It all starts with the fundamental figure of the Tipper, i.e., the customer, consumer, end-user who decides the fate of a garment in the purchase and end-of-life, who recovers their unused clothing with certain characteristics, (e.g., in natural fibers of cotton, wool, cashmere, linen and jeans, bicycle tires, etc.) and delivers them to Atotus stores or books their free pickup at the same time as an online order. Depending on the value, given by the weight and type of material of the items brought in, Atotus assigns Tipper virtual T.I.P.s coins, which will circulate throughout the circuit.
Next, Atotus categorizes the clothes and decides their fate. These can in fact be sent for reuse, recycling or upcycling.
Reuse is done by donating, for example, baby and maternity clothes or running and hiking shoes, in good condition, to nonprofit organizations supporting disadvantaged people.
In the case of recycling, garments are delivered to Spinners who turn them into new yarn through mechanical recycling of the fiber. Then the Weavers purchase the recycled yarn and produce the fabric, which in turn will be purchased by Manufacturers; while from the latter, Atotus will purchase the garments.
For upcycling, on the other hand, used garments are transformed into value-added products by Fashion Schools and Designers.
The Tipper consumer will eventually be able to spend his or her earned T.I.P.s to buy sustainable clothes produced by actors in the Atotus circuit. In the supply chain thus created, the T.I.P. is a virtual currency, whose name stands for “Together is Possible,” that allows Tippers’ contribution to be measured by waste reduction, and helps them buy new sustainable garments at a lower price. T.I.P.s can be used both by Tippers as a discount in the physical Atotus store and online, and among supply chain actors when purchasing yarn or fabrics, and as an incentive for Fashion Schools and designers.
The Atotus System thus makes it possible to address the problem of excessive textile waste production and reduced textile recycling; it makes a significant impact both environmentally and socially, enhancing the value of Italian companies that contribute to sustainable fashion and stimulating consumers to more responsible consumption behavior. In addition, through Atotus Hub, the first hub in Italy dedicated to conscious buying and recycling that creates training and job placement opportunities for people with fragility, Atotus spreads the culture of sustainability in the field of fashion.
Atotus also works with companies, making circular products (e.g., gadgets, corporate gifts, customized uniforms, etc.) and with schools, organizing workshop paths on circular economy for every age group.
To date, 20 fashion companies, including spinners, weavers, brands, designers, fashion schools and nonprofit organizations, are members of Atotus, representing the players in the circuit. These are joined by four third-sector partners involved in the Atotus Hub project and six sustainable partners from other sectors who contributed to the Tippers Challenge. Overall, therefore, there are 30 entities involved in the project in different ways.
Among the goals for the future of Atotus is to expand the circuit, with the entry of new actors and types of realities that can help involve more and more people in the project. In parallel, a new sustainable welfare service has been developed, through T.I.P., dedicated to companies in all sectors to engage their employees in sustainable practices through flexible benefits.