Total recovery even for the most difficult waste to separate
Together for energy recovery from footwear supply chain waste
How to turn waste into industrial fuel
Always committed to sustainability, the company has chosen Recycla (Hera Group) to avoid the disposal of paints, oil emulsions and contaminated packaging, thanks to their transformation into industrial fuel for the hard to abate sectors. The process is based on planning, control and strict regulatory compliance. A 60 year tradition focused not only on quality and original craftsmanship but also on sustainability, with the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification – the leading international standard promoting the use of recycled materials in the textile sector. With a pedigree like this, Tacchificio Monti, based in Marzabotto, in the Apennines above Bologna, but with a view on international fashion markets, could certainly not treat waste management as a mere regulatory obligation. It's no surprise, then, that in the facility located in the upper, mountainous part of the Reno Valley, nearly 100% of industrial waste is recovered. There are 3 pillars in this environmental success. First of all, the choice to reuse the plastic scraps of the heel and sole moulds directly in the factory. These are collected, ground and reused as a secondary raw material. Then, the plastic (waste and packaging) that has not been reused is recovered. Finally, for hazardous waste that cannot be recovered internally and is generally destined for disposal, Tacchificio Monti has opted for energy recovery, through a partnership with Recycla, a Herambiente company (Hera Group).
Where material cannot be obtained, there is energy recovery (with Recycla)
The company produces a rather wide range of waste, as is typical of the footwear sector. Following the production cycle, we first find the waste resulting from the moulding of plastic products, such as oily emulsions used as lubricants in machinery and spray cans containing releasing or anti-rust agents.
The next step is painting, the final product enhancement phase, which includes waste paints, contaminated plastic or metal packaging, filters and absorbent material. In its plants, Recycla transforms this waste into industrial fuel, an energy source that feeds the so-called hard-to-abate sectors, energy-intensive industries where, due to technical constraints, it is more difficult to replace non-renewable sources (typically methane gas) with alternative fuels such as hydrogen or electrification. In these cases, Recycla's industrial fuel allows for a significant saving of natural resources by avoiding the use of fossil sources.
Waste recovery approaching 100%
Feeding this circular economy process requires a very strict management of waste already in the production phase, up to storage and the subsequent logistics chain. For this reason, Tacchificio Monti has relied on Recycla's ECOL360° service, a global waste management programme that provides, in addition to operational support in the field, also punctual compliance with complex environmental regulations. Starting from an analysis of the production process and the subsequent characterisation of waste, ECOL360° makes it possible to reduce (where possible) waste, ensure proper collection and storage, avoid the mixing of waste and facilitate the recovery of the material, while operating in full safety and regulatory compliance. A typical feature of the service offered by Recycla is the supply of suitable and approved containers for each type of waste, with the labelling of the waste they must contain. There are drums for paints, tanks (IBCs) for contaminated packaging and big bags for filters.
Recycla's ECOL360° service is the key for recovery and regulatory compliance
It is a real turnkey service, based on a web platform and mobile app called Ecolweb, which automates the process and allows for the electronic management of the mandatory waste loading and unloading register.
"We are proud to treat waste management not only as a bureaucratic obligation”, explains Michele Laffi, the Head of Waste Management at Tacchificio Monti. “This way we can contribute to protecting the environment, thanks to the ECOL360gradi service and a growing awareness on the subject within our company".
2023 data
