Lucart, the multinational paper group known for the Tenderly, Grazie EcoNatural and Tutto Pannocarta brands, presented the 19th Sustainability Report today in Rome. The report highlights the excellent results achieved and the Group's continuous drive to promote and support environmental, social and economic policies to tackle future challenges with optimism and awareness.
This commitment is also reflected in the growth of the Group, which closed 2023 with a turnover of EUR 765 million (+6.7% vs. 2022) and an EBITDA that more than doubled compared to the previous year. This is the best result ever. The Group has confirmed its leadership in Italy and Europe in the Away From Home business, in the production of recycled tissue and of its Tenderly and Tutto Pannocarta brands.
"The year 2023 was very successful and we began to reap the benefits of our previous investments in plants and organisational changes", commented Massimo Pasquini, CEO of Lucart. "We are especially proud of these results, because they are the most tangible demonstration of how a company can achieve excellent economic performance and a very high level of environmental and social commitment at the same time. In 2023, we moved even closer to the 2025 target of reducing specific water consumption and slashing energy intensity by 25% compared to 2014, specific Scope 1 emissions by 7% and specific Scope 2 emissions by 33% compared to 2021. We also increased 83.7% of the total waste to recovery and 80% of our packaging, all of which is recyclable or compostable, and has a recycled content of more than 30%".
During 2023, Lucart further improved its impact on the environment by continuing to reduce CO2 emissions, which now stand at 403.75 kg CO2e per tonne of paper produced compared to 408.18 in 2022. Water consumption is also decreasing with 9.48 m3/tonne of paper produced (-35.9% vs. 2013), closer to the target of 9.40 set for 2025. Specific energy consumption also fell sharply over the last decade (-25% vs 2014).
Good progress was also made concerning the use of raw materials: 45% virgin cellulose and 55% recycled paper, with a target of 40% and 60% respectively by 2030. The same positive trend applies to packaging, which will be 100% recyclable or compostable by 2021, with 80% having a recycled content of more than 30%.
Lucart's target of 90% of recovered waste by 2030, currently standing at 83.7% of total waste produced, was also almost achieved.
Certifications: increasingly prestigious achievements
In early 2024, Lucart joined the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) to develop scientifically validated decarbonisation along the entire value chain. Specifically, compared to 2021, specific Scope 1 emissions were reduced by 7% and specific Scope 2 emissions by 33%. Turning to ethical and social matters, the company is complying with the AMFORI Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) Code of Conduct through the Sustainable Supply function to manage the sustainable transition with a focus on the production chain. The target of 100% of ISO 45001-certified plants by 2025 is also getting closer: at present, 91% of the Group's plants have achieved health and safety certification. EcoNatural, the circular economy project expands The EcoNatural project, started in 2010 to recover all materials contained in Tetra Pak® -type food cartons, has over the years become one of the most advanced applications of circular economy principles in Europe. In 2023, in collaboration with CPR System, Lucart opened a factory in Ferrara, Italy, which produces over 250,000 pallets per year from recycled plastic, made from polyethylene and aluminium scrap recovered from beverage cartons.
With the EcoNatural project, on the other hand, Lucart has contributed to recovering more than 10.7 billion beverage cartons, avoiding the use of 4.6 million trees and the emission of 281,300 tonnes of CO2e over the 2013-2023 period.
Corporate Social Responsibility Rating
The Platinum rating awarded by the independent agency Ecovadis, the highest level of corporate social responsibility that only 1% of the more than 90,000 companies analysed worldwide can boast, has been renewed for the second consecutive year in 2023.
"The Future is in the choices we make every day" The presentation event, hosted by journalist, TV presenter and environmentalist Tessa Gelisio, was held at the Save the Children Auditorium for the first time in Rome. In this way, Lucart wanted to reassert the importance of the time-honoured partnership with the international organisation that has been fighting for over 100 years to protect girls and boys and secure a better future for them. The company has been supporting three important projects of the organization since 2020: Spazio Mamme, Fiocchi in Ospedale and Punti Luce.
The presentation event was attended by speakers by Massimo Pasquini, CEO of Lucart, Giancarla Pancione, Marketing and Fundraising Director of Save the Children Italy, Edo Ronchi, President of the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Massimo Battaglia, Professor at the Scuola Superiore Universitaria Sant'Anna in Pisa. Messages of appreciation also came from Legambiente President Stefano Ciafani, Global Compact Network Italy President Marco Frey, Symbola Foundation President Ermete Realacci and Kyoto Club Vice President Francesco Ferrante.