Climate Change Data

Iris Ceramica Group S.p.A.

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017-2018, 2022)

Reporting Period: 2017-2018

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:168,691 tCO2e (2018)
Scope 1 Emissions:165,983 tCO2e (2018)
Scope 2 Emissions:2,708 tCO2e (2018)
Total Energy Consumption:3,715,701 GJ (2018)
Water Consumption:26.9 l/m² withdrawn, 4.3 l/m² discharged (2018)
Waste Generated:2.6 t/m² (2018)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Economic responsibility
  • Environmental performance
  • Social performance
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Achieved ZERO EMISSIONS (first and only company in the industry at the time)
  • Significant investments in machinery to reduce energy consumption
  • Implementation of ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems), ISO 9001 (Quality System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) certifications.
  • Developed Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ technology

Social Achievements

  • High employee seniority and limited turnover
  • Workplace health and safety management system compliant with BS OHSAS 18001:2007
  • Significant social contributions and sponsorships totaling approximately €489,370 in 2018
  • Support for various community initiatives (e.g., scholarships, donations to charities)

Governance Achievements

  • Transparent and detailed sustainability reporting in accordance with GRI Standards
  • Risk management process integrated into Quality Management System

Climate Goals & Targets

Short-term Goals:
  • Revision and circulation of Code of Ethics to all Group members
  • Continued commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and eliminating VOCs
  • Creation of a foundation for architectural and design culture and solidarity
  • Creation of a Family Day for employees and their families
  • Continued sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement

Environmental Challenges

  • Complex Group structure with numerous companies spread throughout the world subject to diverse legislative requirements
  • Slowdown in the Italian ceramic tile industry in 2018 due to various economic and political factors
Mitigation Strategies
  • Adapted data collection process to various companies and country-specific laws
  • Focus on creating cutting-edge, original products to maintain competitive advantage
  • Risk management process to anticipate and manage potential problems

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Preference for local suppliers
  • Supplier approval based on ISO 9001 criteria and sustainability assessment
  • Use of secondary raw materials and recycled packaging materials

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Certifications: ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EMAS, OHSAS 18001, GREENGUARD, GREENGUARD Gold, EPD, LEED, NSF/ANSI 51 – 2014, CCC

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ technology
  • Large-format porcelain stoneware slabs

Awards & Recognition

  • Innovation Award at the 21st edition of EY Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Copernico40 Prize at the 2017 Awards of Il Quotidiano Immobiliare
  • Community Ambassador for the Emilia Romagna region

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:162,370 tonnes of CO2 (Scope 1 + Scope 2 Market Based)
Scope 1 Emissions:134,808 tonnes of CO2
Scope 2 Emissions:27,562 tonnes of CO2 (Market Based)
Renewable Energy Share:50% (Italy)
Total Energy Consumption:3,007,141 GJ
Water Consumption:417 ML
Waste Generated:48,204 tons

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental
  • Social
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced energy consumption by -4% from 2020 to 2022.
  • Obtained Cradle to Cradle Certified ® Silver for Italian-made surfaces.
  • Achieved EcoVadis Sustainability Rating Silver.
  • Implemented a major rainwater reuse system in German branch.
  • Launched project for a green hydrogen-powered ceramics factory.
  • Reduced total emissions of particulate matter, volatile organic substances and nitrogen oxide by 16% from 2020 to 2022.
  • Saved 18,899 tonnes of CO2 during 2022.

Social Achievements

  • Delivered almost 4,000 hours of training in Italian sites.
  • Total donations of €382,000 made by the Foundation.
  • Ranked top Italian company in the sector where women are happiest to work.
  • Launched the “Quarto Fuoco” project with ANFFAS Sassuolo.
  • 100% return rate for employees taking parental leave.
  • Implemented a preventive medical examination program for early skin cancer diagnosis for employees and their families.

Governance Achievements

  • Adopted an Organisation, Management and Control Model (pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree - D.lgs. 231 of 2001).
  • Adopted a Code of Ethics.
  • Implemented GranitiFiandre Anti-Corruption Code.
  • Adopted a Supplier Code of Conduct.
  • Began works to comply with UNI Pdr 125/2022 (guidelines for the gender equality management system).
  • GranitiFiandre obtained a three-star Legality Rating from AGCM.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Zero-emissions production well ahead of 2030.
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • Significant increases in production costs.
  • Supply chain disruptions.
  • Inflation.
  • Shortages of raw materials.
  • Energy crisis.
  • High energy consumption in ceramic production.
  • Climate-altering emissions generated by firing.
  • Costs for emission reduction technologies.
  • Low level of motivation and engagement due to a lack of welfare programmes and work-life balance.
  • Costs and reputational impacts linked to work-related injuries and accidents.
  • High employee turnover (55% at Stonepeak in 2022).
  • Difficulty in attracting and retaining talents due to lack of specialized industrial profiles in the labor market.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Reviewing business models and lifestyles to ensure greater environmental and social sustainability.
  • Investing in manufacturing to innovate plants and reduce environmental impacts.
  • Implementing energy saving measures (e.g., modifications to slip sieving systems).
  • Installing a photovoltaic field in Castellarano to self-produce green energy.
  • Implementing a green hydrogen-powered ceramics factory.
  • Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) to optimize logistics.
  • Creating a single Group logistics hub to reduce fuel consumption.
  • Improving data collection and processing on product transportation.
  • Launching a Web App linked to management software for production planning.
  • Implementing a factory scheduler to increase process efficiency.
  • Implementing corporate welfare systems for employees (e.g., fitness platform, preventive medical examinations).
  • Developing processes to provide employees with a performance management-based career path (Stonepeak).

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Preference for local suppliers
  • Monitoring of suppliers' conformity to sustainability standards
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Exclusion of suppliers not included in the White list.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Energy crisis
  • Regulatory changes
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products
  • Green hydrogen-powered factory

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards (2021 edition)

Certifications: EMAS, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001, LEED, BREEAM, Greenguard, Greenguard Gold, EPD®, NSF/ANSI 51 – 2014, Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Active Surfaces®
  • Hypertouch
  • Design Your Slabs (DYS)
  • Seventyonepercent

Awards & Recognition

  • Cradle to Cradle Certified ® Silver
  • EcoVadis Sustainability Rating Silver
  • High ESG performance assessment from Cerved Rating Agency
  • NKBA Innovative Showroom Awards
  • Digital Star 2022/23
  • Green Star 2022
  • Corporate Heritage Awards for Quarto Fuoco project
  • Italy’s Best Employers for Women 2022
  • High Honour for Budgetary Performance at Premio Industria Felix