Those who have chosen EPDItaly tell their story: casone group

Can you tell us about the mission of your company and the main activities you do?

From extraction to cutting, from processing to design: Casone Group brings stone from its own quarries – as from other sites – to the world, and transforms it with wisdom and care into architecture and design. The company has always collaborated with nationally and internationally renowned architects, managing to enhance the peculiarities of the materials selected by the designers. The structure, operating in Firenzuola, an extraction area on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, manages its own stone deposits in the districts of Verona and Carrara and is internationally known for the Pietra Forte Fiorentina.

Which product of your company has obtained the Environmental Product Declaration? What are its main features?

The product is pietra serena, a material that is extracted in the upper Mugello. It is a historical material, used since Roman times, then also in the Renaissance. From the postwar period on, these activities were abandoned and only this sector remained in Firenzuola as a function of a work that is the German cemetery of Futa which was built entirely of stone. This very important order has allowed this small sector to remain active while other similar stone sectors have been closed. So, in fact, it is the only industrial sector left in Italy for the extraction of this type of material. It is a well-known gray sandstone. The decision to certify it derives from a contract obtained in Milan for the Etruscan museum in Corso Venezia, signed by Mario Cucinella. Central Italy was the homeland of the Etruscans and this was a stone they used a lot, so the link with the stone and with the territory has been reported by the architect in the project of the work we are building. The work will be LEED certified, consequently the materials used must be certified and sustainable. So we have made ourselves available to certify the pietra serena.

What are the benefits of the Environmental Product Declaration for your company?

The first advantage was to get the order immediately, beating the competition thanks to the EPD, and this is no small advantage. The second important advantage was to obtain greater visibility also towards other customers. It was also the lever to change our approach throughout our business, to make all processes more sustainable, increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the entire company. Let’s say that it has greatly contributed to our evolution in many aspects.

In your opinion, what are the effects on the final consumer?

They are many and all positive. However, it is important that the designer makes the most of these aspects in the promotion / communication of the work. This virtuous process that starts from the design and then involves the entire supply chain then reverberates on the final consumer. In our case, for example, the signature of the project is by a very important architect, so the enhancement process was carried out in a complete way and produced evident and positive results for all the actors involved. Unfortunately, these phenomena are not frequent, and it is a pity. We care a lot about this certification and we want to keep it, not only: we will also try to certify other products to amplify the advantages.

Do you think Epditaly can contribute to spreading the culture of product sustainability, also thanks to mutual recognition at an international level?

International visibility is undoubtedly a huge advantage. We also work in other countries and having this certification increases our visibility even more and improves our image. Ours is a rare and 100% Italian product: this is generally much appreciated, but even more so now with an EPD that certifies its sustainability. Abroad there is much more sensitivity on these aspects and they are taken into greater consideration. International visibility is undoubtedly a huge advantage. We also work in other countries and having this certification increases our visibility even more and improves our image. Ours is a rare and 100% Italian product: this is generally much appreciated, but even more so now with an EPD that certifies its sustainability. Abroad there is much more sensitivity on these aspects and they are taken into greater consideration.