The recycled polyester will be 20% pre-consumer and 80% post-consumer waste.

It has calculated that this will reduce emissions by 32% and the carbon footprint will be cut down by 3% for zip production, or 460,000 kg of CO2 per year.

Renato Usoni, Riri Group’s CEO, said:  “We are proud of this step and the effect that it has on sustainability and the cultural change through which we approach the development and improvement of our products.

“Our innovation is the result of a tireless research of low environmental impact materials, an approach that has been the foundation of our identity for many years, but that now is renewed once more to make another step toward the future."

The Riri Group, a maker of zips and buttons, has manufacturing sites in Mendrisio, Padua, Tirano, Poggio a Caiano and Palazzolo.