impact.

As it approaches its 100-year anniversary, the textile company based in Vila Nova de Famalicão which, during the last decade, invested 35 million euros in the areas of digital transition and sustainability, believes that its efforts will maximise the positive environmental impact, creating a model to be followed by other fashion industry companies.

"Here at Riopele, we recognise the urgent need to get rid of our carbon footprint and work towards a more sustainable future", says José Alexandre Oliveira, the company chairman. “We believe that companies have an important role to play in the fight against climate change which is why we are committed to attaining our carbon neutrality as quickly as possible and we feel that it would be symbolic to attain this milestone in our centenary year”, he concluded.

Geared towards demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, this all-embracing plan is aligned with the “Sustainable Development Goals” determined by UN (United Nations Organisation) and it will involve major investments in the transition to renewable energy sources, as well as in the development of new products and processes to reduce emissions.

In the context of the Sustainability Road Map defined by the company, Riopele will involve the whole value chain in order to drive forward environmental progress.

This road map details the company’s plans in terms of sustainability which include several initiatives such as the “reduction in the carbon footprint from emissions deriving from its operations, but also from emissions deriving from the electrical energy it consumes to zero”, the “reduction in the carbon footprint of the value chain by 20%” or ensuring “90% of the generation of thermal energy deriving from a carbon neutral source”. Furthermore, Riopele believes it is possible for “100% of the electrical energy used to come from renewable sources” and investments are being made to ensure a “fossil-fuel free fleet”, “increase the recovery percentage and water treatment of the process to 60%” and “reduce the production of textile waste by 20%”. Finally, by 2027 the company from Famalicão will ensure “100% reuse of the textile waste through recycling” and that “80% of the products sold have sustainability components”.

“We are committed to having a positive impact and we have in progress major investment projects in innovative technology and renewable energy sources. We hope that our endeavours will help to lead the way, incentivising other companies to join forces with us so that, together, we can take major strides towards the creation of a more sustainable future”.

Founded in 1927, Riopele is an international byword for the creation and production of fabrics for fashion and clothes collection for some of the most prestigious international brands, with 95% of production being sent to its more than 700 customers active in over 30 countries.