Passion for materials accompanied Salvatore Ferragamo’s work right from his early days in the 1920s. For the Founder, any material, even the most modest and apparently unsuitable for a luxury business, could be brilliantly and creatively adapted when the ideas, which are linked to the materials, are driven by limitless technical and innovative ability. This vision has been recently consolidated by the Company, which started to manufacture products using organic cotton, responsibly sourced viscose and recycled and regenerated materials such as nylon, wool, cashmere, and silk, aiming at fostering circular economy and introducing responsible, innovative, and high-quality materials. The innovation has also encompassed the introduction of chrome and metal free leather and the use of soles made of leather tanned according to the highest environmental standards, to lower its overall impact on the planet.

The use of innovative and responsible materials continued in 2022 with the launch of the Multicolor Eyewear Capsule, a collection of genderless colour-block sunglasses designed with low environmental impact materials. The frames of the new sunglasses are made using a plant-based compound material, whereas the lenses have plant-based content made from salvaged wood and waste from farming activity. The materials in the eyewear cases have been mindfully chosen too: the Multicolor styles come in a case crafted with 50% recycled pre-consumer plastics.

Breathing new life into materials that might otherwise go unused, Salvatore Ferragamo introduces Salvatore Ferragamo Icon-Up: a capsule collection that further cements the commitment to sustainability through the lens of circular economy.
Comprising iconic women’s shoes and belts, this first 300-pieces limited collection integrates innovative circularity principles and material reuse into the brand’s iconic designs. Each exclusive shoe design is unique and derives from products and materials in Ferragamo’s inventory, including regenerated accessories and printed silk, reimagined by their Creative team and in-house Manovia artisans, to revive Ferragamo’s iconic Vara and Varina shoes. A similar creative process was put in place for the belts: each one has been re-claimed from the inventory and detailed using salvaged silk from pre-existing Ferragamo products. Ferragamo’s designs have also been used for the upcycled and printed reusable dust bag, made with refashioned materials from Ferragamo’s inventory and designed as part of the packaging. Furthermore, the packaging includes boxes made with Favini Remake paper, an innovative paper blended with 30% post-consumer waste pulp and 25% pre-consumer leather waste.
This one-of-a-kind collection is available exclusively on FARFETCH as part of their Positively Conscious selection.

Earth Top Handle bag is re-interpretation of the iconic Top Handle bag, presented in just 500 pieces as part of the prestigious Ferragamo’s Creations collection to celebrate Earth Day 2021.
The bag is made of FSC certified cork, a natural and renewable resource that causes no harm to the trees when harvested. In addition, its lining is crafted from pure linen, a natural and biodegradable material; zipper tape and thread are made of 100% recycled and certified polyester; and the bag’s colour is finished with water-based treatments.
The Earth Top Handle bag has obtained the ISO 14067 - Product Carbon Footprint certification, by virtue of which it is possible to quantify the emissions due to its manufacturing. This calculation enables the Company to offset the generated environmental impact by supporting a project for the safeguard and protection of Tuscan cork forests certified with PEFC standards in the Paganico estate, near Grosseto.

In 2021, Salvatore Ferragamo presented a responsible re-edition of the F-80 Skeleton timepiece. The strap is made of materials with a low environmental impact; a thin layer of FSC certified cork covers the inside, while the outside is of post-consumer recycled PET fibre fabric, with hole covers made of vegetable tanned leather. Responsible material choices have also been made in packaging; the outer box is in FSC certified cardboard, while the wood and metal protective shell available in two shades that match those of the watch is lined internally with hemp, and externally in post-consumer recycled PET fibre fabric. The watch support cushion is made of a bioplastic material obtained 100% from sugar cane.
Salvatore Ferragamo has decided to quantify the carbon footprint and therefore the environmental impact of the F-80 Skeleton with Sustainable Strap, according to the requirements of the ISO 14067 standard - Product Carbon Footprint. This calculation enables the Company to offset the generated environmental impact by supporting the construction of the Burgos Wind Project, the largest wind farm in the Philippines. In addition to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by generating large scale electricity from a clean and renewable source, the project will create jobs and concrete economic opportunities for local communities.

In keeping with the Founder's innovative spirit, in 2017 Salvatore Ferragamo presented a sustainable capsule collection of women’s wear thanks to the collaboration with Orange Fiber, the innovative start-up, founded by two young Sicilians, which develops vitaminic textiles from citrus fruit scraps. By reusing the sub-product which the Italian citrus fruit transformation industry produces each year, Orange Fiber has created a sustainable and cosmetic fiber which meets the need for creativity, innovation and eco-sustainability of Salvatore Ferragamo.

Building on its commitment towards the nature and the planet, in 2021 Salvatore Ferragamo joined Leather Working Group, member-led non-for-profit organization dedicated to driving excellence in the leather industry and minimizing the environmental impact of leather production through a suite of tools and ESG certification. Thanks to its participation in the organization, the Company has access to environmental audit protocols, developed by the leading international players in the leather industry, and it is audited with the aim of promoting responsible environmental practices across the leather supply chain.

The Group believes that the approach taken on the issue of animal welfare along the supply chain is essential, in the awareness that products can only be enhanced through respect for the environment and biodiversity. To formalize its commitment, in 2019, the Group decided to draw up an Animal Welfare Policy in order to guarantee that the whole supply chain acts appropriately. The Policy establishes the minimum requirements, certifications, standards, forms of collaboration, strategies and procurement sources to be favored in order to guarantee such welfare.