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“The first half of 2022 ended with 76% of the products sold included in sustainability categories, such as recycled polyester fabrics, Tenowa brand fabrics, and fabrics produced in dyeing and finishing processes with less water and energy consumption”, says Riopele.
The figures achieved reveal that the sustainability strategy – in which the group has invested several million euros – is consolidated: “From 2017, the percentage of sold products with sustainable materials increased by practically 50%, from 51% in 2017 to 76 % in the first half of 2022”.
According to José Alexandre Oliveira, CEO of the company, “sustainability is not a trend at Riopele”, but rather “the way of doing business since our foundation in 1927”. For this reason, the company has reinforced investments in critical areas such as energy efficiency, recycling, and water reuse in the last decade.
In terms of raw materials, the group has been reinforcing its commitment to using recycled products and creating fabrics with greater durability, using cutting-edge technologies to optimize the efficiency of its production processes. By 2027, Riopele wants “all the energy used in the production process to come from renewable sources”.