Environment and natural resources

Our commitment to promoting sustainable development

Technologically advanced and constantly modernized plants, rational use of natural resources, direct commitment with the clean energy production: these are the key challenges which have made Silvateam a leading figure in the reduction of polluting emissions and promoting sustainable development.

A commitment in line with the history of environmental protection that has been since its beginning a prerogative of our Group, and which has enabled us to anticipate, in some cases for decades, the application of the ideas promoted by the world economic powers that signed the Kyoto Protocol.

It is important to mention the strong commitment of the Group in terms of finance and research, creating and modernizing its manufacturing plants to enable them to operate self-sufficiently, with fully equipped and computerized lines, such as magnetic drive pumps which operate with powerful cyclone filters for separation of dust.

Our manufacturing plants located in Italy, Argentina and Peru operate using special emission proof systems to minimize the risks of liquids, dusts and chemical substances being dispersed into the environment, except for the aqueous steam produced during the tannin extraction process. A commitment recognized by the numerous certifications that the different divisions of the Group received since the 1990’s.

The same sensibility characterizes the actions of Silvateam in relation to the renewability of forest resources, with a production process that maximizes their use in the vegetable tanning extraction process.

An important integration is achieved by promoting the wood residues transformation - wood which has been submitted to only a water treatment in an autoclave at 100°C - in products such as semi-chemical paper, wood panels and pellets or its use for the production of clean energy for industrial plants. This allows them to become self-sufficient and start other specific projects with some of the most important operators in the sector.

Another application of the wood residues obtained from the tannin extraction process is related to compost, proved in the Research & Development centers of the Group. The fresh lignocelluloses chips constitute a useful component for structuring wet composts. These composts contain domestic and industrial food waste that can also be composted, with no other elements added, resulting in a premium quality product.