Sustainability is in the DNA of Eural Gnutti. Since the 1990s, the company has been developing alloys made from the highest possible percentage of post-consumer materials, in an age when the industry still favoured the use of primary materials.
Today, the amount of recycled material has reached 74%, with some alloys reaching up to 95% for the same performance. Attention to the environment has also declined in the formulation of lead-free alloys, developed at a time when the eco-toxicity of lead was not yet a central issue.
Eural Gnutti believed early in the importance of developing highly workable, lead-free materials, so much so that they became a new international standard. Today, this vision continues to guide every strategic choice: sustainability is not just a goal to strive for, but a fundamental concept that inspires the company every day in its technological leadership of ever more efficient and responsible solutions. The company pursues its development journey with determination, and among its strategic initiatives, great attention is paid to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, to assess and optimise the environmental impact throughout the life cycle of its future alloys. An approach that made possible the integration of ESG aspects into the daily management of the production processes.
Starting from materiality assessment, several environmental issues of particular relevance to Eural Gnutti emerged, such as waste management, atmospheric emissions management and circular economy. Regarding the first two environmental aspects, the company, on the one hand, succeeds in minimising the waste generated, reducing its production at source, and, on the other, reintroducing it into the production cycle, maximising its recyclability. And, with its free-cutting alloys, it ensures less stress on tools in machines that process the bars, potentially reducing the waste generated by their wear and tear. This approach not only optimises resources but also reinforces aluminium’s role as a strategic material for decarbonisation, contributing to the adoption of clean technologies and the transition to a low-emission economy.
In 2024, Eural Gnutti started the process of ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) certification according to the Performance ASI standard. The latter requires the adoption of 11 principles including the management of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible use of water resources, protection of biodiversity and respect for labour and human rights. The ASI Performance Standard V3 certification was officially obtained in May 2025 for both production plants (Rovato and Pontevico). Additionally, in 2024, Eural Gnutti purchased certified “green” electricity from Energy providers. 52% of the Energy consumed at the Rovato plant is 100% green certified, i.e. fed into the grid from renewable sources.
Eural Gnutti cuts CO₂ intensity by 49% and strengthens emissions monitoring
Among the ESG topics, identified as priorities for the company and emerged from the materiality assessment, the focus is on the management of atmospheric emissions, proper waste handling, and the adoption of circular economy strategies. In this regard, the company’s environmental policy is based on preventing soil, air, and water pollution, while optimizing energy performance.
Eural Gnutti has implemented a structured system for reporting both direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is working to extend its monitoring to Scope 3 emissions, calculated across the supply chain. In 2023, the CO₂ emission intensity from Scope 1 + Scope 2 — expressed in tons of CO₂ per unit of revenue — was reduced by 49% compared to 2020 levels.
The company is also subject to the Emission Trading legislation (Italian Legislative Decree 47/2020) for both the Rovato plant and the Pontevico foundry, which are classified as Small Emitters based on the 2021–2023 average emissions, kept below 25,000 tons of CO2 per year. Regarding the emission of air pollutants, abatement systems are active on all channelled emissions, ensuring full compliance with authorised limits.
Finally, the company’s waste management approach includes secure storage with the use of containment basins, and, for industrial water discharges, separate treatment systems with purification and ongoing monitoring.
Regenerative thinking: how Eural Gnutti reduces emissions with smart recycling
Within the framework of the circular economy and efficient resource management, minimising waste and promoting the reuse of both raw materials and production scrap is essential. In this perspective, one of Eural’s primary objectives is to maximize the internal recirculation and reuse of process water, particularly from cooling systems and pickling plants. In line with regenerative economy principles, Eural pays particular attention to the recycling of scrap and production waste.
Currently, the company uses 47% pre-consumer recycled material and 27% post-consumer recycled material — a choice that leads to a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to processes that rely solely on virgin raw materials, as well as greater energy savings. More specifically, reusing aluminium requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium, and its use results in CO₂ emissions that are seven times lower than those generated by primary aluminium.
In Eural Gnutti, sustainability translates into concrete, measurable, and long-term-oriented actions,” says Gianfranco Cazzago, the company’s Head of Sustainability, who continues: “Among the most significant initiatives are also the installation of 10,417 photovoltaic panels at the Rovato site, covering approximately 23% of the plant’s electricity needs, and the use of electric and natural gas furnaces for heat treatments, aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.”
For more articles like this, visit our Sustainability channel.