Mini, the BMW Group’s iconic automotive brand, supports the experimental project “Mini Takes Care—Innovation and Responsible Design,” dedicated to snow conservation during the summer months. The project uses innovative geotextile materials made from certified biodegradable cellulose fibers by Austrian fiber specialist Lenzing.
The project will be implemented for the first time in Italy thanks to a collaboration with Alpin Arena Senales, an area in Val Senales where perpetual ice is found at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to over 3,200 meters—one of the most popular destinations for skiing in winter and tourism in summer.
Preserving the ice during the summer season is essential to ensuring the stability of alpine ecosystems and to safeguarding snow resources for sustainable winter tourism. Protecting the snowpack and ice means countering the effects of global warming and reducing the impact of climate change on the mountains, safeguarding fragile habitats and contributing to water resource regulation.
The geotextiles by Lenzing AG, won the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2024, and are made from TÜV Austria-certified cellulose fibers that are biodegradable in soil, freshwater, and marine environments, and compostable in both household and industrial settings. These materials offer excellent insulating properties and resistance to the extreme weather conditions typical of high altitudes, with a significantly reduced environmental impact compared to traditional fossil-based geotextiles.
In addition to evaluating the technical performance of the materials—thermal insulation, reduction of snow loss, durability, and weather resistance—this trial places particular emphasis on eliminating the release of microplastics into delicate alpine ecosystems, a crucial issue for the protection of mountains and waterways.
The use of these innovative geotextiles enables a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and water consumption during the production phase, thanks to the use of renewable and biodegradable cellulose fibers.
A distinctive feature of the project is its circular approach: once their useful life is over, the geotextiles are recovered and recycled to be transformed back into fibers and yarns for new textile applications.
The project is also made possible thanks to a collaboration with the Biella-based textile manufacturer Marchi & Fildi group and the support of SAFE, which manages the traceable collection of materials.
In line with the project’s circular economy philosophy, Mini will collaborate with Napapijri to reuse fabrics collected from the mountains to create exclusive garments suited for style-conscious and environmentally aware travelers for its next f/w 2026/2027 collection.
Mini and Napapijri share a vision centered on environmental responsibility, circularity, and conscious design. Since 2024, Mini has been using knitted fabrics made from recycled materials in the production of all its models. The material consists of 92% recycled polyester fibers and is used to cover the dashboard, door panels, and the center console lid. This approach significantly reduces CO2e emissions and water consumption during production compared to the use of virgin materials.
The textile solution developed for Mini interiors was brought into series production thanks to close collaboration with various internal and external partners, enabling cross-functional cooperation.