For ICF-Industrie Chimiche Forestali, sustainability and packaging go hand in hand. The Group is strongly committed to the manufacturing of systems compliant with the Environmental division of the ESG parameters
Internationally renowned company specialized in the design, production and sale of cutting-edge adhesives and fabrics devised mainly for the footwear, leatherware and automotive sectors, Industrie Chimiche Forestali is fully committed to sustainability, even when it comes to the development of innovative packaging solutions for its articles, so as to markedly reduce the environmental impact throughout the packaging’s life cycle. Adhesives account for approximately 75% of ICF-Industrie Chimiche Forestali production: half of the products are solvent-based and, therefore, subject to ADR regulations with regard to road transport of hazardous goods, resulting in specific homologated packaging standards.
The aforementioned systems meet the requirements of the Environmental division of the ESG strategy (Environmental, Social and Governance) that inspire corporate activity, and allow to reach top-notch efficiency and optimization levels both logistics- and transport-wise (significant reduction of spaces and movements) as well as in terms of production processes (decrease in energy consumption rate and in the amount of waste).
Guido Cami, President & CEO di Industrie Chimiche Forestali
“Our commitment to sustainability,” stated Guido Cami, President & CEO of ICF-Industrie Chimiche Forestali, “does not concern solely in-house manufacturing operations, but the whole supply chain. ICF has embraced a broad circular economy concept and, for this reason, we have been investing resources and energies in the development of groundbreaking packaging solutions. Our aim is to increase the quantity of recycled or reused materials for both products and packaging.” As a matter of fact, several ICF articles are GRS (Global Recycle Standard) certified, thus confirming the firm’s efforts when it comes to the use of recycled materials.
More specifically, in full compliance with the guidelines set by CONAI (National Packaging Consortium), ICF-Industrie Chimiche Forestali has implemented a double packaging system that allows to reuse the external element (a 5kg iron barrel), while disposing of the internal one (made in polythene, weighing 100 grams). The external barrel can be used up to 7-8 times, thus saving 40 kg of iron for each single container. In case of lower product quantity and waterbased adhesives, the external element is in recycled cardboard (Bag in Box) rather than iron, yet the operation is the same. The company has also launched a new format, that is, regenerated and homologated packaging for the transport of solvent-based adhesives, thus meeting recycling and re-use principles.
100-litre Container Revolution, connected and filled, and the same version once compacted
Among the most the most innovative and virtuous projects, sustainability-wise, fostered by ICF, a special mention goes to the Container Revolution – the famous transportable container for water-based adhesives, now patented. The system features a tri-laminate, PVC packaging provided with an internal bag in polythene with a capacity of either 50 or 100 liters, that allows to optimize the loading and use of the adhesive via a valve and low-pressure compressed air. Moreover, said system helps markedly reduce the container volume once used, resulting in a significant decrease in transport costs and in contamination risks. When the glue is removed, the bag is not disposed of, but sent back to ICF that will refill it again, thus ensuring a safe, efficient and sustainable management of the adhesive.
ICF’s commitment to sustainable is set to continue. “We keep investing in new activities,” explained Guido Cami, “that, together with environmental safeguard, will give us the chance to achieve remarkable levels of optimization and efficiency so as to pursue the creation of shared economic value.”
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