United Colors of Benetton unleashes a smart boutique in Florence

United Colors of Benetton open doors to a brand new store in Florence. The store is well decorated with intensive use of sustainable material and state-of-the-art energy-saving technologies. The new location is a real trailblazer for a revolutionary approach to low environmental impact retail.

The 160 sq. metre., single-floor boutique makes complete use of recycled natural materials. The floor is built out of gravel from the river Piave and waste wood from beech trees. The walls are treated with a mineral paint with antibacterial and anti-old properties that can reduce the pollutants in the environment.

Massimo Renon, Chief Executive Officer, Benetton Group, stated, “It’s a project our company firmly believes in, a milestone on our path to becoming a global reference point in terms of sustainability, and in which Florence represents the symbol of a sustainable Rinascimento. Benetton has always made courageous and cutting-edge choices in terms of social impact. We will continue in this tradition, with ever more determination and conviction. The interiors are made with materials created from the textile industry scrap.

The new boutique is a benchmark in terms of power consumption, as it uses 20% less energy than normal store. A system based on tiny sensors, AI and data analysis increases the energy efficiency of the points of sale and guarantees comfort for the consumer.