Who chose EPDItaly tells its story: Nesite

Fabio Di Marco, Nesite sales director

Nesite is the raised floor brand owned by Transpack Group, a benefit company active in industrial packaging and integrated logistics that has been in the market for more than 50 years and stands out in its sector for its high quality and wide range of products. The Veneto-based company decided to rely on EPDItaly to obtain EPD certification for some products. In this regard, we interviewed Fabio Di Marco, sales director, who told us about the motivations that led the company to adopt EPD certification and what are the advantages of this document.

Quali sono le motivazioni principali che vi hanno spinto verso la certificazione volontaria EPD?

Ci sono una serie di motivi che hanno spinto Nesite a ottenere la EPD. Intanto, la dimostrazione di impegno ambientale: con una EPD, l’azienda può dimostrare il proprio impegno per la sostenibilità ambientale e la trasparenza. Questo può rafforzare la propria reputazione e contribuire a una percezione più positiva da parte dei clienti e del pubblico. Poi ci sono certamente misurazione e miglioramento delle prestazioni ambientali: la procedura per ottenere una EPD implica un’analisi approfondita del ciclo di vita del prodotto (LCA, Life Cycle Assessment), che consente all’azienda di identificare le aree su cui intervenire per migliorare le prestazioni ambientali. Questi miglioramenti possono poi ridurre i costi a lungo termine, come quelli legati all’energia o alla gestione dei rifiuti. Conformità a normative future: anche se volontarie, le EPD possono aiutare a prepararsi per eventuali regolamenti futuri, poiché la pressione normativa tende a crescere per quanto riguarda la trasparenza ambientale e le pratiche sostenibili. Inoltre, credibilità e fiducia: l’EPD è verificata da una terza parte indipendente, il che ne aumenta la credibilità. Questo può migliorare la fiducia degli stakeholder, tra cui clienti, fornitori, investitori e autorità regolatorie. Finally, the facilitation of eco-design: the collection of detailed environmental data for certification can encourage more sustainable product design, leading to more efficient solutions in terms of materials and overall environmental impact.

For a company working in the production of raised floors, these motivations may be particularly relevant, considering that the construction industry is increasingly oriented toward sustainable products and solutions.

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

Nesite has obtained EPD certification for its entire production of raised floor panels, more specifically with calcium sulfate core, with wood conglomerate core, and with sintered material and porcelain stoneware core. This certification, which complies with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards, demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability. The EPD analysis includes the life cycle of products from “cradle to gate,” assessing the environmental impacts related to production, including raw material sourcing, the production process, and material recovery or recycling. Nesite raised floor panels are made from a variety of EPD-certified materials, each with specific characteristics based on the context of use.

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

First,access to new markets: in many markets, especially in the construction sector, the demand for materials and products with environmental certification is growing. Some public and private projects require materials with environmental product declarations to obtain certifications such as LEED or BREEAM, thus opening up new business opportunities. Then competitive advantage: being among the first to offer products with an EPD can give you a competitive advantage over competitors, allowing you to attract environmentally sensitive customers and respond to requests from companies aiming to reduce their ecological impact. Credibility and trust: the EPD is verified by an independent third party, which increases its credibility. This can improve the trust of stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, investors and regulatory authorities. For the end consumer, the benefits of purchasing EPD-certified products are manifold: from the guarantee of sustainability to transparency about production materials, to health safety and the enhancement of the product, perceived as superior. End consumers can thus benefit from products that not only meet quality and durability criteria, but are also aligned with principles of sustainability, transparency and health safety.

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

EPDItaly can certainly help spread the culture of product sustainability. As an Italian EPD certification program, it facilitates Italian companies in creating standardized and internationally recognized environmental declarations. This process makes possible transparency about the environmental performance of products throughout their life cycle. EPDItaly provides a framework for clearly communicating and verifying the environmental impact of products. This raises awareness among companies and end consumers about the environmental benefits of certifications, encouraging other companies to join to maintain competitiveness and meet the growing demand for sustainability. By offering a recognized and accredited certification, EPDItaly can incentivize companies to adopt higher environmental standards, supporting innovation toward more sustainable production processes. Transparency of environmental data facilitates product comparisons, promoting green solutions among companies in various sectors. Particularly in the construction sector, where certifications such as LEED and BREEAM require materials with environmental declarations, EPDItaly enables companies to enter the market for sustainable projects, contributing to the entire supply chain. This in turn encourages greater adoption of eco-design practices. In summary, EPDItaly not only provides a means for Italian companies to stand out in the marketplace, but also plays an active role in building a culture geared toward sustainability and transparency, making the principles of environmental responsibility more accessible and widespread.

How important do you think the presence of Italian sustainable products within a Program Operator that makes international networking one of its strengths?

The presence of Italian sustainable products within a Program Operator with a strong international network like EPDItaly is extremely significant for several reasons: being part of an international network helps Italian producers respond to the growing global demands for transparency and sustainability. The international market increasingly values companies that demonstrate commitment to sustainability, and certification by a recognized Program Operator ensures that environmental claims are valid and respected on a global scale. Certification by an accredited Italian program, with access to the international network, makes Italian products easily recognizable and reliable abroad. This encourages their dissemination in markets where environmental regulations and consumer preferences are stringent and reward transparency and international certification. The presence of sustainable Italian products in an accredited international network promotes the visibility, reliability and competitiveness of Italian companies globally, helping to spread a culture of sustainability linked to the Made in Italy brand.