ESG Strategic Plan · 2026 – 2030

Do it well, and do it here

We knit by hand in Fray Bentos and across the Uruguayan countryside, in merino wool and natural leather, alongside people we know by name. This page sets out what we have committed to between now and 2030, and how we plan to get there.

Purpose

Why we exist

GIA is a tribute to Uruguay and its craft culture. We design and make sustainable fashion by hand, specialising in merino wool knitwear and natural leather accessories. Through timeless pieces that bring together quality, considered design and craftsmanship, we want to carry Made in Uruguay out into the world, keeping traditional techniques alive and working in a way that respects the environment.

Our business ambitions

  • Establish GIA as Uruguay's leading sustainable craft fashion brand in international markets.
  • Increase traceability and circularity across every product we make.
  • Broaden our product range.
  • Build the GIA ecosystem at the former Anglo Meatpacking Plant as a hub for production, training and culture.
  • Create local, decentralised and dignified work for artisans and young people outside the capital.
  • Strengthen the brand through our own channels and content that connects with our purpose.
Impact thesis

Three pillars, three bets

Out of every possible issue we chose three: the ones that move the needle most in our business and in our region. Each is written as a hypothesis — if we do this, we expect that to change.

8 Decent work

Dignified craft work

SDG target 8.5 — Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

If we strengthen our network of artisans with training, fair contracts and steady work, then local communities will have better access to dignified employment and traditional crafts will regain their value.

What we do today
  • Decentralised craft production in Fray Bentos and rural areas.
  • Direct work with local knitters and leather artisans.
  • Human oversight of the whole process, piece by piece.
What we are building
  • An ongoing training programme for the network.
  • Fair, long-term contracts, properly formalised.
  • Channels for every artisan to tell her own story.
Expected impact
  • Wider access to decent work for women and young people outside the capital.
  • An active, formalised craft production network.
  • Craft as a genuine source of sustainable employment.
12 Responsible consumption

Pieces that last

SDG target 12.5 — Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

If we design durable products and support our customers with care kits and refurbishment services, then we will cut textile and leather waste, extend the life of every piece and encourage more considered consumption.

What we do today
  • Design made to last and to be repaired.
  • Care kits and instructions packed with every piece.
  • Noble raw materials: merino wool and natural leather.
What we are building
  • A formal refurbishment and repair service.
  • A take-back programme for worn pieces.
  • Care and reuse guidance for customers.
Expected impact
  • Less textile and leather waste.
  • Customers replacing pieces less often.
  • More responsible buying habits.
4 Quality education

So the craft is not lost

SDG target 4.7 — Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge needed to promote sustainable development, sustainable lifestyles, culture and heritage.

If we create spaces to teach knitting, leatherwork and sustainable design in our workshops, then we will preserve the traditional crafts of the Uruguayan interior, supporting local cultural identity and sustainable development through hands-on learning.

What we do today
  • GIA Workshop, our craft school in Fray Bentos.
  • Small groups and one-to-one teaching.
  • Knowledge passed on directly, hand to hand.
What we are building
  • A full programme in knitting, leatherwork and sustainable design.
  • A documented record of traditional techniques.
  • Partnerships with UTEC, UTU and cultural centres.
Expected impact
  • Craft heritage preserved and passed on.
  • Technical training for women and young people outside the capital.
  • A learning community built around making by hand.
Sustainable Development Goals

Where we contribute

We looked at the positive and negative impacts of every link in our value chain and mapped them against a materiality matrix: what matters to our stakeholders, and what affects the economic sustainability of GIA. These are the targets we arrived at.

4 Quality education 5 Gender equality 8 Decent work 9 Industry and innovation 12 Responsible consumption 13 Climate action 17 Partnerships
Target Our commitment Priority
8.5 Create dignified craft employment for women and young people outside the capital. Core pillar
12.5 Cut waste through refurbishment, care kits and circular design. Core pillar
4.7 Teach sustainable know-how and preserve craft heritage through GIA Workshop. Core pillar
5.5 Ensure women's full participation and leadership in production and decision-making. Priority
12.2 Use natural resources efficiently: traceable Uruguayan merino wool and leather. Priority
12.8 Give every customer what they need to care for, repair and extend the life of their piece. Priority
13.2 Reduce our logistics footprint through consolidated shipments and responsible packaging. Priority
4.3 Widen equitable access to technical and vocational craft training. In progress
9.4 Grow without losing our handmade character or our awareness of resource use. In progress
17.17 Build partnerships with educational institutions, responsible suppliers and community networks. In progress
Roadmap

From here to 2030

2026 · Baseline

  • ESG Strategic Plan under way, with materiality, priority pillars and a roadmap.
  • GIA Workshop running, with its first knitting programme.
  • GIA Trace live: a traceability platform for materials and batches, with a QR report on every piece.
  • Care kits included with every garment.

2027 · Formalise and measure

  • Contracts and sustainability agreements signed with the artisan network and suppliers.
  • First public report of indicators.
  • Refurbishment service up and running.

2028 – 2029 · Scale with judgement

  • Verifiably certified materials and compostable packaging.
  • Training programme expanded through institutional partnerships.
  • Carbon footprint measured per garment and per shipment.

2030 · The GIA ecosystem

  • GIA Lab established at the former Anglo Meatpacking Plant as a hub for production, training and culture.
  • A craft production network that is active, formalised and decentralised.
  • Circularity and traceability across the whole range.

The years mark the commitment, not the deadline. Any of these can land earlier than planned, even within the same year — and when that happens, so much the better.