Thursday, 15 August 2019 11:47

Lucart presents its 2018 Sustainability Report with a focus on Circular Economy, new investments, dialogue with the stakeholders, and partnerships for sustainable development

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Lucart’s 14th Sustainability Report, drawn up in accordance with the international guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standard), highlights, among other things, an increase in turnover (+12%) and key investments such as the acquisition of three production plants in Spain, the construction of a new plant in Hungary, the start-up of a new Continuous Machine for the production of tissue paper (PM12) and the construction of a new, fully automated logistics centre to improve customer service.

  • · In 2018, the company's turnover increased by 12% despite the rising price of cellulose
  • · Major investments include the acquisition of three production plants in Spain and the construction of a new plant in Hungary
  • · 53% of the materials used by Lucart for the production of paper originate from recycled paper     

Pasquini MassimoAs always, the Report places considerable emphasis on the analysis of environmental data, which this year have been supplemented with more detailed information on recycled paper.

According to Lucart’s estimates, following an EPD[1] (Environmental Product Declaration) analysis carried out on two types of toilet paper produced by this Italian multinational company, different environmental benefits can be measured for each tonne of recycled toilet paper produced compared to paper made from “virgin” cellulose, including:   

  • · 80% reduction in the consumption of renewable resources, with savings of 4,060.90 kg of wood;
  • · 38% reduction in the consumption of water resources, i.e. 50.63 m3 of water
  • · savings of 20% of the fossil CO2 emitted, one of the gases that are most to blame for climate change.

Clearly, therefore, it is important to manufacture products such as toilet paper from recycled materials, as they cannot be further recycled. However, this can only be achieved by implementing a regulatory framework that promotes the production and sale of recycled products, for example by approving End of Waste decrees and adopting tax incentives for recycled products.

According to data provided by Assocarta, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of tissue paper for hygiene and sanitary use are produced in Italy each year, of which only 7% is produced from recycled materials. Lucart goes completely against the trend in the industry as more than 53% of the paper it uses is recycled, and it also generates value locally since as much as 95% of the recycled paper it uses comes from Europe and, specifically, from Italy, France and Spain, the countries where Lucart has plants capable of producing recycled tissue paper.

In 2018, in order to speed up its transition to a circular economy, Lucart also joined the CE100 network of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the world’s largest network for companies seeking to develop new opportunities in circular economy.

The 2018 report also includes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ General Assembly, which are valid for 2016 - 2030. These goals are the most concrete way to build a more inclusive world that respects the environment.

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