ANFAO 2022 annual meeting

The 2022 annual meeting of the Italian optical goods manufacturers association ANFAO was held on June 27 near the northeastern city of Padua.

In addition to the presentation of data relating to the first quarter of 2022, the new sustainability certification project was presented as well as the impacts of the current energy crisis in the European context and its effects on the eyewear sector.

“Our sector is holding up well from the backlash due to the world conflict, which is evidencing  all the critical issues we know of: energy crisis, inflation, increases in raw material prices, etc. – declared the President of ANFAO Giovanni Vitaloni. The forecasts we had made for this first part of the year are being confirmed, which instills optimism in companies and throughout the sector. The liveliness of the fairs and events, as we saw at the latest edition of MIDO, show that operators are motivated by the desire to do business and this is essential to keep the sector and the entire supply chain alive and healthy. Although up to now the data are positive, the situation must be constantly monitored due to the complex international context.”

Sustainability certification project

 ANFAO presented for the first time the sustainability certification project, of which the association is the promoter and of which the Italian Institute for the Certification of Optical Products Certottica will be the certification body. The project aims for the adoption of an environmental qualification label for eyewear products, in order to enhance the commitment of the associates aimed at improving the environmental performance of the supply chain. The report was conducted together with the advisors of Studio Fieschi.

Sustainability is today more and more at the center of global attention, the market is in fact moving towards a greater sensitivity of consumers to eco-friendly issues, which often also influence their consumption choices: according to some research, in fact, 47% of users consider the attention to the eco-sustainability of their favorite fashion brands as fundamental, while 83% believe that the design of a product must reduce its environmental impact (materials, packaging, industrial process, etc.). In addition, 79% of Italian consumers say they check – often or sometimes – the origin of the raw materials of the products they buy.

These reflections lead to the recognition of a contingent need for companies that want to be at the forefront by focusing on the issues of transparency and sustainability.

For this reason, the ANFAO project is aimed at developing a program that allows to certify the sustainability of both the individual components and the finished product in the eyewear sector, in order to enhance the commitment of the members to improve environmental performance of the supply chain through the adoption of a label (physical or virtual).

The certification program will combine compliance with industry standards and regulations with the flexibility of a proprietary program, allowing to define a supply chain strategy while safeguarding the identity of each reality.

Criteria for compliance label

The labels must be developed on a scientific basis which require compliance with specific criteria such as energy and material consumption, and require certification by the independent body Certottica.

The information on the label must be verifiable, accurate, clear, not misleading and easy to read.

Furthermore, the labels will contribute to a reduction of the environmental impacts associated with the products: in fact, only those that meet specific criteria of overall environmental preferability will be identified.

“This project aims to give a new and competitive tool to all companies that already operate following the concepts of transparency and sustainability: in fact, through this label they will be able to certify it in an official and voluntary manner” says Giovanni Vitaloni, President of ANFAO.