CANDIANI
FACTORY NAME: CANDIANI
LOCATION:Robecchetto con Induno, Italy
Why we love them: Candiani Denim is a family run business in its 4th generation. The family still lives inside the mill’s premises and produces everything exclusively in Robecchetto con Induno where they started way back in 1938. Candiani resides where local environmental regulations and restrictions are more severe than anywhere else in the denim industry. It is their mission to go above and beyond the international standards in the denim industry. They pride themselves in being a market leader by setting the bar for sustainable production and demonstrating how a business can thrive while respecting the environment in which it runs. All departments of the company work together to eliminate chemicals and emissions while ensuring water and energy are not wasted but re-used and recycled in the best way. We also love the dedication and longevity of their employees. Nine families within the company have reached the third generation, and 30 have reached their second generation.
Certifications: ISO14001 CERTIFICATION (international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system), OEKO-TEX Standard100 Certification (textiles and fabrics are certified free of harmful chemicals), ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD, OR GOTS(most important standard for sustainable production of garments and textile products), SA 8000 (ongoing and reliable assurance that an organization is upholding social performance expectations, while also continuously improving their management systems to address and prevent social and labor risks), A.I.A (programs are specifically designed to ensure professionals have the knowledge they need to advance their careers and their business), andZDHC (goal is to eliminate the use of priority hazardous chemicals by focussing on the following areas: Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) & Conformity Guidance, Wastewater Quality, Audit Protocol, Research, Data and Disclosure, and Training).
BCI Cotton: BCI is stands for Better Cotton Initiative. BCI's goal is to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future. Candiani was the first to integrate the Better Cotton Initiative into denim and today they use 40%(and growing) in their overall production.
Commitment to work safety and training: Another important aspect of Candiani’s social responsibility is its commitment to work safety and training. Candiani implements a program which assigns authorized, skilled workers to train employees. Within the company, employees receive safety training every year. With continuous education, Candiani can ensure the unceasing development of in-house skills while staying in line with mandatory regulations.
Recycled Yarn: Candiani is a vertically integrated company which means they start by sourcing raw cotton, they spin the cotton into yarns, dye the yarns, weave them into fabric and finish the fabric all under the same roof! 100% of their waste from the spinning, dyeing and weaving process is recycled: 50% is re-spun into yarn and the other 50% is upcycled into insulation for housing, and cars. In addition, Candiani uses these respun yarns to create its GRS approved denim line by incorporating its recycled yarn range.
Indigo: They only use pre-reduced indigo which is more expensive than the standard, powder indigo, but it’s more sustainable. Only 15% of all denim mills use pre-reduced indigo because of its price, but at Candiani, they know the benefits outweigh the costs. Pre-reduced indigo reduces two common chemicals used in denim production- 52% less sodium hydroxide 63% less sodium hydrosulphite.