For the third consecutive year, Italy confirms itself in first place among the five main EU economies in the ranking relating toThe circular economy. The efforts made therefore seem to be repaid, but there is still a long way to go. The circular economy will in fact be essential to carry on the ecological transition process which the country needs and which the Draghi government has placed at the center of its work by creating a special ministry. Circularity will also be key to avoiding the climate catastrophe and meeting the commitments made at the Paris summit six years ago. In fact, it depends on the circular economy 39% of the CO2 reduction. But to achieve the goals set at a global level it is necessary double the current circularity rate of goods, passing from 8,6% to 17%.
These are the main data contained in the third edition of the National report on the circular economy in Italy 2021 made by the CEN-Circular Economy Network – the network promoted by the Foundation for sustainable development together with a group of companies and business associations – in collaboration with Enea and presented today in live streaming. The event was also attended by the Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani. “Italy is a leading nation in circularity – said the minister – We recycle almost double the total waste compared to the European Community, we have a circularity rate that is about 30% higher than the rest of Europe. The entire circular economy moves important numbers: we are talking about more than 210 operators in the sector, 70 billion in turnover per year". “Now – continued Cingolani – we need to enhance our ability. Recovery is one of the tools we have to increase our capacity, remain a leader and become a leading nation also at a global level".
LESS EMISSIONS
The report of the Circular Economy Network focuses in particular on the contribution that the circular economy can make to the fight against climate change.
"According to Circle Economy Circularity Gap Report 2021 – which measures the circularity of the world economy – by doubling the current circularity rate from 8,6% (2019 data) to 17%, it is possible to reduce material consumption from the current 100 to 79 gigatons and cut global emissions of greenhouse gas emissions by 39% a year, thus approaching the zero emissions target for 2050 set by the European Union to comply with the Paris Agreement”, reads the report.
Speaking of individual sectors, Unep notes that the production of steel with recycling of scrap iron allows up to 38% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of primary steel obtained with iron ore and coal. Enea estimates instead that the aluminum recycling allows you to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to the production of aluminum with the use of virgin raw materials. The recycling of plastic bags can reduce emissions by 90% compared to production with petroleum derivatives. In the textileAccording to estimates, doubling the use of clothing could reduce emissions by 44%. According to the EU Commission, extending the life of smartphones by one year would save 2,1 million tonnes of CO2 a year, equivalent to eliminating one million cars from circulation. Speaking of gods transport, one of the key sectors in the fight against climate change, the International Resource Panel (IRP) has estimated that, through appropriate circular strategies, 57-70% of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved in relation to the materials cycle in the production of vehicles and 30-40% in their use. Finally, regarding construction, with the use of sustainable materials, emissions from the residential sector could be totally reduced.
THE RANKING OF CIRCULARITY
Adding up the results achieved in production, consumption, circular waste management, investments, employment in sectors such as recycling, repair and reuse, Italy has overall obtained 79 points, eleven more than France which takes second place with 68 points. Germany and Spain follow with 65 points and Poland with 54.
By examining the individual areas analyzed by the report, which refers to data from 2019, in terms of productivity Italy in first place: every kg of resource consumed generates 3,3 euros of GDP, against a European average of 1,98 euros. The internal consumption of materials for Italy it is equal to 490 Mt, while with regard to energy consumption, Italy uses around 116.000 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) of energy per year. In terms of share of renewable energy used compared to total energy consumption, Italy is in second place, behind Spain, with 18,2% of energy produced from renewable sources compared to gross final consumption. There per capita production of municipal waste remains constant at 499 kg/inhabitant, against a European average production of 502 kg/inhabitant, while the municipal waste recycling in 2019, according to ISPRA data, it is 46,9%, in line with the European average, placing Italy in second place after Germany. The percentage of recycling of all waste is instead 68%, clearly higher than the European average (57%): in first place among the main European economies. The circular use rate of matter in Italy it is 19,3% (EU27 average equal to 11,9%). Our country, on the other hand, is last in the standings among the major European economies by number of registered patents. Finally, with regards to theoccupation in the sectors of repair, reuse and recycling, Italy is in second place, behind Poland, but still ahead of France, Germany and Spain.
THE FUTURE
“Taken by emergencies, in Italy we are underestimating the extent of the European change underway towards the circular economy. The most important challenge we face now – he declares Edo Ronchi, president of CEN – is the definition of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan: measures for the circular economy must be strengthened. It needs to be assigned a strategic role in the National Plan for the Ecological Transition".
The European Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan underlines that, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary recover the circularity gaps related to the reduction, stretch and reuse of resources, the use of regenerative raw materials.
In this direction, according to the report, Italy has taken some important steps forward. Last September, i decrees implementing the community directives on waste contained in the Circular Economy Package. Furthermore, by March 2022 the National Waste Management Programthe. And the new Transition Plan 4.0, more oriented towards sustainability, provides specific incentives for business investments aimed at the circular economy.
"However, on the one hand, it is necessary to be more ambitious in the part dedicated to the circular transition of the PNRR, precisely because it is a unique and unmissable opportunity, and on the other, to immediately put in place all the necessary technological, regulatory, financial and above all governance tools starting from the National Strategy for the Circular Economy which, as recently communicated by Minister Cingolani, will be elaborated in the coming months by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, in collaboration with the Mise and with the support of Ispra and Enea", he declares Roberto Morabito, director of the Sustainability department of Enea's Production and Territorial Systems.
