Environment, survey: 79% of Italians 'see' benefits from ecological transition

Rome, July 1 – (Adnkronos) – The ecological transition is a central pillar for the Italian economy. It is good for the environment, the climate, companies, employment and saves citizens money. Confirmation comes from the new Ipsos survey “Italy and sustainability” carried out for the XII edition of the “National Ecoforum on the circular economy” by Legambiente, Kyoto Club, Nuova Ecologia and presented today in Rome.

For 79% of those interviewed, the ecological transition brings with it benefits and positive elements. In particular, for 34% it is essential for safeguarding the planet; for 24% it is useful for lowering the cost of energy/bills for families and businesses; for 22% it is the future, companies that do not understand it will be out of the market sooner or later, and it will lead to having better products, safer for health. Attention to green jobs remains high: 40% of those interviewed believe that they will increase (the percentage rises to 61% among those who know the circular economy), while 14% think that they will decrease.

Citizens have clear ideas about renewable energy. For 47% of those interviewed, the Government must incentivize the use of clean sources, while for 36% of the sample interviewed, administrations must simplify the authorization process for renewable energy plants. The sample strongly rejects the return of nuclear power in Italy. The vast majority of the sample, 91%, does not want power plants nearby: 39% do not want them at all, while 29% want them at least 100 km away, 23% at least 50 km. And the potential benefits of producing energy from the atom would be too late (for 37% of those interviewed they could arrive in 20 years), while 25% believe that they will never be there, because the costs are incalculable. Finally, there is a wrong perception of Italian leadership regarding the circularity of production. Only 16% of the sample rightly believes that Italy's performance on the circular economy is above the European average, while 37% wrongly think that the country is below European standards.

The Ecoforum was also an opportunity to make three proposals to the Meloni Government for a truly competitive Clean Industrial Deal made in Italy that puts the circular economy at its center. In short, 1) it is necessary to speed up the authorization and implementation procedures for the interventions envisaged by the PNRR - Mission 2, Component 1, Measure 1, from the structures serving the improvement of separate waste collection to recycling plants, 2) simplify the tortuous approval process of the End Of Waste (EOW) decrees, which are essential to guarantee the recovery of secondary raw materials in a new production cycle, by introducing more accessible consultation systems. 3) strengthen environmental controls by completing the approval of the implementing decrees of Law 132 of 2016, which established the National Environmental Protection System, to prevent illegality in the waste cycle and stop unfair competition from crafty companies against those that respect the law.

"The Italian circular economy - says Stefano Ciafani, national president of Legambiente - continues to represent excellence at European level, and is strategic for the development of innovative and competitive industrial supply chains. Circular production, energy from renewable sources, ecological transition are also a driving force for new green employment and for lowering the increasingly heavy bill for the budgets of families and businesses. The Ipsos survey presented today at the Ecoforum shows that the citizens of our country are ready to take on this challenge and do not want to hear about new nuclear power plants in Italy. We are focusing on clean production, without wasting time with unfeasible solutions that have been put out of the market due to high costs. Only in this way will we strengthen the foundations of the Clean Industrial Deal made in Italy".

"The circular economy and more generally what we call the green economy do not seem to be in good health if we read the newspapers, the statements of certain politicians and even the acts of the European Commission itself which, after having launched the Green Deal, is now hesitating and even doubting whether to proceed with the Green Claims Directive, which should serve to combat the phenomenon of greenwashing. But reality continues to march in the right direction: the companies participating in our Forum best represent that part of the Italian economic system that has allowed our country to boast many European records in this sector, those companies that continue to be in full health, to grow in investments and in the construction of the plants necessary for the circular economy, to offer employment and attention to the territories in which they are located. The best demonstration that 'green' is not only good but also convenient". This is what Francesco Ferrante, vice president of the Kyoto Club, comments.

Returning to the Ipsos survey, commissioned by Legambiente, Kyoto Club, Conou, Editoriale Nuova Ecologia, regarding the correct disposal of waste, almost 8 out of 10 Italians believe that when they change the engine oil in their means of transport, the used oil is disposed of correctly, taken by the mechanic to a collection center or collected by an authorized entity. For 44% of the sample, regenerated oil has the same quality as that obtained directly from petroleum. The Italian supply chain of used mineral oils, represented by the Conou consortium, confirms its leadership in the European market. In 2024, 188 thousand tons were collected against 183 thousand in 2023 (and 181 thousand in 2022): regeneration is confirmed at 98%, in a context where the EU average stops at 61%, with a total economic impact of 73.4 million euros and an employment impact of 1,850 jobs.

On the packaging recycling front, Italy's primacy is confirmed. The latest Conai data are more than positive: in 2024, packaging recycling reached 76.7% of the volume placed on the market. Regeneration is confirmed at 98%, in a context where the EU average stops at 61%, with a total economic impact of 73.4 million euros and has given work to 1,850 people.

“Strengthening the circular economy necessarily requires targeted investments and close collaboration between businesses, institutions, associations and citizens,” explains Fabio Costarella, Deputy General Manager of Conai. “The results of packaging recycling in Italy demonstrate that the system is solid, but the next few years will be crucial to bridge territorial gaps and ensure ever-increasing quality in separate waste collection. We need to support the spread of ecodesign and incentivize forms of modulated environmental contribution that reward the real recyclability of packaging. In fact, it is necessary to consolidate the results already achieved and effectively support Italian industrial competitiveness in a green key.”

On biomethane, it is further emphasized that it is necessary to implement the plant network in those regions that today are still forced to export organic waste due to a lack of treatment capacity on their territory; a greater investment in innovative technologies to improve the efficiency of biomethane production plants; it is also necessary to enhance and integrate the production of compost more with the construction of combined biomethane and composting plants.

Regarding the recycling of absorbent products for the person, it is highlighted that the lack of specialized recycling plants is one of the main barriers that we are trying to fill in Italy thanks to the funds of the PNRR, but it is important to give continuity to the development of these technologies even after the end of the PNRR, providing for the integration of new dedicated funds in addition to those already foreseen; definitively approve the "end of waste" decree to allow the plants that will be built to be able to operate immediately in a manner consistent with the new regulatory provisions; it is necessary to provide an EPR for this type of product (PAP) in order to guarantee economic sustainability to operators in the sector, simultaneously increasing citizens' awareness of the importance of recycling diapers and improving their separate collection.

As for the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), "it is still far from the EU objectives, for this reason it is necessary to improve the collection network and treatment plants, also to reach the objectives set by the Critical Raw Materials act which aims to satisfy 25% of the consumption of critical raw materials at European level from recycling activities".

On the recycling of textile materials, then, it is important to improve the traceability of fabrics and ensure transparency along the entire production chain; it is necessary to invest in training to develop specific skills in sustainability and technological innovation; increase and disseminate in a widespread manner the practices of prevention, preparation for reuse, reuse to give a real outlet to the obligation of textile collection by municipalities that is currently struggling to take off. Also in this sector, in addition to the implementation of the plant network, it is necessary to provide for an EPR system as soon as possible.