Toscotec Boosts its Green Performance through Sustainable Operations

Toscotec has successfully renewed its ISO 14001 certificate and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) registration for the 12th consecutive year.

 

In 2005, Toscotec began procedures to evaluate its internal processes according to the strictest international standards of environmental protection. This entailed undergoing an articulate and audited procedure, which led to the the draw up of an environmental management system and a three-year plan. Specifically for EMAS, the Italian supplier also issues an annual report, examined by private and public bodies, including external auditors and EMAS national Competent Body ISPRA. 

As a result, back in 2006, Toscotec became the first Italian supplier of tissue and paper machinery to obtain both the ISO 14001 and the EMAS registration and to this day, it remains the only one in Italy. 

Toscotec strives to step up the eco-efficiency of its operations on an annual basis. In this view, EMAS is a guarantee vis-à-vis the community and the market at large, as it ensures a comprehensive set of corporate behaviors with environmental impact is kept under serious scrutiny. 

Andrea Marzaro, Toscotec’s operations director (COO), affirmed, "Toscotec is working towards a continued and tangible improvement of its environmental performance, on a voluntary basis. Full compliance with Italian laws and regulations is the minimum prerequisite for us. We are determined to go the extra mile, pursue the highest environment standards and achieve excellence. Eco-sustainability and environmental protection are our core values and as such inspire our operations. Energy reduction, in its widest sense, is a big part of it". 

In recent years, Toscotec has partly redesigned its layout to become a fully integrated and compact production base, thereby optimizing its manufacturing efficiency. Inspired by lean production, it streamlined its logistic operations and achieved a concrete reduction of power consumption, due to the rationalization of handling and transportation processes. 

Toscotec’s headquarters currently include eight workshops, four of which dedicated to the pre-assembly of tissue and paper and board lines. Pre-assembly is one of the cornerstones of Toscotec’s quality guarantee. It aims to reduce the time, the energy and the costs of the erection at the mill and therefore achieve the performance guarantees in a shorter period. 

Marzaro also pointed out "With respect to renewable energy, since 2011 we have been generating electric power from solar energy. In 2011, we implemented the first installation of solar panels on the roofs, covering an area of approximately 1,250 m2 and generating up to 190 kWh electricity, which we give back to the grid. Phase two was carried out in 2012, across 600 m2, with an output of 100 kWh. Phase three is currently underway". 

Toscotec is committed to protecting the environment at local level through its operations, and globally through the design and manufacture of its cutting-edge technology. The Italian manufacturer manages both direct environmental aspects - pertaining to its own operations, like waste, emissions, use of raw materials, energy and water resources, etc. - and indirect aspects.

 

With respect to its indirect environmental aspects, Toscotec’s technical director Paolo Raffaelli pointed out, "through our advanced design and manufacturing process, we have achieved a significant reduction of the environmental impact generated by our machinery and process, confirmed by field data and positive customer feedback. Our engineering approach aims to enable paper mills to improve their overall performance, by reducing the need of fresh water, electricity and thermal energy, and minimizing their atmospheric emissions, including noise".