Panariagroup is recognized as an italian leader in sustainability

Panariagroup, one of the leading international groups in the production of high-end and luxury ceramic surfaces, was awarded third place in the Biblioteca Bilancio Sociale Award.

This result rewards the commitment of the Group, which recently presented its second Sustainability Report, drawn up once again in compliance with the most respected international sustainability reporting standards, the GRI Standards (it is the only Italian ceramic company that follows these standards) and certified by a leading auditing firm in sustainability reporting.

Biblioteca Bilancio Sociale is the organization that annually recognizes companies that distinguish themselves in terms of sustainability in their Sustainability Report. At the fifth edition of the BBS Award, at which Fruttagel and Ratti were awarded first and second place, Panariagroup came third, tied with Piaggio, for the following reason: “A world leader in ceramic surfaces with 1700 employees, Panariagroup invests 10% of its turnover every year into innovation, which translates to 35 million in 2018 alone. Much of the Group’s commitment is focused on environmental impact and energy consumption. Its reduction of the thickness of its tiles by two thirds, without reducing the product’s performance, has led to an 80% reduction in water consumption, a 30% reduction in energy consumption and a 66% reduction in road vehicles transporting freight.”

Drawn up in compliance with the most recent and respected international sustainability standards – the GRI Standards published by the Global Reporting Initiative (it is the only Italian ceramic company that follows these standards) – and certified by a leading auditing firm in sustainability reporting, Panariagroup’s 2017 Sustainability Report was evaluated alongside analysis and reporting of important sustainability goals, as well as of stated targets for the coming years, confirming the Group’s evergrowing, staunch commitment.

One of the key reasons for the awarding of the prize was the way in which the Group, embracing a pioneering spirit well-ahead of the rest of the industry, has made important strategic and industrial choices over the years based on a sustainable approach.

Indeed, Panariagroup was the first ceramic group to invest in laminated porcelain stoneware, a true manifesto of a product innovation devoted to sustainability, for which it can now boast the highest sales volume worldwide. These thin slabs have not only revolutionized the way tiles are conceived, but have also drastically reduced their environmental impact, thanks to lower use of raw materials and production resources in general and to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

“This result,” commented Emilio Mussini, Chairman of Panariagroup, “is an important recognition because it testifies to an entrepreneurial journey, which from the outset has been rooted in a sustainable innovation model developed in over forty years of the Group’s history through the continuous pursuit of growth and creation of well-being that is always in harmony with people and the environment.”