Politica ambientale

Colorificio San Marco SpA has always made environmental protection and regard for its staff’s workplaces a priority. Environmental protection is more than an image factor for Colorificio San Marco, it is a fundamental part of its philosophy, corporate commitment and industrial responsibility. For this reason Colorificio San Marco constantly seeks to improve the quality of its products and their production cycles in order to reduce the overall impact on the environment. Colorificio San Marco was one of the first to propose water-based solutions for finishes and impregnating agents, back in 1982 with the Unimarc line. Since then its research has continued with a view to removing raw materials that are hazardous to man and the environment from its formulations. In fact, lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury based pigments and compounds have not been used in formulation for many years now, nor have compounds classed as carcinogens or mutagens or those that are toxic for reproduction. In 2005 the Supernatural line was created: zero VOC products which are solvent-free and hypoallergenic, dedicated to those clients who are more aware of nature. In 2009 the Greenspirit line was established: a selection of natural, high-technology products with low environmental impact, for green building.

Products

The VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) value of San Marco products has been shown to be extensively lower than the limits provided for in the EU regulations.

The annual volume of volatile organic compounds included in paints put onto the market, for 36,300,000 kg of products sold in 2009, was approximately 2.63 %. Approximately 45% of the raw materials used for production of Colorificio San Marco paints and varnishes are components of natural origin, that do not undergo chemical processes and therefore have a lower environmental impact, both on non-renewable resources and in terms of energy consumption and air emissions.

Buying

The buying department is very aware and mindful, when seeking suppliers, to select those who put forward solutions that are as environmentally friendly as possible, both as raw materials and regarding the environmental impact of production and distribution. For this reason nearby suppliers and those carrying out research and innovation in the environmental field are preferred.

Production

Cutting edge technologies for the production and packaging of products allow most inbound raw materials to be handled by means of silos, meaning that the following benefits are obtained for people and the environment:

- reduction of direct air emissions: raw materials in powder form are managed in silos. In this way, during loading/unloading of these raw materials, volatile dust generated is conveyed using industrial filters and disposed of from there in accordance with the regulations. In addition, in this way dust is removed which may be breathed in by production personnel as the production system is closed;

- reduction in the number of lorries that need to make deliveries: reduction in the environmental impact of transport;

- reduction in the packages (paper bags) which would otherwise need to be used to pack the products. According to internal calculations, in 2009 this allowed Colorificio San Marco to save cutting down approximately 1500 trees.

Order management

Automation of the order cycle, as well as improving service to final clients by reducing the time needed to process orders, has allowed a reduction in the number of paper documents created by the company. In fact, the orders that clients place with Colorificio San Marco are collected by its agents using hand-held devices or are entered directly via the Internet by the clients themselves. These orders are then processed internally and rerouted to the nearest production plants to the final client.

Logistics

Colorificio San Marco has adapted a policy of reallocation of production orders and distribution to the nearest production plant to the final client. In this way, distance in miles between the production site and the final client is significantly reduced, cutting fuel consumption and emissions generated during the finished product shipment stage.

Waste

Process-based production management allows waste generated during the production phase to be cut to a minimum: in fact small parts of incorrect products are reutilised for other production.

For years now, Colorificio San Marco has been using a waste recycling system, not only in its plants as per the Italian regulations but also in its offices and shared areas.

Energy

Colorificio San Marco’s commitment to correct, reasoned use of energy is one of the company’s strengths. In 2007 photovoltaic panels were installed for the internal generation of electricity. In addition, sophisticated production control software allows the company to keep its electricity consumption monitored during the entire production process.

These are just some examples of concrete actions that Colorificio San Marco has been progressing over the years, following directions pertaining to safeguarding the environment and people given by the owner and the management. An increasingly constant focus on the environment and the company’s desire to be clear about these very delicate themes with its clients, have led Colorificio San Marco to make a market commitment regarding environmental product certification. This will lead it to state to the market the value of CO2 equivalent emitted during the entire product lifecycle, thus giving a quantitative value for the company’s environmental impact. Once this has been calculated, the Colorificio has set itself the objective of reducing every year the percentages of CO2 equivalent emitted during the entire product lifecycle, by working on suppliers of raw materials, formulations, production processes and distribution logistics.

Ecolabel tipo 1: il prodotto o il servizio viene certificato da un organismo indipendente e rispetta una serie di livelli soglia relativi alla prestazione ambientale. Segue la norma ISO 14024.

Ecolabel tipo 2: autodichiarazione sulla base della norma ISO 14021, non prevede una certificazione esterna.

Ecolabel tipo 3: è costituito da un documento con il quale l’azienda rende pubbliche alle parti interessate le informazioni relative alla prestazione ambientale del proprio prodotto. È sottoposto a verifica esterna e segue la norma ISO 14025.

Riscaldamento globale: aumento della temperatura della superficie terrestre causato principalmente dall’aumento della concentrazione dei gas serra dovuto all’utilizzo di combustibili fossili per usi domestici, industriali e per i mezzi di trasporto.

Riduzione dello strato di ozono: riduzione dello strato di ozono che protegge la terra dalle radiazioni ultraviolette, che possono avere impatti negativi sulla salute umana e l’ecosistema.

Smog fotochimico:  diversi tipi di inquinanti, tra cui l’ozono, generati dalla reazione chimica tra ossidi di azoto e composti organici volatili emessi in atmosfera da processi naturali e antropogenici, e la luce ultravioletta del sole. Lo smog fotochimico è causa di danni alla salute umana, all’ambiente e alle coltivazioni.

Acidificazione: variazione dell’equilibrio chimico dell’ambiente naturale dovuto all’aumento della concentrazione di elementi acidi. È causa di danni a suolo, acque di falda e superficiali, organismi biologici, ecosistemi e materiali (es. edifici).

Eutrofizzazione: livelli troppo elevati di nutrienti, tra cui azoto e fosforo, nell’ambiente sono causa di squilibrio tra le specie e una crescita elevata della vegetazione. Negli ecosistemi acquatici la crescita sproporzionata delle piante è causa di riduzione del livello di ossigeno.

Carbon footprint di un prodotto: somma delle emissioni di gas serra generate nel ciclo di vita del prodotto ed espresse in kg o tonnellate di CO2 (anidride carbonica) equivalente.

Virtual water di un prodotto: volume di acqua dolce utilizzata per realizzare un prodotto nelle diverse fasi della catena di produzione.