28 29 ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY 2022 Sustainability Report The production process: management of impacts Reducing emissions through energy efficiency policies has become an increasingly important issue in the current global context, where a focus on climate change and risk mitigation are now top priorities. We have always been sensitive to environmental issues and in recent years we have decided to adopt a policy with a strong focus on sustainability, implementing solutions aimed at reducing consumption and emissions, proper waste management and the adoption of green product policies. Adopting sustainable practices not only improves a company's image in the eyes of consumers and regulators, it also allows for more effective risk management and investment planning, taking into account aspects that go beyond purely economic and financial drivers. Thanks to our participation in sustainability initiatives promoted by industry associations and the networking programme developed with one of our main customers, we are creating synergies with other organisations, becoming more open to discussions and seeking common solutions to shared problems. With the awareness of the significance of energy consumption and emissions in our business, the attention paid to this issue has increased considerably in recent years and has led to a series of investments and interventions targeting a significant reduction: • The replacement of the old, traditional heating system in one of the production plants with a radiant tube system has significantly improved the thermal comfort of the indoor environment as well as significantly reducing energy consumption. • Replacing the cooling tower with a more efficient closed-circuit chiller system means that the water used to cool the production lines is no longer dispersed and evaporated, instead the heat is recovered and reused in the heating system. • With the relamping work almost completed, the old incandescent bulbs have been replaced with an energy-efficient LED lighting system. In addition, motion sensors and dusk-to-dawn switches have been installed so that the lights are only used when necessary. • All factories have been equipped with automatic shutter doors to prevent heat loss as goods handling vehicles pass through. • All air compressors have recently been replaced with fuel-efficient models. Most notably in 2022, an energy consumption monitoring system (EMS) was installed which uses meters positioned at the main consumption centres (production lines, compressors, etc.) to allow us to assess the need for any reduction measures. Around the same time, we conducted an energy audit, an assessment aimed at defining the company's energy efficiency and identifying suitable actions to improve it. The main investment planned for 2023 involves an increase in the number of solar panels, which will reach a coverage of about 50% of the energy demand, bringing a significant benefit in terms of a reduced environmental impact. The remaining energy needs are currently covered by purchasing energy derived from 43% renewable sources. In one of the production plants, the implementation of the radiant tube heating system, already in use in another plant, to replace the existing methane convector heating system is also being assessed, with a view to improving energy efficiency, ensuring that excess heat is recovered and channelled into the system. Energy efficiency and emissions management 2015 saw the construction of the new office building, a highly advanced building designed in 2010 in accordance with strict eco-sustainability criteria (Class A). Equipped with innovative systems to make the building self-sufficient in energy, with a heating system that makes use of the temperature difference of the groundwater to power a heat pump, operated by a photovoltaic system; solar panels heat the water for the bathrooms. Thermally insulated, the building enjoys thermal comfort in all seasons and requires no non-renewable energy.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUyNTU=