NFC Conference 2023
Actively participate and connect with others at the in-person main conference Natural Fibre Connect 2023 hosted in Biella, Italy – the centre for manufacturing precious animal fibres. Visit various mills, listen to live speakers and participate in workshops and panel discussions while also enjoying the beautiful surroundings, food, and drink of Northern Italy.
In-person as well as online Zoom event.
If you are planning to attend in-person, please be sure to book your travel and accomodation ahead of time. More information can be found here.
Cost in-person: 500 US$ + 22% VAT
Cost virtual: 50 US$ + 22% VAT
Important Notice Regarding Event Registrations
We’d like to clarify that registering for the NFC conference does not automatically enroll you in all other associated sessions, such as the Textile Exchange Round Table or the European Animal Fibre Round Table. Each event requires a separate registration. We’ve noticed some attendees assume that signing up for the NFC conference grants access to all associated sessions, but this is not the case. For organisational purposes, it is helpful if you can sign up for all the sessions you are interested in participating in by adding the respective ‘free’ ticket to our registration.
If you’re interested in attending the Textile Exchange Round Table or any other associated session, please ensure you register for each event individually. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Hourly Schedule
28 September 2023
- 07:30 - 08:30
- Bus pick-up from Hotels
- 08:30 - 09:00
- Registration
- 09:00 - 09:30
- Welcome & Opening
- In this opening session, we will set the stage for the conference by providing an overview of the conference details, themes and objectives. Our esteemed speakers of this session will welcome you and give you all the information needed for a great conference experience.
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Speakers:
,
- 09:30 - 10:00
- Weighting - what it does, and why it matters.
- The scientific appearance of weightings cloaks reality - they are subjective. There is no right or wrong answer, only a consensus. This presentation is intended to provide a brief overview of the weightings currently employed in apparel sustainability, and to catalyse a much needed discussion of whether these are actually fit for purpose.
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Speakers:
- 10:00 - 10:15
- Silk LCA Case Study
- Building on Veronica Bates' illuminating presentation on the nuanced topic of weighting, representatives from the silk industry will share their experiences with the Higg Index, a sustainability assessment tool and rating system used in the fashion and apparel industry.
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Speakers:
,
- 10:15 - 11:00
- Deplastification
- In this insightful session, Tone Skårdal Tobiasson from the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, Rosalie Mann founder of the No More Plastic Foundation, and Jeannette Cook from IWTO discuss the 'plastic elephant in the room'—the massive growth in synthetics, which has enabled the actual growth model of fast and now ultra-fast fashion.
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Speakers:
,
- 11:00 - 11:30
- Coffee break
- 11:30 - 13:00
- Regenerative Agriculture: Environmental Services
- Building on the momentum of the NFC 2022 Conference, this session explores the realm of regenerative agriculture, a concept that remains at the forefront of interest within the fashion textile supply chain. Join an esteemed panel of speakers, including Liesl Truscott, Mike Safley, Monica Ebert, and Ronald Gerbeth to deepen your understanding of this vital topic.
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Speakers:
, Elisabeth van Delden, , Stephen Wiedemann
- 13:00 - 14:00
- Lunch
- 14:00 - 15:00
- Regenerative Agriculture: Rangeland Stewardship Council
- This insightful segment on regenerative agriculture will uncover the essential role that sustainable rangeland management plays in preserving ecosystems and ensuring long-term environmental health. Experts in the field will emphasize the urgent global need to achieve land degradation neutrality and spotlight the mission, progress, immediate objectives and support of the Rangeland Stewardship Council (RSC). This special event will include opening remarks by Una Jones, CEO of SFA, Louise Baker, Managing Director at UNCCD as well as presentations by Fiona Flintan, Senior Scientist at ILRI, Dr. Igshaan Samuels, who serves as the Global Co-Chair for the UN-designated International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, and Peter Hughes, who leads the sustainability division at Eurofins BLC.
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Speakers:
, , , , ,
- 15:00 - 15:30
- Green Claim
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Speakers:
Baptiste Carriere-Pradal
- 15:30 - 16:30
- Grower Session
- Join in this engaging session as we conclude Day 1 with a focus on the voices that truly matter. At the core of this essential gathering is our commitment to showcase the perspectives of the growers and herders across the rangelands, including those from indigenous communities. In this exclusive session, we highlight their specific needs and foster a crucial dialogue to ensure that global standards align with the sustainable growth of their livelihoods and, consequently, the natural fibres sector as a whole. It is their wisdom and experience that drive the animal fibre industry forward, and we eagerly anticipate gaining valuable insights from these individuals who serve as the backbone of the industry.
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Speakers:
, Frances van Hasselt, , , , ,
- 16:30 - 16:45
- Coffee break
- 16:45 - 17:45
- Schneider Group Worldwide with Authentico®
- Panel discussion with brief introduction by each panelist and a 15-minute Q&A session for people to interact with our staff
- 16:45 - 17:45
- SFA Herder & Standard Meeting
- The Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) is a non-profit standard holding organisation that represents a diverse global alliance of supply chain actors, stakeholders, and industry experts, with a mission to ensure the long-term viability of the cashmere sector. Join them during this session as they introduce the SFA Cashmere Standard, share news on exciting new projects and present the follow-up to the SFA Mongolia Conference that was held at the beginning of September.
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Speakers:
, , , ,
- 16:45 - 17:45
- ZDHC Guideline Meeting
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Speakers:
Elisa Gavazza,
29 September 2023
- 08:00 - 09:00
- Bus pick-up from Hotels
- 09:00 - 09:15
- Opening Day 2
- 09:00 - 12:00
- Roundtable for European Animal Fibres Initiatives
- How do we get European grown animal fibres from farm to market?
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Speakers:
, , , , , Pascal Gautrand, , , ,
- 09:15 - 10:45
- Green Threads & Red Flags:
- Unraveling Consumer Demand and Marketing Opportunities
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Speakers:
, , , ,
- 09:30 - 11:00
- SFA Members’ Key Update Meeting
- Private session for SFA members and stakeholders.
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Speakers:
, , ,
- 10:45 - 11:15
- Coffee break
- 12:00 - 13:00
- Green Finance
- In this session, we bring together experts with diverse impact investing backgrounds, including those from a DFI, NGO, impact investor, and advisor, all possessing notable experience in agriculture and biodiversity. The panelists will discuss how brands can develop projects that can attract impact finance to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture and agroforestry while benefiting their business. The discussion will focus on the opportunities brands have to drive sustainability practices within value chains.
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Speakers:
, , , ,
Speakers
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Baptiste Carriere-Pradal2BPolicy | Co-Founder
Baptiste brings together expertise from all corners of the Apparel and Footwear ecosystem.
During his days at Decathlon, an international sports producer and retailer, he held various positions in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, focusing on quality and sustainability. After eight years of field experience, he established and led Decathlon’s first global sustainability department.
He subsequently relocated to Amsterdam in 2014 and joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, launching their European Office, leading their transparency and European activities, and initiating the Social and Labor Convergence Program ( SLCP ).
In 2019, with Bente Bauer, he launched 2BPolicy, a consulting firm at the intersection of sustainability and policy, supporting brands, organizations and actors of the industry ecosystem to understand and operationalize the change brought by legislation. He chairs several Technical Secretariats and Scientific Committees.
He is a Senior Advisor at the BCG.
Baptiste also works on the family organic and agroforestry wine estate in Southern France. -
Elisabeth van DeldenThe Woolmark Company | Sustainability Manager Europe
Elisabeth started working in the wool industry in 2011 when she joined the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) as Secretary General in Brussels. This was the time and place where she developed her passion for wool. Before joining Woolmark, Elisabeth consulted with wool companies along the entire wool supply chain, including the Schneider Group where she also helped organise Natural Fibre Connect for 4 consecutive years. It is therefore an honour to be joining the event as a speaker this year and seeing the event and surrounding community grow and continue.
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Elisa GavazzaZDHC | Southern Europe and Quality Management Director
As Southern Europe Regional Director, Elisa is responsible for the representation and implementation of the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme in Italy, France Spain and Portugal. In her role, Elisa focuses on increasing the awareness of ZDHC, related stakeholder engagement and scaling the uptake and implementation of ZDHC guidelines, platforms and solutions. She is also supporting ZDHC in building a long-term quality strategy for quality assurance.
Visit website roadmaptozero.com
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Frances van HasseltMohair Grower & Designer
Frances van Hasselt is a designer and entrepreneur focusing on developing mohair textiles in South Africa. Raised on a mohair farm in the Karoo, van Hasselt has a deep affinity for this natural fibre. She has spent the last several years developing a business designed to elevate mohair to a more prominent status as one of the world’s most ancient, exclusive fibres. Her role in creating an inclusive, sustainable supply chain specifically adapted to the eco-system of the South African textile industry earned her a Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Visit website francesvh.com
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Pascal GautrandLe Collectif Tricolor | Founder at Made in Town and Initiator of the Tricolor Collective
Pascal Gautrand, graduate in fashion design and textile design, stands out for his passion for the textile-clothing industry. With a post-diploma from the French Fashion Institute in hand, he now works as a consultant and teacher in this dynamic field. His experience as the first resident of the “fashion design” section at the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici in 2008 opened up new perspectives for research on local production. This is how he founded Made in Town, a platform dedicated to promoting know-how, which supports private and institutional players in the textile sector.
In 2018, Pascal Gautrand played a key role in initiating the Tricolor Collective, of which he holds the position of General Delegate. The Tricolor Collective is dedicated to promoting and supporting the restructuring of the French wool sectors. By highlighting traditional know-how, encouraging innovation and promoting collaboration between players in the sector, the Collectif Tricolor contributes to renewing and sustaining the French wool sector.Visit website collectiftricolor.org
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Stephen WiedemannIntegrityAg & Environment | Managing Director and Principal Research Leader
Visit website integrityag.net
Location
Website
https://www.cittastudi.org/Città Studi Biella is a versatile building complex of 110 000 square meters and is one of the most important cultural centers in Italy. Thanks to the architectural design and functionality influenced by Gae Aulenti, the internationally renowned architect who designed the complex in the foothills of Biella, Città Studi has long been considered a landmark for conventions as well as education and research. In fact, Città Studi’s “gem” is the conference center and all of the events organized.
Other Locations
- Biella, Italy
COST
- Virtual ticket: US$ 50 + 22% VAT
- In-person ticket: US$ 500 + 22% VAT
- 20% early-bird discount available for bookings before 30 June 2023
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