About the challenge
The Leather tanning industry is often perceived as particularly resource intensive. In fact, in the last period and particularly in the last years it has steadily drawn inspiration from the UN sustainable development goals, which boosted its vision towards consistent investments in innovation, efficiency and sustainability. These efforts remain however far from social perception.
So, the call to ECIU students is to join us in the lion’s den and discover this intriguing Italian manufacturing industry which combines responsible innovation – despite general perception – with worldwide recognized excellent quality.
About the challenge provider
The Italian Tanners’ Association is the most important association in the world for tanning companies. It has been protecting its associate companies since 1946 and represents a strategic industry, which is a fundamental component of Italy’s manufacturing and economic fabric. www.unic.it/associazione/introduzione
Target Groups
Consumers aged 14 to 40
Current state
To improve perception on product and process, amend biased views and address misunderstandings about the Italian leather industry is definitely the challenge of our sector. Join us to find solutions to communicate responsible innovation in the Italian tanning industry for design and fashion.
What we are looking for are ideas and strategies to identify and spread a strong and effective message about the Italian leather and tanning industry. Specifically, we need to reach our most important target group (13-40-year-old people), make them aware about the excellence of our material and make them gain a new confidence on leather products and the whole leather sector.
That’s why we would like to engage university students to build a communication strategy focused on:
- leather as a material to convey a message of responsibility and trust
- the value of the relation between industrial districts and civil society
- product and process innovation for an effective management of the environmental impact
- a new impulse and creative solutions to strengthen circularity in the sector.
Assessment and expectations
Desired state
Define a project (social media campaign, strategy to engage consumers or any other) for a better perception of the leather industry and its supply chain as a real powerful fact, enhancing leather’s characteristics as a natural material, considering new trends and needs of consumers, and facing misleading messages from the market, literature and shallow scientific journalism.
Learning offering details
Calendar
(changes may apply)
| Date | Hrs | Activity | Where |
| Mon 7 Nov | 16.00 | Welcome to Trento (ECIU students only) | in Trento |
| Tue 8 Nov | 17.00-19.00 | Micromodule on Science Communication, Class 1 | in Trento |
| Wed 9 Nov | 17.00-19.00 | Micromodule on Science Communication, Class 2 | in Trento |
| Thu 10 Nov | 9.00-12.00 | On-demand mentorship with Challenge Teamcher | in Trento |
| Thu 10 Nov | 17.00-19.00 | CHALLENGE KICK-OFF | in Trento |
| Thu 10 Nov | 19.00-21.00 | Micromodule on Science Communication, Class 3 | in Trento |
| Fri 11 Nov | Whole day | Company visits to tanneries, purification plants, waste treatment plants | in Vicenza area |
| Tue 15 Nov | 17.00-19.00 | Teams meet the mentor(s) – Challenge action plan | online |
| Mon 21 Nov | 19.00-21.00 | On demand mentorship – Challenge action plan | online |
| Wed 30 Nov | 17.00-19.00 | SCENARIOSTeam presentations to challenge providers | online |
| Tue 6 Dec | 19.00-21.00 | On demand mentorship – Challenge action plan | online |
| Mon 12 Dec | 17.00-19.00 | On demand mentorship – Challenge action plan | online |
| Tue 13 Dec | 17.00-19.00 | GRAND FINALE | Blended: in person/ online |
Other information
Language requirement: English B2 Level, CEFR
Mobility resources
Kick-off, company visit and first meeting are in presence in Trento. The rest of the challenge is online. ECIU students ask for funding information at their home University.
