Italcer Group at the forefront of sustainability

From a new patent for eliminating CO2 in production processes to the installation of a 100% electric kiln at the Equipe Cerámicas facility in Spain.

In September 2024, Italcer Group took another step towards achieving its 2030 energy-saving targets with the installation of a 100% electric kiln at the Equipe Cerámicas facility in Onda, Castellón, Spain.

A benefit company committed to decarbonising its production processes, Italcer collaborated with Jaume I University of Castellón and Systemfoc on this project, which is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 1,500 tonnes annually.

The aim of the new kiln is to completely eliminate CO₂ emissions during the firing stage without affecting the technical and economic sustainability of the products and represents the first step towards achieving the CO₂ reduction targets of the 2030 Agenda.

The project addressed two key challenges simultaneously: first, the complete electrification of the firing stage, replacing the gas kiln with a 100% electric kiln powered almost entirely by renewable energy; second, the development of a new raw material formulation to minimise emissions deriving from thermal decomposition during the firing process. The project also involves optimising the raw material formulation to create a product with excellent technical and aesthetic performance that adapts perfectly to the transition from gas to electric kiln firing technology.

“The start-up of this electric kiln is the first step in our strategy of fully electrifying the production process and entirely eliminating CO₂ emissions,” said Rogelio Vila Rodriguez, General Manager of Equipe Cerámicas. “An electric kiln offers numerous advantages over fuel-burning kilns powered by a blend of green hydrogen and natural gas, including immediate start-up without the need for gas infrastructure, reduced energy consumption and the potential for energy autonomy if paired with electricity generation and self-consumption systems.”

Founded in 1999 and acquired by the Italcer Group in 2021, Equipe Cerámicas has over 350 employees and has established itself as a global leader in the small-format floor and wall tile sector. It markets its products worldwide and has a particularly strong presence in Europe and America.

Alongside the Equipe Cerámicas project, Italcer has achieved another milestone in terms of sustainability. After years of research, the Italian ceramic group has designed and patented a cutting-edge plant to capture and transform CO₂ emissions from its production facilities, as well as convert and recover other organic and inorganic pollutants present.

According to Italcer’s CEO Graziano Verdi, implementing these projects at an industrial scale is a vital and tangible step in the group’s journey towards decarbonisation.

“Thanks to the extensive use of electricity from renewable sources, we are achieving a substantial reduction in direct CO₂ emissions,” Verdi explains. “At the same time, natural gas will remain an essential energy component throughout the ecological transition, so our newly obtained patent for CO₂ capture technology will enable us to promote sustainable, eco-friendly ceramic products through innovative and efficient production processes based on the principles of the circular economy.”

The Italcer Group invested €5 million in social and environmental projects in 2023 alone. These efforts have been widely recognised and earned the company the Sustainability Award 2024, with Italcer taking first place in the “TOP 100 ENVIRONMENTAL>250”, in other words the top 100 companies in the “environment” category with revenues exceeding €250 million.

The Sustainability Award, now in its fourth edition, honours Italian companies that have excelled in addressing climate challenges, turning them into opportunities for innovation. The ranking is compiled by Kon Group and ELITE (Euronext Group), with Milan Polytechnic serving as the institutional scientific partner.

All participating companies, including Italcer, receive ESG ratings from ALTIS Advisory – a spin-off of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – and RepRisk as technical partner.

At the award ceremony held on 17 October in Milan, CEO Graziano Verdi emphasised the importance of conducting research and development projects and, above all, implementing them at an industrial scale to meet the CO₂ reduction targets set by the 2030 Agenda.

“Our commitment to sustainability also extends to our value chain and the communities where we operate,” he said. “It is a challenging journey that demands a forward-looking strategic vision, but it is highly motivating as it enables us to respond responsibly to the needs of the market and the communities we serve.”

Italcer Group, a leading player in the Italian ceramic industry, is controlled by investment funds Mindful Capital Partners, Miura Partners and Capital Dynamics. Serving 15,000 customers worldwide and employing over 1,100 people, the group encompasses high-end brands and companies such as Fondovalle, La Fabbrica-AVA, Elios Ceramica, Devon&Devon, Ceramica Rondine, Bottega, Equipe Cerámicas, Opificio Ceramico and Terratinta.