Fernando Bellese
WWF
Senior Director, Beef and Leather Supply Chains
Bridging the finance gap: Corporate venture capital, tech trends and project finance opportunities
11:10
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11:50
The expertise to achieve circularity in the fashion industry already exists. In fact, existing recycling technologies have the potential to drive up to 80% circularity if fully scaled, according to GFA x McKinsey. However, scaling these capital-intensive technologies requires approximately $400bn in investment to advance next-generation materials and processes (Fashion for Good). What role can project finance play in bridging the funding gap, generating returns on investment and accelerating the transition toward sustainability in the fashion industry?
In this session, a diverse panel of experts will discuss:
- Financing pathways: Explore various funding sources, from venture capital to project capital and bank loans. What options are available to support the scaling of circular technologies?
- Ensuring adoption: What roles do brands and supply chain partners play in signaling demand? How do offtake agreements help accelerate the process?
- Risk allocation: How can we efficiently distribute responsibilities and incentives among stakeholders to navigate the commercialization challenges and move technologies through the "Valley of Death"?