Pianeta

Our commitment to responsible management of resources

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Environmental sustainability also depends on the proper use of resources, starting with energy, which is fundamental in the ceramic production process. We were the first company operating in the ceramic sector to obtain certification of our Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9001 in 1994 and subsequently ISO 14001 certification for our Environmental Management System. In 2022, the company obtained ISO 50001 certification for its Energy Management System for the plants at the Fiorano site. In the same year, the Group was among the first in the world to achieve ISO 17889-1 certification, the first international standard assessing the sustainability of ceramic tiles through 38 quantitative and qualitative criteria across the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and governance.

In recent years, the plants have been upgraded with the best available technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency. Energy savings have been confirmed by the awarding of white certificates in Italy, namely Energy Efficiency Certificates (EECs), which certify the energy savings achieved through specific measures such as the installation of lower-consumption kilns.

Heat recovery and renewable energy

In 2024, we recovered 107,190 MWh of heat in our atomizers thanks to the 3 cogeneration plants (Casiglie, Fiorano, and Sassuolo) that allow the simultaneous production of electricity and heat.

We also purchased 71,858 MWh of renewable energy from the national electricity grid covered by a guarantee of origin, thus covering 100% of the electricity imported from the grid. This avoided the emission of 35,970 tons of CO2 (emission factor calculated according to AIB 2023).

The Guarantee of Origin (GO) ensures that the electricity comes from renewable sources, promotes transparency in the energy market, encourages the development of renewable energies, and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Savings and Recovery to Reduce the Environmental Impact of all Production Processes

A major focus was placed on the environmental impact when designing our new production sites. The systems for the recovery of heat, process water and production waste allow us to reduce our environmental impact and guarantee the comfort and safety of our employees.

In order to reduce the energy consumption, we convey the heat produced by the kilns into other process phases (driers, spray-dryers) and the heating system.

All our factories also save energy by using more efficient motors to run the production lines, and through responsible management of plant activities. What’s more, the lighting systems have also been upgraded to new LED systems.