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“The ecological transition of companies in Emilia-Romagna” report, by ART-ER Emilia-Romagna

We would like to share the results of the last report named “The ecological transition of companies in Emilia-Romagna”, published by our member ART-ER, Emilia-Romagna Regional Development Agency, whose Unit Manager is also EURADA’s president. It focuses on the green transition of the company’s product manufacturing system.

The report is based on the results of a survey launched by the GreenER Observatory, managed by ART-ER on behalf of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The observatory aims to contextualise the green economy phenomenon in the regional territory from both numerical and qualitative points of view. The successful study carried out involved interviewing over 1000 companies (SMEs and large companies) belonging to different sectors. The results are based on the qualitative-quantitative indicators concerning the circular economy, energy transition, financing for environmental sustainability and the economic and environmental impacts caused by the Covid19 pandemic.

The survey results show an initial classification of green companies: 42% of the companies interviewed are green for the products and services created considering the reduction of environmental impacts in the production process or in the use phase, the green characteristics of the product or service created. The data collected from the circular economy subject provides a measure of the ability to reduce processing waste, introduce recycled material to replace virgin raw materials and which barriers must be overcome in order to effectively overcome the traditional linear economy model.

Regarding the energy theme, the analysis is focused on the energy transition challenges and the decarbonisation goals. Approximately, 42% of the companies interviewed produce or purchase energy from renewable sources and have made investments for saving energy. Although, it is necessary to make more investments to boost business innovation and production process efficiency.

Another factor highlighted is the importance of green component in investment strategies: about 90% of companies have made investments in the last three years and two-thirds of them declare that they have made investments with environmental benefits generated by the improvement of processes or related to the use of the product by the consumer or end user.

In addition, from the economic and environmental effects of the Covid1Pandemic, it is interesting how green companies demonstrate resilience, albeit slight, compared to non-green companies even in the Covid19 era, with better economic performance.

The report includes a chapter dedicated to the experiences of leading companies in the regional territory anda brief description of the results relating to each sector.

For more details about the report, find the summary here and the report in Italian by clicking here.