Who chose EPDItaly tells its story: AEC Lighting Technologies

Lorenzo Cini, Vice President & Sales Director AEC

A major player in the lighting industry, AEC has been a business enterprise for more than 65 years. From 1957 to the present, the company has also established itself in the public lighting industry internationally. Among the cities illuminated by AEC Illuminazione are Milan, Berlin, London, Oslo, Auckland and Dubai. The Tuscan company decided to rely on EPDItaly to obtain EPD certification for an entire range of luminaires.

In this regard, we interviewed Lorenzo Cini, Vice President & Sales Director, who told us about the motivations behind the company’s decision to adopt EPD certification and what are the advantages of such a document.

What are the main motivations that pushed you toward voluntary EPD certification?

For years our company has been on its own path focused on sustainability, a fundamental pillar of our vision, with the goal of enabling our customers to make informed and transparent choices. We want to provide verifiable and standardized data to demonstrate our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, and voluntary EPD certification is an excellent tool to achieve that goal.

Which product(s) in your company has obtained EPD? What are its main features?

We have currently obtained EPD certification for all luminaires in the I-TRON family, specifically I-TRON MICRO, I-TRON ZERO, I-TRON 1 and I-TRON 2. These are street luminaires, made of die-cast aluminum and with reflective optical systems, capable of high efficiencies and performance. Most of the components of our luminaires come from recycled materials, thus allowing us to reduce the overall environmental impact.

What are the main benefits gained from publishing the Environmental Product Declaration? What are the impacts on the end consumer?

First of all, the advantage of having a product EPD certification is to know in depth the environmental impact of our products. It is by starting from an awareness of the current state that paths of improvement can be created.

Today, in fact, our company has not only published its first EPD certification, but has also developed and certified its own LCA-Tool capable of performing life cycle analyses on individual products, benchmarking and testing new technologies in order to reduce overall environmental impacts. By doing so, our customers will be able to make informed choices and choose the most sustainable products.

Do you think EPDItaly can help spread the culture of product sustainability?

Certainly, EPDItaly represents a point of reference for the Italian and international markets, promoting the adoption of sustainable practices by companies and raising consumer awareness. Its presence in an international network amplifies the visibility of certified Italian products, promoting the spread of a culture based on transparency and innovation.

How important, in your opinion, is the presence of Italian sustainable products within a Program Operator that makes international networking one of its strengths?

It is fundamental. Sustainability is now an indispensable element for “Made in Italy,” and being part of a Program Operator with such a wide international network allows Italian companies to enhance the excellence and quality of their products, as well as to strengthen competitiveness and facilitate access to markets that demand high standards in terms of environmental sustainability. In a market increasingly oriented toward sustainability, being part of a globally recognized system helps us strengthen our presence and credibility, offering products that meet the needs of the most environmentally conscious customers and the most advanced international regulations.