Press Releases

Presented today at Ecomondo the content and goals of the agreement.

Estra, SEI Toscana, Acea Ambiente and eleven other companies and organizations, have signed an agreement for the promotion of research, innovation and development in the field of circular economy and environmental sustainability.
The main purposes of the five-year network contract are to implement activities aimed at improving technical and economic performance in the field of circular economy; to strengthen innovative and productive capacity at lower cost thanks to economies of scale; and to reinforce relevant know-how and professional training.
The implementation of the network program will involve, among other things, the organization of technical tables and seminars, participation in public and private tenders and in competitions compatible with the scope and goals of the network contract.
Other contract signatories include REA Unipersonal Systems, ALIA Environmental Services, Environment Networks, ASEV, the Magona Technological Pole Consortium, INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology, Tiemme, Sienambiente, Cispel Confservizi Toscana, CSA Systems and Ecology Environment Solution.
The content of the agreement named "A.I.R.E.S. Environment Innovation Research Energy Development", were presented today in the context of Ecomondo, the international trade fair on the circular economy and technological and industrial innovation.
AIRES will develop projects in the field of circular economy and environmental and energy sustainability by presenting specific innovation and research ideas already prepared for upcoming calls published by MISE, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.
Valorizing posidonia seagrass and the recovering large objects are among the subjects already studied and analyzed by the companies.

Paolo Abati, General Manager of Estra, Marco Mairaghi, CEO of SEI Toscana and Giovanni Vivarelli, Chairman of Acea Ambiente, were speakers at the launch event.

"This agreement, created with various leading companies in the area, confirms our Group's commitment to the circular economy, understood as a fundamental lever for growth and a driving force for the development of the communities in which we operate" – declared Paolo Abati, Estra General Manager – "Estra's attention to these issues is consistent with the Group's decision to strengthen its multi-utility role by entering into the integrated waste cycle management business, with the purchase of Ecolat and 1.16% of A.I.S.A’s share capital."

"This network contract is a prerequisite for the planned creation of an industrial research and development center on the circular economy, with a multidisciplinary approach – explained Marco Mairaghi, CEO of Sei Toscana – and represents an authentic novelty in Italy. We are facing a cultural revolution, imposed on us by the environmental emergency, and we must learn to work in synergy: both in the search for new technical solutions and in the valorization and growth of virtuous behavior. In collaboration with some of the signatories to the contract, we have already activated some circular economy projects that have received substantial funding from MISE. This is an important sign of a new way of working that will become crucial for the development of the entire sector, and for the quality of life in our homeland.”

"The launch of AIRES following the agreement presented today – said Giovanni Vivarelli, President of ACEA Ambiente – is an effective demonstration of how the pursuit of sustainability objectives is a shared commitment that also involves skill-sharing processes between sector players. ACEA Ambiente is committed to a constant process of technological evolution in the field of waste management. This can be seen in the recent inauguration of the new Monterotondo Marittimo plant in Grosseto, one of the largest in Central Italy, equipped with the most modern technologies for the production of compost and electricity from renewable sources. The AIRES initiative will make it possible for us all to share our respective experiences for the benefit of the entire sector."

Estra
The Estra Group – founded in 2010 – is one of the leading operators in Central Italy in the field of natural gas distribution and sales, and is also active in the sale of electricity. Currently, the 4 Estra partners (Consiag, Coingas, Intesa and Viva Servizi), represent 143 Municipalities in the provinces of Ancona, Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Macerata, Pistoia, Prato and Siena.
Through subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, the Estra Group operates mainly in Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia, Campania, Calabria and Sicily. It is active in the distribution and sale of natural gas and LPG, and in the sale of electricity, as well as in telecommunications, in the design and management of energy services and in energy production from renewable sources.

Sei Toscana
Sei Toscana is the sole operator of the integrated urban waste service in the provinces of the Southern Tuscany ATO (the provinces of Arezzo, Grosseto and Siena, and six municipalities in the province of Livorno). It combines the experience of various operators in southern Tuscany and aims to reinforce the area’s environmental heritage by managing its services in an efficient, effective and sustainable way. The territory served by Sei Toscana covers about half of the entire Region of Tuscany, including 104 municipalities (35 from the province of Arezzo, 28 from Grosseto, 6 from Livorno and 35 from Siena). This is a highly variable territory that includes mountainous, hilly and coastal areas, made up of small villages, cities of art, UNESCO heritage sites, parks and nature reserves. A precious and unique territory in which sustainable waste management plays a strategic role in environmental renewal and protection.

Acea Ambiente
Acea Ambiente is a primary Waste Management operator in Italy. Active in the sector since 2006, in particular in waste disposal and energy recovery, it also focuses on the collection and treatment of sludge and liquid waste, composting and biogas. Ever since 2006, the Acea Group's Environment industrial area has gradually developed: it has handled over 1,300,000 tons per year of treated and disposed waste, 50 million W of installed power for waste treatment plants, over 600,000 t/year of waste treated from sludge and liquid, 56,000 t/year of compost produced, and 21.9 GWh of electricity produced from biogas. A company that includes just under 400 employees, Acea Ambiente is present in five regions of Italy: Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. With recent acquisitions and shared intentions, it has further diversified its vocation. Today it also deals with recycling plastics, producing biofertilizer and biolignite and the reuse of whey for producing powdered milk and protein powder for sweets. It also contributes to the production of sampietrino cobblestones and porcelain stoneware, tiling, in collaboration with the Saxa Gres company.