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:
Doina Ciobanu, Laura Ros
- 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:
Veronica Bates Kassatly
- 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:
Maurizio Marchi, Stefano Vitali
- 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:
Jeannette Cook, Tone Skårdal Tobiasson
- 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:
Liesl Truscott, Monica Ebert, Ronald Gerbeth, 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:
Dr. Igshaan Samuels, Fiona Flintan, Katy Edwards, Louise Baker, Peter Hughes, Una Jones
- 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:
Altansukh Tumee, Frances van Hasselt, Gantulga Baatar, Jock Menzies, Juan Pepper, Sainbayar Sunduykh, Vandandorj Sumiya
- 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:
Ayongxi, David McElroy, Katy Edwards, Una Jones, Vandandorj Sumiya
- 16:45 - 17:45
- ZDHC Guideline Meeting
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Speakers:
Elisa Gavazza, Smita Bait
- 16:45 - 17:45
- GOTS for Fiber Producers
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Speakers:
Jeffrey Thimm
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:
Haldi Kranich, Marie-Therese Chaupin, Nathalie Ketterle, Nigel Thompson, Nina Alsborn, Pascal Gautrand, Ramon Cobo, Simone Sommer, Vesna Todorovski, Walter Aigner
- 09:15 - 10:45
- Green Threads & Red Flags:
- Unraveling Consumer Demand and Marketing Opportunities
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Speakers:
Antonio Giuliano, Francesco Marini, Philippa Grogan, Rebecca Picallo Gil, Silvia Gambi
- 09:30 - 11:00
- SFA Members’ Key Update Meeting
- Private session for SFA members and stakeholders.
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Speakers:
David McElroy, Katy Edwards, Una Jones, Vandandorj Sumiya
- 10:45 - 11:15
- Coffee break
- 11:15 - 12:00
- Innovation & Technology
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Speakers:
Amit Gautam, Callie Clayton
- 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:
Danielle Joseph, Franklin Holley, Fred Werneck, Julia Langenegger, Mariana Petrei
- 13:00 - 13:30
- Upcoming Initiatives & Closing Session
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Speakers:
Carlo Murer, Dario Casalini, Juan Pepper
- 13:30 - 14:00
- Lunch
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Speakers:
Eleni Thrasyvoulou
- 13:30 - 14:00
- LCA Update with Textile Exchange
- Members Only
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Speakers:
Eleni Thrasyvoulou
- 14:00 - 17:00
- Animal Fibres Roundtable
- Textile Exchange
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Speakers:
Anna Heaton, Bronwyn Botha, Siobhan Momberg
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