The largest OEM of the automotive industry have been asking themselves for some years the question of how to become more sustainable.
They identified a very pragmatic approach that could be of great interest to the furniture / kitchen industry.
The first question they asked themselves is how to choose their suppliers to ensure that their commitment to sustainability is also shared by them. In other words how to certify the Supply Chain in terms of ESG (Environmental Social Governance). Among the most important certifications chosen for this purpose is ECOVADIS, rating companies by an ESG score. EcoVadis assessments are based on international sustainability standards (Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact, ISO 26000) and overseen by a scientific committee of CSR and supply chain experts.
Objective: in general by 2025 all suppliers of the automotive industry must have reached at least the “Silver” medal and in 2030 “Gold”
The second question was what goal and how to reduce the Carbon Footprint. The OEMs started with the goals, typically by 2025 -50% carbon footprint and by 2030 carbon neutrality. To achieve these ambitious goals it was first of all necessary:
- Calculate the current Carbon Footprint
- Identify the main sources of CO2
- Implement an improvement and compensation plan
Already in point 1 there are many questions. What standard method to use? How to get input data from suppliers?
For this reason they have chosen the reference standard ISO EN 14067 which indicates how to calculate for each product the consequent Carbon Footprint according to different parameters.
Collecting data from hundreds of suppliers related to ECOVADIS and the Carbon Footprint of thousands of individual products is a huge work but shows their seriousness and commitment to build a more sustainable future.
ICRO has followed this model and in 2021 achieved the Silver medal in Ecovadis four years ahead of the target, resulting in the top 20% of the companies in the sector evaluated in terms of sustainability.
In addition ICRO published, in 2022 first in the sector in collaboration with Carbon Footprint Italy and EDP Italia, a PCR (Product Category Rule) regarding paint products for furniture and in general for interiors. In fact, in the literature there was no unique method available on these products / applications in accordance with the ISO EN14067 standard.
Find out more -> PCR 2021-0005 Paints
Our hope is that the Key Opinion Leaders of the Italian furniture / kitchen world, as by the German and French OEMs, will follow and impose a similar path to the furniture industry to try to give substance to the sustainability of which we hear so much talk.
Francesco Moltrasio
CEO Office – Project Manager
ICRO COATINGS SPA
