Thanks to continuous investment in projects and solutions with a low environmental footprint, we are contributing to reducing the environmental impact of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

• In 2018, we completed the installation of the first rooftop solar installation at Safilo’s production facility in Suzhou (China). In 2020, the system saved 6,929 GJ of electricity, which helped us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 1,201 tonnes.

• In 2019, we implemented several energy-saving projects at our headquarters in Padua (revised lighting system, new air conditioning systems and other measures).

• In 2020, we reduced energy consumption by 14.4%, saving 15.9% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019.

• In December 2020, we obtained certification for our effective energy management system and improvements in energy performance, in compliance with the ISO 50001:2018 standard, at all the Group’s Italian sites.

Promoting responsible use of water resources.

• In 2019, we completed the installation of a new water purification system at our Italian facility in Longarone, which led to a significant reduction in water withdrawals from the supply network, thanks to more than 90% recycling and reuse of water.

• Since 2019, we have implemented maintenance, monitoring and control activities at our Italian plants in Longarone, Santa Maria di Sala and Bergamo with the aim of optimising water supply sources and making withdrawals more efficient.

• In 2020 overall water withdrawals were 15% lower compared to 2019; this equals the volume of eight Olympic swimming pools.

We put innovation and creativity at the service of environmentally sustainable solutions. One example is the launch in 2020 of the first eyewear collections made of Econyl® regenerated nylon, a plastic material with a low environmental impact as it is obtained by regenerating fishing nets, carpets and fabrics.

From 2022, we will also introduce Eastman’s Acetate Renew and Tritan™ Renew into our sun and optical eyewear collections. These are two innovative polymers with the same technical and aesthetic qualities as traditional materials, but with the added benefit of environmental sustainability.

Another environmentally sustainable action taken by Safilo relates to point-of-sale materials. Almost all of our POS materials are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, which ensures that they are sourced from sustainably-managed forests offering environmental, social and economic benefits. In addition to seasonal point-of-sale materials made of FSC-certified cardboard, we have introduced a range of semi-permanent materials made of biodegradable plastics and 100% recycled plexiglass. With an increasingly digital focus, we have reduced the use of paper and primary resources, both in offices and factories.

Sustainable mobility contributes to a significant reduction in pollutants, resulting in improved air quality. After introducing electric vehicles into our company fleet (2016), we are now switching to hybrid vehicles (Lexus and Toyota).

With a view to transition to a circular economy, Safilo is committed to simplifying and eliminating waste. Examples of selected focus areas are warehousing, returns, model simplification, lean production and logistics flow management, as well as aiming for a healthy balance between digitalisation and the need for prototypes and product samples.