ABOUT MANTECO

• Manteco was founded in Italy in 1943, turning Wool military blankets and garments into wool yarns using a wet, mechanical recycling practice that's still used by the company today.

• The company is dedicated to regenerated wool products, and offers a wide range of luxury fabrics, all made with its next-generation MWool recycled wool - said to use 99.9% less water and 93.3% less energy than virgin wool. Key fabric collections include Pure (100% MWool fabrics), Woolten  (MWool and Tencel fabrics), and Bi Careful (MWool and alpaca fabrics).  

• Manteco is headquartered in the Prato textile district in Tuscany, Italy. It's currently in its third generation of family ownership, having been in the Enzo Anacleto Mantellassi family since its founding. In addition to its three laboratories in Italy, Manteco has offices in New York, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Stockholm.

• As of 2019, Manteco had 70 direct employees, but stated indirect employment was 2,500 strong, with all workers based in the textile industry around Prato, creating a localised supply chain and manufacturing system. 

• The company works directly with over 50 textile experts, all within 10 miles of its Italian headquarters. Responsible for every step of the production process, from coning to weaving, the partners all follow the Manteco Charter of Supply Chain Commitments, and hold key certifications such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the Responsible Wool Standard.

• The MSystem supply chain is further enhanced with the company's MTrace software, which traces every step of the production process, producing integrated data management opportunities that are directly shared with customers.  

• The company has certified its recycled wool with an LCA, which was published as a scientific article and certified with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). MWool is also (GRS) certified. Manteco claims that MWool is fully circular and zero waste. 

• In 2018, the company took EUR 80 million (USD 88.28 million) in revenue, and has reported 18% growth per year since 2012. It produces more than eight million metres of wool per year, and customers include Zara, H&M, Kering, and LVMH. 

• Specific MWool customers include LK Bennett, whose MWool coat was worn by Kate Middleton; Reformation; KITH and BMW; and IKKS Paris.

• The company adheres to the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, and continuously works to make its supply chain more transparent and fully traceable. It has published a sustainability report every year since 2016.

• Manteco employs experienced and knowledgeable textile artisans to match the reprocessed wool fibre, using the colours from the wool’s previous life so that it doesn’t need to be dyed again. The company’s primary activity is quality control - ensuring that all recycled wool passes the same standards as virgin wool.

• Manteco has set up its own standard for animal welfare, which is based on the IWTO guidelines. Its supply chain certifications by ICEA include Responsible Wool Standard, Responsible Mohair Standard, Responsible Alpaca Standard, Global Recycled Standard, and Organic Cotton Standard. Other Manteco supply chain certifications include European Flax and 4Sustainability.

• The wool manufacturer is part of the Better Cotton Initiative, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Monitor for Circular Fashion. Manteco was the first textile company to have a science-backed LCA performed on recycled wool.

• In 2018, the company established Manteco Academy, a hub of knowledge and collaboration where it works with fashion students on sustainability and circular economy principles. Manteco created its own sustainability award for students looking to test their skills in eco-design in 2021.

• The brand itself has won prizes such as the 2018 Radical Green Award, in recognition of its many sustainability initiatives.