“Founded in 2017 by Gio Giacobbe and Edoardo Iannuzzi, the sustainable company ACBC aims to “change the industry with green innovations”. Specifically, the company offers support in reducing CO2 emissions for labels and companies in the fashion industry and is driving sustainable materials with its eponymous responsible sneaker brand.To date, the company has worked with over 50 brands, including well-known names such as Missoni, Pink and MSGM.In fiscal 2022, the company grew its EBITDA by 132% year-on-year. It aims to grow EBITDA up to 10 million euros by 2026. In addition, the company is now also targeting the French and American markets in order to be a pioneer in terms of sustainability outside of the Italian market as well the company recently opened a new department for communication, media and PR. In this interview, CEO Gio Giacobbe gives an insight into the development of the company in recent years and presents his ambitious vision for the future of sustainability.
What was the original motivation for founding ACBC?
ACBC stands for “Anything Can Be Changed”. Our goal is to make at least 1% of the footwear market more sustainable by 2027. Namely, the value of this market will reach $530 billion in the next four years.
The label was founded in November 2017 with a “mindset of 2030”. How has ACBC evolved since then?
When we started in November 2017, the concept of sustainability was just a distant thought or some sort of marketing idea, it wasn’t considered a value back then. We still remember discussing with other companies the responsibility of each of us for the impact on the environment and receiving a resounding “we’ll see…or maybe in the future” feedback. Our goal from the start was to have a projection for the year 2030 where sustainability becomes a mainstay for every business and so we have shared our vision with all the fashion, luxury and sportswear brands we work with came into contact. Our history tells us we were right… Even though it’s only 2023, we see that sustainability is now an official asset and we’re proud to say that ACBC has played an important role in it Vision has played at international level.
What is the role of research and development and carbon footprint analysis in shifting current business models to more sustainable ones?
ACBC believes in an analytical approach to sustainability, leaving nothing to personal assumptions or interpretations. With the Paris Agreement, which envisages reducing the carbon footprint by 2030, sustainability has become a real international goal to be achieved. ACBC uses the GreenHouse Gas Protocol to calculate the carbon footprint for every product or project we undertake with brands or businesses. If there is a special need, we also subject the product to a life cycle assessment. Research and development is at the heart of ACBC – in fact we have brought several patents to market such as FreeBio, an alternative to animal leather with a certified, responsible material input of up to 70%, and BeyondPlastic, a plastic alternative which is 100% bio-based. We also launched the first and only 100% biodegradable heel for women’s shoes.
ACBC ended fiscal 2022 with a 132% year-over-year increase in revenue. What are the key factors that made this growth possible?
One of the key factors is the B2B consulting of companies (today we have 56 partnerships) in the fashion sector. The advice includes services such as converting standard products into more responsible products, reducing carbon emissions and upgrading old stock. The second factor, however, is B2C, in the form of eco-friendly footwear brand ACBC.
ACBC also plans to enter the French and American markets. What do you hope to achieve in these new markets by the end of the next fiscal year?
By the end of 2024 we will definitely open an office in France and one in the United States. Our mission is to transform that 1 percent of the global footwear market. What we have done in Italy for more than 56 brands, we want to do in other countries as well. We are already working with French and American brands on projects that will see the light of day in January 2024… You will see some great collaborations with more and more international brands in the future!
ACBC not only offers third parties concrete support in reducing CO2, but also makes its own shoes from alternative leather. How is FreeBio, ACBC’s patented leather alternative, different from other leather alternatives on the market?
First of all we would like to say that ACBC has no objections to animal leather as long as it comes from a certified supply chain and is strictly vegetable tanned. ACBC’s FreeBio™ is a range of alternative leather technologies with responsible ingredients derived from recycled polymers, bio-based and mineral fillers. All products of the FreeBioTM family are free from animal ingredients. In the manufacturing process, responsible materials are combined with a PU binder to ensure performance and, most importantly, durability.
ACBC’s portfolio mainly consists of well-known fashion and accessory brands. Are you interested in entering other sectors as well?
Yes, we are interested in entering the food and hospitality industry.
A look into the future: What about ACBC?
ACBC has set itself the goal of changing 1% of the global footwear industry and making it more sustainable step by step. Nothing will stop us. Are you ready to change the world?
