On 7 December, Norway’s first textile recycling plant was inaugurated in Sandefjord. The ceremony was attended by the Italian Ambassador, Stefano Nicoletti, together with the Governor of Vestfold County, Anne Strømøy, the CEO in charge of the plant, Pål Erik Haraldsen, Marco Benedetti, Sustainable Development Specialist of the Italian company Ommi and Head of Sustainability at the Norwegian Federation of Business (Virke), Tord Dale.
Norsk Tekstilgjenvinning’s textile recycling plant uses the latest generation machinery produced by the Prato company Ommi.
This collaboration marks a new important milestone in the economic relations between Italy and Norway, two countries whose bilateral trade is constantly increasing and shows promising growth prospects, especially in the sectors of machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, food and wine products and textiles and clothing.
Many in Norway are looking with great interest at the opportunities presented by the growing interaction between business, government and the research community to develop and promote climate-friendly technologies and to address the energy transition and climate change. The creation of transnational partnerships can extend common efforts towards sustainability also in textiles which plays an important role in the Italian economy and which is making a significant transition.
The production of recycled fabrics continues to expand and has contributed over the years to making Italy the European country with the highest recycling rate of the total volume of special and urban waste and the ability to produce goods, thus reducing the use of raw materials , water and energy. It is therefore not surprising that the industrial district of Prato, which is the largest textile hub in Europe with its 7,000 companies, was chosen as a partner by Norway for a pilot project in this sector. Prato represents a center of excellence in terms of technology, innovation and sustainability, with 400 companies certified according to the Global Recycled Standard.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nicoletti underlined: “I am happy to note that an Italian company from Prato, Ommi, is contributing with its technology to the creation of the first textile recycling plant in Norway which, if successful, will lead to the construction of numerous others. This partnership is another example of how Italy and Norway can work together to address, with a far-sighted approach, the numerous challenges posed by sustainability.”