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Riopele, committed to social responsibility, continues to stand out within its community by developing initiatives that promote and support education, sports, entrepreneurship, and social causes.
In an innovative project titled “New Life. New Beginning”, the company partnered with the Guimarães Prison Facility (EPG) to repurpose textile waste by creating customized bags to be included in welcome kits for new employees.
This initiative, centered on reusing fabric scraps from Riopele’s production process, aims to foster social reintegration, encourage creativity, and promote informal education. In addition to emphasizing sustainability, the project highlights the role of the textile sector as a driver of social transformation.
For Augusto Urjais, Acting Director of EPG, this partnership is particularly meaningful as it directly contributes to the personal and professional development of the inmates involved, representing “significant progress in their reintegration and life projects.” He further remarked, “It’s inspiring to see companies with social responsibility unafraid to engage with society’s periphery.”
Catarina Costa, representing Riopele’s Human Resources, noted that the initiative is more than just a sustainability effort. “It’s a way of showing new employees the value we place on inclusion and social responsibility from the very start of their journey with the company.”
The impact of the project has been overwhelmingly positive for both the inmates and the prison organization. “When someone believes in these individuals and this institution, the contribution tends to be incredibly impactful, with unmatched commitment and motivation from everyone involved,” emphasized Augusto Urjais.
From Riopele’s perspective, the feedback has been equally enthusiastic: “We’ve received bags that exceed our expectations, not only in quality but also in the meaningful stories they carry,” concluded Catarina Costa.
