Who chose EPDItaly tells its story: MC Prefabbricati S.p.A.

Andrea Meroni, Technical Director MC Prefabbricati S.p.A.

For more than 50 years, MC Prefabbricati has been a benchmark in the market for precast reinforced concrete structures. The motto “We industrialize architecture” reveals the innovative soul of the company, which since 1970 has been investing in the continuous improvement of its production processes and in obtaining state-of-the-art structures in terms of design and performance.

With more than 200,000 square meters of production area, divided between the sites of Cardano al Campo (VA) and Bellinzago Novarese (NO), MC Prefabbricati is able to directly manage all the construction phases of a building project, satisfying customers’ needs in the best possible way.

The Lombard company decided to rely on EPDItaly to obtain EPD certification for the entire range of its structural elements.

In this regard, we interviewed Andrea Meroni, Technical Director, who told us about the reasons why the company decided to adopt EPD certification and what are the advantages of such a document.

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

Our decision to obtain EPD certification was driven by a desire for transparency and our commitment to conscious management of resources and production processes. It also provides concrete and verifiable data on the environmental impact of our products, supporting our customers’ purchasing decisions with objective and reliable information.

In our vision, prefabricated construction must combine innovative solutions with sound knowledge and management of the logic of prefabrication, in order to create increasingly sustainable and state-of-the-art buildings, capable of integrating the natural advantages of precast concrete and prestressed reinforced concrete with the new needs of customers and designers.

In this context, CAM and EPD certifications are key elements of our commitment, aimed at constructing prefabricated buildings that meet the requirements of energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, always meeting the highest industry standards.

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

All of our product families have obtained EPD certification. MC Prefabbricati has chosen to certify the entire range of its structural elements, through an LCA study developed in collaboration with Italian and European universities, as part of a project born out of the desire to provide a solid benchmarking reference to our interlocutors and to encourage the involvement of suppliers and the entire supply chain.

The sector is in full evolution and calls for continuous improvement: we have decided to lay solid foundations also in the field of sustainable prefabricated construction because only through a global vision is it possible to identify critical points and adopt solutions to improve the environmental sustainability of our products, but also to support our customers with the professionalism and seriousness that are part of our DNA.

Our precast concrete products are developed with a view to continuous improvement, to meet the needs of efficiency, durability and functionality in building projects of all kinds; the EDs obtained add value to our approach and provide an objective assessment of the environmental impact of each product, considering its complete life cycle, from production to end-of-life management.

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

The publication of EPDs has enabled us to increase the transparency of our practices and provide our customers with clear and verifiable information about the environmental impact of our products. The main benefits include increased confidence on the part of our customers, who now have access to certain data regarding our construction solutions, supported in their design choices, and facilitated when adhering to sustainability protocols such as LEED and BREEAM with solutions and advice also from a sustainability perspective.

For the end consumer, EPD offers a guarantee of quality and compliance with recognized environmental standards, enabling them to make informed choices in line with their preferences and values.

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

Yes, I think EPDItaly is playing a very important role in promoting a sustainability culture based on transparency and reliability of environmental information. The EPD platform allows companies to demonstrate their commitment in a tangible way, helping consumers and other industry players make informed decisions. This helps create a market environment where the most sustainable solutions are rewarded and encourages the evolution toward more responsible practices globally.

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

The presence of Italian sustainable products within an international network such as EPDItaly is fundamental. Being part of an international system allows one to compare oneself with global standards and to actively participate in the movement toward sustainable building, through a broader and more conscious vision. It also allows Italian companies to be competitive in foreign markets, which are increasingly sensitive to sustainability and transparency of environmental information.