Benetton Group has an extensive tradition in Made-in-Italy knitwear and fully appreciates the excellence of wool, a naturally sustainable material. Soft and breathable, wool consumes less energy during washing and garments made of wool last longer, on average, than those made of other fibers. In addition, wool is the prevalent reused and recycled fiber and is biodegradable. Benetton Group implements a series of initiatives to certify the quality of its wool.
Woolmark
In 2023, Benetton Group celebrated 50 years of partnership with Woolmark, an Australian brand that has established itself as the global wool authority over the past 50 years. The collaboration resulted in the certification of the quality and sustainability of over one million Extra Fine Merino wool products of the United Colors of Benetton winter collection. Woolmark is committed to developing and promoting a more responsible use of wool and to reassuring brands and consumers that wool is a sustainable choice for the fashion industry.
Recycled wool
Like other textile fibers, wool is recyclable and retains all the properties of traditional wool. Italy is the world capital of wool recycling. Some items in Benetton Group’s kidswear collections use a mix of virgin fiber and recycled fiber (at least 20%) from certified supply chains, reducing the environmental impact while ensuring the level of quality that consumers expect from Benetton.
Benetton Group is just at the beginning of its journey: in 2019, we did not use recycled wool, while in 2023, certified recycled wool accounted for about 1% of the total volume.