Strong commitment to the common good

We worked hard during 2017 to enhance our performance on environmental matters by improving the intrinsic characteristics of our products, and the way our production systems are managed.

Aware that the prevention and reduction of our environmental impact stems from the efficient use of natural resources, the optimisation of logistics feeds into the responsible management of waste.

In 2017, the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) function strengthened the purpose of its actions at various levels within the Group, centralising activities and coordinating the work of the local HSE functions. Cooperating with other business functions, the HSE team established objectives for the period up to 2020, planning the actions required to make steady progress towards these goals. Adopting the operating procedures and the Group's technical standards, additional operating units were involved in the application of the health, safety and environment policy. With support from a Group-level audit team, HSE periodically checked the effectiveness and proper application at local level of the health, safety and environment rules.

Collecting data to minimise emissions

Throughout the year, we carried out regular monitoring to check the effectiveness of health, safety and environment activities on greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, we strengthened the process of collecting energy consumption data to track both direct and indirect emissions deriving, respectively, from production processes and the purchase of energy. In 2017, the Group confirmed its participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Climate Change section, to contribute to the pursuit of the objectives agreed in the Kyoto Protocol.

Constantly monitoring

To extend energy efficiency initiatives to an ever-larger number of units, the Group carried out in some new energy diagnoses in European and non-European operating units. The purpose was to have an ever-more complete, reliable and updated database on energy consumption and its distribution. In 2017, 4 new energy diagnoses were conducted, adding to a total of 26 in around 10 countries identified in the period 2015-2016.

Going on relamping with LED

In 2017, the HSE function, in collaboration with an energy expert, completed the preliminary work and began coordinating the operational phase of the ‘Relamping with LED’ initiative, launched in 2016. The project focuses on the replacement of traditional lighting with LED bulbs at production units already undergoing energy audits as a priority. It also includes the distribution of specific guidelines to all local organisations According to estimates, the expected savings range between 10% and 70% of current consumption for lighting only, depending on the site.

Smart metering launched in Italy

In 2017, following the setup work launched in 2016, HSE planned the installation of consumption monitoring systems in the Italian operating units within the ‘Metering’ project, aimed at measuring the power consumption of production units. The project will be executed by the same general contractor in charge of the design and installation of LEDs. The system was launched at the end of 2017 in 6 of the 7 Italian units and will allow, as of 2018, more precise and complete reporting on energy consumption, as well as savings achieved thanks to energy efficiency projects. The Metering project will be completed in 2018 at the last Italian site and then gradually extended to other units of the Group.