ACBC

ACBC, an acronym for "Anything Can Be Changed," is an Italian company operating in the sustainable footwear market, established in 2017 by founders Gio Giacobbe (CEO) and Edoardo Iannuzzi (Chief Sustainability Officer). The venture originated from Iannuzzi's idea for a modular shoe, which he presented to Giacobbe, leading them to leave their jobs in China and London, respectively, to establish the company in Milan with the backing of a business angel investor. A successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised seven hundred thousand in pre-orders via a viral video, propelled the brand's global launch.

The company's core product innovation is the patented "Zipshoe," a modular footwear system that allows consumers to attach various interchangeable uppers, or "skins," to a single sole using a zipper. This design aims to extend the shoe's lifecycle and reduce the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, particularly the polluting process of gluing soles. ACBC's product line is entirely animal-free, utilizing bio-based and recycled materials such as corn fiber, apple and grape leather, recycled PET bottles, and recycled foam. The company also implements a circular economy model by accepting returned shoes to be converted into shockproof flooring for playgrounds.

ACBC's business model has two main facets. Initially focused on direct-to-consumer sales of its modular sneakers, the company has expanded into a B2B model, acting as a sustainability consultant and co-creating products with other brands. This collaborative approach allows ACBC to share its expertise in sustainable materials and technologies, leveraging the marketing power of established brands like Missoni and EA7 Armani to increase its impact. The company directly manages its supply chain by purchasing raw materials and sending them to audited manufacturing partners in China, Indonesia, and Portugal to ensure transparency and ethical production standards. ACBC is the first Italian footwear brand to achieve B Corp certification, signifying its commitment to high social and environmental performance standards.

Keywords: sustainable footwear, modular shoes, circular economy, B Corp, eco-design, animal-free materials, footwear technology, sustainable fashion, direct-to-consumer, B2B collaboration