Italy is a champion of circular economy

Symbola Foundation – the Italian agency committed to promoting Italian excellences – in partnership with Enel Group have recently issued the report "100 Italian Circular Economy Stories". The latter sheds light on the successful Italian stories of circular economy: Italy is one of the most advanced countries in Europe in recycling and in re-using non-dangerous waste in a number of ways. As pointed out by Eurostat, Italy has the greatest amount of circular goods (18,5%) re-used in the productive system which allows to save 17 million tonnes of oil working as primary energy source, also avoiding 60 million tonnes of Co2 emissions.

The report focuses on the precious activity of Italian companies, research centres and non-profit organizations that work hard to lead the country to high standards. The outstanding achievements are the outcome of virtuous synergies between companies' innovation, research and training activities among universities and the promotion of a new productive model by associations and consortia.

These 100 subjects are the protagonists of a unique made in Italy profile characterized by innovation and sustainability which is in line with the UN objectives of sustainable development. Among this 100 excellences, the company Aboca - leader in the well-being sector – re-uses all its wastes either fertilizers or animal feed. Another successful example is Fater, a joint venture company of the groups Procter&Gamble and Angelini, which has developed a unique technology to recycle disposable nappies. By using specific procedures (sterilisation, pressurization and separation), the company makes regenerated raw materials which are re-used in the productive process.

Also OVS is a protagonist of the report: the company joined the Circular Fashion System Commitment promoted by the Global Fashion Agenda and has an on-going project for collecting used garments and re-use them in the manufacturing process. These best practices have also fostered Italy's greater independence from foreign countries for energy, an enhanced productive efficiency, competitiveness and innovation touching all involved sectors.