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TWIN TRANSFORMATION NEWSLETTER 3

Dear Reader,   The shoemaking and leather sector plays a vital role in Europe’s cultural heritage and local economies, especially through small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traditional artisans. However, this sector is increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as: Rising temperatures and heatwaves, affecting working conditions in workshops. Water scarcity, raising costs for water-intensive processes like tanning and dyeing. Stricter EU climate policies and green taxation, pushing SMEs to adapt quickly. Shifting consumer demand, with younger generations preferring sustainable and eco-friendly products.   Increased energy prices, directly affecting small manufacturers’ competitiveness.   Our project aims to respond to these challenges by creating practical tools, trainings, and digital materials that help SMEs and workers adopt sustainable practices while staying competitive.   This project will: Help SMEs reduce environmental impact and align with EU environmental regulations. Strengthen their resilience to climate-related risks (energy, water, raw materials). Enhance competitiveness by promoting sustainable, eco-friendly production. Encourage green skills development in the workforce, supporting employability. Build awareness in local communities, ensuring that artisans and apprentices understand their role in climate adaptation.   In the long term, the project will contribute to a greener, more sustainable value chain in the shoe and leather industry, supporting both environmental protection and economic viability for small businesses.   We would like to keep you informed of some developments regarding our project. Some progress was made between May and August 2025, the period covered by our newsletter.   The phases related to the preparation of the report on the impact of the twin transformation on SMEs (specifically the shoemaking sector) and best practices, included in the second work package, have been completed. Firstly, national reports were prepared for the four partner countries. The Ministry of Trade, which coordinated the work package, then prepared an international report. The joint report will be shared with the public via the website in 5 languages.   From June 10-13, 2025, we held a training of trainers in Ankara on the quantification and reporting standards for ISO 14064-1 Greenhouse Gas, 14067 Carbon Footprint, and 14046 Water Footprint with the participation of trainers from all our partners. Fourteen trainers from eight partner organizations participated in the training of trainers. Following this training, which was held as part of the third work package under the coordination of our Portuguese partner, CTCP, and our Turkish partner, the Climate Association, the trainers will provide training on these standards to industry personnel in their respective countries.   Development of the online infrastructure for information seminars on the impact of the twin transformation on SMEs has begun. The topics for which digital training materials will be developed have been identified as part of the 4th work package, led by our Italian partner, CNA. The digital infrastructure required for online education was created on the project website.   The project's website and social media accounts have begun active use.

15 September 2025 15:05

TRANSFORMATION PROJECT NEWSLETTER 1

TWIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT Project No: 2024-1-TR01-KA220-VET-000255722 TWIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT NEWSLETTER 1 Dear Reader, The main purpose of this newsletter is to inform you about the activities of our project. We will be sharing our newsletters with you every four months throughout the project duration. Our project application, submitted in March 2024 under the Erasmus+ Programme's Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training (KA220-VET), was approved by the Turkish National Agency. A grant agreement was signed between TESK and the National Agency in November 2024. The project will be implemented between December 1, 2024, and November 30, 2026, with a total budget of €250,000. The project leader is the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK). The Turkish partners are the General Directorate of Tradesmen, Craftsmen and Cooperatives under the Ministry of Trade, the Turkish Footwear Manufacturers Federation, the Association for Climate Change Research and Policy, and the Siteler Vocational Training Center. The EU partners include CNA Federazione Regionale Delle Marche from Italy, Asociación Valenciana De Empresarios De Calzado (AVECAL) from Spain, and Centro Tecnológico De Calçado De Portugal (CTCP) from Portugal. 1st Transnational Project Meeting: The first meeting of the project working group, consisting of representatives from the partner organizations, was held on February 26–27, 2025, at the TESK meeting hall in Ankara. Representatives from all partner organizations attended, and the meeting was highly productive. The meeting began with an opening speech by TESK President Bendevi Palandöken. Following this, the representatives of the partner organizations introduced themselves and shared their good wishes for the project. In the second agenda item, each organization briefly presented itself. Then, TESK Project Coordinator Nuran Senar and Project Expert Serdar Dalmaz delivered detailed presentations on the project proposal and financial matters. The meeting continued with a review of the work packages. This session ensured that all partners had a shared understanding of the work packages. Yüksel Kaya, the representative of Ministry of Trade, the organization responsible for Work Package 2 (Current Situation Report), and Julia Villaplana from AVECAL, responsible for Work Package 5 (Dissemination), presented their activities. After 1.5 days of meetings, our international guests returned to their home countries. To promote the project, a project website (http://twintransformation.org.tr/) and social media accounts (Instagram: twin_transformation https://www.instagram.com/twin_transformation/ and X - formally Twitter -: @Twin_Transform https://x.com/twin_transform/ ) have been launched. Project updates will be regularly shared with the public through these platforms, as well as via the websites and other publications of the partner organizations. ABOUT THE PROJECT Project Objective: The aim of the project is to support the competitiveness of SMEs (specifically tradesmen and craftsmen) operating in the footwear manufacturing and leather sector by increasing their knowledge, skills, and awareness regarding digital and green transformation (twin transition) through a joint training program, related training materials, and innovative training methods. The project also aims to contribute to addressing environmental and climate change issues. Specific Objectives of the Project: To investigate the impact of green and digital transformation specifically on SMEs in the footwear and leather sector and to identify best practices. To increase the institutional capacities of the partner organizations by establishing a network that includes other countries, thereby fostering inter-organizational and international cooperation and joint working culture. To enhance the knowledge, skills, and awareness of SME owners and employees through a jointly developed training program, materials, and innovative training methods on twin transition, thereby supporting their competitiveness. To ensure that SMEs can access knowledge without the limitations of time and place through the creation of an e-platform and e learning materials. To enhance the training capacities of partner organizations through new training topics, modules, and techniques. Expected Project Results:  A report on the current status and best practices related to green topics in the footwear-leather sector will be prepared. 9 staff members from project partners will receive training of trainers on ISO standards. 120 employees will gain qualifications in gas emission, carbon footprint, and water footprint measurement. 200 employees/apprentices will be informed about environmental protection, climate change, and its effects on the sector. The project will be promoted and disseminated at local, national, and international levels.

24 June 2025 17:13

TWIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT NEWSLETTER 2

TWIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT Project No: 2024-1-TR01-KA220-VET-000255722   TWIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT NEWSLETTER 2   Dear Reader,   With this second newsletter of the TWIN TRANSFORMATION project, we would like to emphasize the crucial role of young people and vocational education providers in shaping a more sustainable and digitally advanced future for shoemaking and leather sectors. Their involvement is key to addressing the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and digital transformation. Highlight: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future in Shoemaking The TWIN TRANSFORMATION project is forging a new path for the leather and shoemaking sectors by engaging young people through vocational education and training (VET). With a focus on green and digital competencies, the project emphasizes the importance of collaboration between industry leaders and educational institutions to prepare a new generation of eco-conscious, digitally skilled shoemakers and leather employees. As climate change and digitalization redefine industry landscapes, youth involvement becomes vital. This initiative ensures that young workers and apprentices are not only future-ready but actively contributing to sustainable transformation alongside SME owners. Vocational Education Centres: The Heart of Youth Engagement Vocational education centres are playing a pivotal role in the TWIN TRANSFORMATION project by bridging the gap between education and industry. With extensive experience in vocational training and active participation in innovation-focused initiatives, these institutions are leading efforts to engage and empower young learners.   This strong collaboration between education providers and the industry ensures that young people gain hands-on, relevant skills – from carbon footprint measurement to sustainable production methods. Why Young Workers Need Green & Digital Skills: EU Context The European Union’s Green Deal and 2030 Digital Compass call for a dramatic shift toward a low-carbon, circular economy and a digitally skilled workforce. The European Green Deal: The European Commission’s comprehensive strategy to align climate, energy, transport, and taxation policies with the goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 places strong emphasis on sustainable practices across industries - including leather and footwear. To meet these demands, young professionals must be equipped with skills in eco-design, emissions management, and circular product lifecycle principles. haz la man The Digital Compass: This update on Europe’s digital strategy outlines the EU’s ambition for 80% of adults to possess basic digital skills by 2030, while positioning digital transformation as a central pillar of vocational education and training. This project aligns directly with those goals, ensuring young people gain critical competencies in: - ISO standards for environmental protection. - Carbon, water, and energy footprint measurement. - Interactive, digital learning platforms for lifelong learning.   Looking Ahead: Shaping a New Generation of Sustainable Artisans By empowering young people to lead the change, the TWIN TRANSFORMATION project is driving the modernization of the leather and shoemaking sectors while strengthening its long-term resilience. Through active collaboration among VET providers, SMEs, and policymakers, the next generation of shoemakers and leatherworkers will emerge with strong digital skills and a deep commitment to environmental sustainability. Stay connected – subscribe to our upcoming newsletter and follow us on social media for the latest events and project updates! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twin_transformation/ X (formally Twitter): https://x.com/twin_transform/

31 July 2025 13:47

TWIN TRANSFORMATION NEWSLETTER 4

Dear reader, Our project continued to develop the planned activities, with the involvement of all partners. From August to November 2025, the activities included in Work Package 3 - Standards Trainings and Work Package 4 - Awareness Meetings / OERs stand out. The activities included in these Work Packages focus on preparing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traditional craftsmen to adopt sustainable practices, remaining competitive, with the creation of practical tools, training and digital materials, which will be available on the project website. Following the training of trainers in Ankara on the quantification standards and reporting for ISO 14064-1 Greenhouse Gases, Carbon Footprint 14067 and Water Footprint 14046 with the participation of fourteen trainers from eight partner organisations, training on those standards involving companies is taking place in each participating country. These trainings will take place between October 2025 and January 2026. Portugal has already carried out a first action and will follow the actions in the other countries. The digital platform that will contain training materials for a training path on the impact of double transformation on SMEs is being developed at a good pace, under the leadership of the Italian partner CNA. Training was provided to the partners on the development of the contents and its incorporation into the platform.   The topics of the modules to be developed by the partners have been defined: Module 1 Digital Product Passports for SMEs: Unlocking Sustainability and Digital Innovation Module 2: Digitalization of the Production Process for Sustainable Growth in SMEs Module 3 Integrating Circular Economy in SME Green and Digital Transformation Module 4 Water Footprint Management and ISO 14046: Principles and Application Module 5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management: ISO 14064-1 Quantification and Reporting Standards Module 6 Understanding and Applying ISO 14067: Carbon Footprint of Products. At the same time, the partners analysed and selected the five priority sectors, which will guide the development of this content. The leather and footwear sector is clearly one of those included.   3rd Transnational Project Meeting We also note in this newsletter the transnational meeting No. 3 of the project, which took place from November 13 to 14, in Elche. Hosted by AVECAL, the meeting clarified our shared mission: empower SMEs in the footwear and leather industries with the skills to embrace the twin transition. At this meeting, an analysis of the state of play of all project workpackages was carried out. In addition to the activities already presented above on WP3 and WP4, we highlight the presentation of the consolidated report, foreseen in WP2, compiling the current state of play and best practices in terms of green and digital transformation in the project partner countries. As part of the meeting the partners were received by the Alcaide of Elche and we had the opportunity to visit two companies: Simplicity Works PIKOKAIZEN, Pikolinos Group where we were able to observe different approaches in the production of footwear, the first based on 3D Bonding Technology, a simplified and more sustainable process, by reducing materials and energy, and the second, despite starting from the traditional production model, is distinguished by the organization of processes allied to technology.

10 December 2025 13:54