EMAS in the paper industry
The paper industry in Italy is a sector of excellence that has maintained its attention over the years to all those issues that have been incorporated into the PNRR, in particular the issue of ecology.
The paper industry today represents a model of circular economy, because it produces a biomaterial (paper and cardboard to be recycled) with a highly energy-efficient process and a high recycling rate that makes it possible to reduce the amount of waste to be disposed of and save large amounts of energy. The paper sector, so sensitive to sustainability issues, is paying increasing attention to the environmental management systems represented by the ISO 14001 Standard and the EMAS Regulation. The latter is not yet as important for Italian paper production as ISO 14001 as the ISO 14001 environmental management systems, however the importance attributable to EMAS environmental certification for the growth of competitiveness in emerging markets should not be underestimated and overlooked. Through the analysis of significant environmental aspects, the work shows how, as a percentage of production, the consumption of resources and the environmental impacts deriving from EMAS-registered paper mills are less marked than the sector data. This supports the assessment of EMAS as an excellent environmental management system and as a valid and effective tool for reducing the environmental impacts of companies.
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