In memoriam: Romeo Mainetti

Romeo Mainetti, co-founder of Italian packaging and fashion supplies firm Mainetti, died earlier this month at the age of 97.

In 1961, together with his brothers Gianni, Luigi and Mario, Romeo Mainetti established the firm that carries his family’s name. Subsequently, the company has grown into a global enterprise and a leader in sustainable packaging and circular economy solutions.

“Through his technical expertise, vision and unwavering sense of responsibility, Romeo laid the foundation for Mainetti’s guiding values of respect, integrity and social responsibility,” the firm says in a news release announcing his death.

The company says Romeo Mainetti was a gifted automobile mechanic who first envisioned the Mainetti company while working at global apparel firm Marzotto Corp. in collaboration with its then business owner Count Gaetano Marzotto.

“Observing the growing challenges in the fashion industry, particularly the sourcing of garment hangers, Romeo partnered with his brother Mario, who was working at a plastics company at the time, to formulate a new hanger design—one that could be mass-produced through injection molding,” the company says.

On the community involvement front, Mainetti has engaged in youth bicycling initiatives, a community garden project called Happy Mainetti and has launched the Mainetti Academy, designed to bridge a gap between education and employment.

“The passing of Romeo is a profound loss for the Mainetti family and for all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Mainetti CEO Roberto Peruzzo says.

“As a company founded on the brothers’ principles of respect, integrity and innovation, Romeo was a driving force behind Mainetti’s growth and vision. His work not only helped transform the apparel industry toward a more sustainable and innovative future but also instilled in our company a deep responsibility to care for our people, our communities and our planet. While today we mourn his loss, we remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring his legacy, which will continue to guide Mainetti for generations to come.”

In the recycling sector, Mainetti developed a closed-loop low-density polyethylene (LDPE) recycling process called Polyloop designed to produce clear plastic containing up to 30 percent recycled material.

With around 4,000 metric tons of recycled material produced annually, Polyloop supports a number of U.S. brands, including Walmart and JCPenney, and seeks to boost the efficiency of the supply chain, according to Mike Jones of Mainetti in a 2024 Recycling Today report.

Globally, Mainetti employs 6,000 people in 90 countries.