Panariagroup, a group active in the ceramic surfaces sector, has published its second Sustainability Report for 2017.
As stated in the note, the group "confirms itself at the top of the sector with a report drawn up, again this year, in compliance - the only Italian ceramic group - with the most recent and accredited international sustainability reporting standards (GRI Standards) and certified by an auditing firm of reference in sustainability reporting”.
In detail, the 2017 report presents the results of the strategy and the projects implemented at an international level on the various fronts of sustainability and the achievement of the targets set in the previous edition.
“Important goals – reads the note – have been achieved in the field of economic, environmental and social sustainability, thanks to a constant commitment that has transversally involved all the Business Units of the Group (Italy, Portugal, USA): over 34,4, 9 million were invested for innovation, while particular attention was paid to the environmental impact with emissions limited to XNUMX tCO2 for 1000 m2 of tiles produced; in addition, the conversion of some production lines to innovative ultra-thin materials has allowed savings of around 2000 tCO during the year2.
The production process is based on the recovery of materials: complete recycling of production waste (with consequent reduction in the consumption of raw materials) and an almost total share of waste (93%)
Panariagroup has also adopted environmentally friendly materials for packaging: +42,5% of recycled plastic used (190 tons more than in 2016), use of paper and cardboard reduced by up to 50% thanks to the introduction of new packaging processes (with now total and exclusive use of recycled paper and cardboard).
The 2017 budget also underlines:
- total recovery of water in the production process, with a very limited impact of water consumption in the production of the material (17 liters per m2 of tiles)
- investments in human resources with a growth of 2,6% of the employee base for a total of 1.729 units, and the launch of a new welfare plan in the Italian Business Unit
Investments also continued in laminated porcelain stoneware, the large thin slabs of which Panariagroup is historically the leader and which represent an innovative and highly eco-compatible product.
From an economic point of view, the Panariagroup closed the 2017 financial year with 11,4 million euros in net profit and 384,6 million euros in turnover. Over the past 5 years, the Group has achieved significant growth in revenues of over 110 million euros. Their average growth rate, from 2013 to 2017, was equal to 9%, allowing for an increase in market shares. The trend in margins accompanied these results with significant progress which was consolidated in 2017 at levels above the already good levels of the previous year with an EBITDA of 42,7 million euros.
