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Cleaning sector’s climate strategy in Italy

23rd of July 2024 Article by Anna Garbagna

Italy correspondent Anna Garbagna reports on a conference discussing environmental strategies.

Environmental protection is a topic that is becoming increasingly crucial in the management of the economy. In March, the industrial cleaning sector dedicated two days of the H3i HI&I Cleaning Forum event to sustainability, ecodesign, certifications and environmental strategies for the cleaning industry.

The conference, entitled The Climate Strategy of Professional Cleaning to Overcome the
Challenge of the Ecological Transition, was organised by AFIDAMP to discuss the possible solutions for a sustainable future with companies, study the regulatory framework and identify a climate strategy to help businesses operating in the cleaning sector work towards an effective ecological transition.

The event was attended by many industry experts, chaired by Matteo Marino, AFIDAMP head of chemicals GDL. Among them, Danilo Sartori, new recycling solutions manager at COREPLA; Nicola Fabbri, senior consultant for ERGO; Piera Pellegrino, technologist of ISPRA Service for Environmental Certifications; Domenico Zuccaro, technologist at ISPRA Service for Environmental Certifications and EU Ecolabel CB forum coordinator; and Cesare Buffone, head of LCA analysis and sustainability at PUNTO 3.

This panel of experts was able to establish a clear picture of what needs quickly and expertly addressing. Thanks to the participation of numerous professionals and the different skills they brought, it was possible to examine the situation in which the cleaning industry operates today and look at its future prospects, in line with the new regulations.

The need has emerged for all companies to future-proof by immediately setting up a real climate strategy, through research and implementation of environmentally friendly actions. Not only at a marketing and communications level, but above all at the level of business, production and clear presence on the market.

The climate strategy is not and must not be considered an isolated element, but rather part of a growth project.

As highlighted by Danilo Sartori, this way of thinking requires the commitment of everyone, through teamwork and - in the case of recycling and reuse of containers - it must start from design and planning, to make improvments. These actions must be in line with the European Green Deal, which Italy actively promotes.

It is no coincidence that many steps have been taken in Italy, in particular thanks to the CAMs which have allowed us to be ahead on recycling and the Ecolabel. As highlighted by Piera Pellegrino and Domenico Zuccaro, to date already 464 companies (out of a total of 2000 at European level) have at least one Ecolabel certified product, a voluntary label assigned to products/services that meet certain environmental and performance criteria during the entire life cycle: from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and distribution, and through to disposal.

Nicola Fabbri underlined the need for companies to understand how to proceed, laying the foundations for building measurable strategies, while Cesare Buffone emphasised the importance of eco-compatible design, integrating environmental assessments in the product development process. The climate strategy must help companies reduce their carbon footprint and compensate for unavoidable emissions by adapting their production methods.