Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, in relation to the IN.S.E.T. project (Industrial Symbiosis capacity building for Enterprises and related actors through a disruptive, digital and pragmatic Training and awareness approach), led by the University of Strasbourg, interviewed Simone Mosconi, Head of Management Systems and Health and Safety at Work Area of Confindustria Ceramica, to assess whether Industrial Symbiosis represents a concrete competitive lever for the ceramic production cluster.
The investigation highlighted tangible benefits that the adoption of Industrial Symbiosis practices can offer to enterprises, particularly:
- process and product innovation;
- strengthening of business competitiveness;
- implementation of sustainable development models.
IN.S.E.T. is a European project that aims to achieve three main objectives:
- To raise awareness and inform the production system and territorial governance actors about the opportunities to activate intra- and inter-company Industrial Symbiosis initiatives, as a model for concrete change in the productive business model.
- To develop the capacity to activate, manage and grow a network of local actors, to maintain the principle of Industrial Symbiosis stable over time in collaborations between enterprises.
- To outline policy briefs to sustainably support the commitment of all territorial economy actors towards production models that favor the continuous use of resources through by-product recycling.
Through these actions, IN.S.E.T. aims to consolidate Industrial Symbiosis as an operational tool for a more competitive, innovative and sustainable industry.
Ceramic Sector Between Tradition and Innovation: The Commitment of the Italian Ceramic Industry to Ensure the Sustainability of Ceramic Products and Foster the Competitive Revival of the Sector
The ceramic sector cluster in Emilia Romagna is a concrete example of Industrial Symbiosis application to enable the territorial system to remain competitive, optimizing the use of materials and by-products.
Confindustria Ceramica has supported over the years the gradual change of production systems that have led ceramic companies to adopt a virtuous, competitive and sustainable business model.
INTERVIEW
1) Can you describe the ceramic cluster in Emilia Romagna, and Confindustria Ceramica's commitment over the years to support a change towards sustainability of production systems?
The territory of Emilia-Romagna, and in particular the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, is characterized by ceramic tile production. In Sassuolo, in the heart of the "Ceramic District," Confindustria Ceramica is headquartered - the national Association that represents in Italy, Europe and the World, producers of ceramic tiles, bricks, refractories, sanitary ware, tableware and technical ceramics.
In the district, ceramic production began as early as 1700 and, favored by a combination of positive factors (presence of raw materials, water availability, artisanal culture, capital from agriculture, and infrastructure system) has developed to the present day. Over the years, also thanks to the presence in the territory of ceramic technology suppliers and ACIMAC, the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics, technological innovations have enabled ceramic industries to increase and improve the efficiency of production processes.
Confindustria Ceramica has promoted and promotes initiatives to foster the growth and progress of ceramic industries. The effective collaborative activities with ASLs (Local Health Units) and Business Associations and Trade Union Organizations, adopted by the ceramic sector for many years, as well as collaboration with Research Institutions and associated companies has led to the publication of studies and Guidelines that have improved the sustainability of the production process and ceramic product while ensuring the protection of workers' health and safety.
Starting from 2016, the Association has supported and promoted the development of the sectoral Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to certify and express the environmental performance of Italian Ceramics.
During 2024, the sectoral EPD, based on an LCA study (life cycle analysis) that referenced environmental data from 87 production sites of companies (associated with Confindustria Ceramica) representing over 82% of Italian production, was updated.
At the beginning of 2025, Confindustria Ceramica also launched the new "Ceramic of Italy" campaign that revolves around the concept of responsibility: a value that has distinguished Italian ceramic producers for years with targeted actions to reduce environmental impact, create a sustainable production cycle, and protect the safety and well-being of employees.
Last but not least, it is important to emphasize the contribution made by Ceramicolor, the National Association of Ceramic Color Manufacturers and Metal Oxide Producers, which includes Italian and multinational companies producing frits, glazes, colorants and auxiliaries for ceramics, inorganic pigments and metal oxides.
The presence in the district of industrial realities serving ceramics has contributed to the growth and development of the district and the efficiency of the production process with social, economic and environmental benefits for the community as well.
2) How does industrial symbiosis impact the ceramic production cycle?
Over the years, a strategic business vision, also favored by Confindustria Ceramica and the presence in the ceramic district of the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics and collaboration with the National Association of Ceramic Color Manufacturers and Metal Oxide Producers, has enabled careful and optimized management of the production process.
The ceramic tile sector reinvests on average 8-10% of revenue in research and development, reflecting a strong propensity for innovation. Investments focus mainly on sustainability and automation to reduce environmental impact and improve production efficiency.
For many years, ceramic companies have adopted logics typical of "closed-loop" systems and the "circular economy," favoring the recovery and reuse of waste/refuse and by-products. In this perspective are the recovery and reuse of process water and ceramic sludge, hot fumes generated in kilns for product firing, "green" tiles (semi-finished awaiting firing) and "fired" tiles, and powders generated in cutting, squaring and grinding operations of ceramic products; products that are recovered internally or sold to district companies to be reinserted into their production processes.
Furthermore, in "full-cycle" ceramic companies, so-called "spray-dried powder" is produced (a fine powder ideal for pressing and forming tiles) which is used internally and/or distributed/sold to other "partial-cycle" companies where production starts from the spray-dried powder pressing phase.
The production process of porcelain stoneware tiles remains substantially uniform across all 122 production facilities represented by Confindustria Ceramica (85.46% of ceramic tile production is concentrated in the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia and over 94% in the Emilia-Romagna Region - data updated to 2024) employing over 18,000 direct workers.
In the ceramic district, Industrial Symbiosis is a strategy, applied for many years, that has involved ceramic producers, technology suppliers, raw material suppliers and their respective trade associations, enabling the valorization of ceramic products by creating a circular and more competitive economy.
3) In your opinion, how necessary is it to support Industrial Symbiosis logics in production systems? Does Industrial Symbiosis have a future for the local economy? Three years from now, how do you evaluate the trend in by-product management - could it increase or experience a slowdown? What additional areas of Industrial Symbiosis application could be explored (e.g., recovery of aggregates from construction to regenerate and/or reintroduce them into production systems...)
The initiatives identified by the European Union within the Green Deal require increasing attention and a business strategy increasingly oriented towards the circular economy. Over the years, Italian ceramics has made important steps forward to optimize and improve the efficiency of the production process. In the near future, the need to contain waste by valorizing by-products, even from other sectors, will be a challenge that will concern the entire European production context.
The results achieved to date have also been contributed to by the sustainable development policies identified by the Emilia-Romagna Region which, since 2015 with Regional Law No. 16, has identified objectives for waste reduction by promoting the activation of coordination to define, for certain types of sectors, the types of by-products generated in the production process.
In ceramics, four types of by-products have been determined: powders and pastes from green ceramics, powders from fired ceramics, green ceramic formats (intact or fragments), and fired ceramic formats (intact or fragments); this has contributed to achieving a recovery of approximately 25,000 tons of by-products identified for the sector each year. In the ceramic process, materials from glass recycling bins are also recovered, albeit with limited volumes, and one company in particular is recovering fired materials from the sanitary industry from the Civita Castellana district.
In this sense, Italian ceramics already looks to the future. Through research activities carried out by the Centro Ceramico (Center for Research and Experimentation for the Ceramic Industry founded in 1976 and managed by a University Consortium whose partners are the University of Bologna, Confindustria Ceramica and the National Association of Production and Service Work Cooperatives), regional, national and European research projects are underway to study new compositions and new mixtures for ceramic products; the objective is to evaluate the possibility of integrating an ever-increasing share of recycled materials among ceramic raw materials.
Recent studies conducted in collaboration with UNIMORE and UNIBO, and promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, have highlighted the versatility of ceramic products that lend themselves to using a wide range of raw materials; during firing (above 1200°C) the minerals used melt allowing material consolidation and the formation of a solid structure.
However, further verification and studies are necessary to evaluate and understand the physical, chemical and mechanical properties and characteristics of new mixtures and assess compliance with product standards as well as possible large-scale industrial feasibility.
4) In your opinion, what can be the main barriers and what opportunities for further development of IS in the sector? What needs to be done to exploit opportunities? What to overcome barriers?
Although increasingly relevant, the topic of Industrial Symbiosis has not yet fully entered business management logic; in some large companies and some districts, production needs have favored the development of synergies and resource exchanges between companies.
The lack of awareness of the topic, poor mutual knowledge of the needs of other production realities, including fears of having to modify and revolutionize their production processes to favor the exchange of "waste" (resources) between companies, represent barriers to Industrial Symbiosis development. Added to these are the bureaucratic complexities related to the necessary involvement of multiple actors (companies, public entities, universities) that require time, compliance with procedures and pre-existing regulations, not always compatible with production needs.
The opportunities that can derive from Industrial Symbiosis include, first of all, the possibility of obtaining "revenue" from waste valorization with a reduction in disposal costs of generated waste. A reorganization of the production process can also lead to improvement and efficiency of resources used with consequent positive impacts in terms of business competitiveness and environmental benefits for the community.
Finally, positive external impacts should not be underestimated; business commitment to sustainable practices can lead to improved external company vision, strengthening market image, increasing customer, supplier and stakeholder confidence, and facilitating access to new markets and customers.
To best exploit the opportunities offered by Industrial Symbiosis, it is essential to promote conscious business management vision; however, it is also necessary to foster and implement meeting networks, including virtual ones, between companies that encourage the "supply and demand" of required/offered "waste" products.
It is also necessary to develop a structured set of clear and precise rules that define the practices to follow for conscious exchange and practical application of Industrial Symbiosis objectives.
It is also essential to overcome, by simplifying them, regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles, identify sources of support for companies in the initial implementation phases, as well as promote training and awareness-raising on the matter, fostering a cultural change that sees recovery as an investment and not as an expense.
In the ceramic sector, the intrinsic needs to limit consumption and waste (energy, gas, water, raw materials) to ensure product competitiveness have favored the adoption, for many years, of logics typical of Industrial Symbiosis, creating a circular and more competitive economy with social, economic and environmental benefits also for the community.
5) Can you describe an exemplary case of IS application in the ceramic sector that has generated business improvement, collaboration between companies, and impact on the local economy?
The Ceramic District represents a concrete example of how Industrial Symbiosis can transform the concept of "waste" into a resource, promoting sustainability and creating a more efficient and competitive local economy.
In the Ceramic District, companies have initiated systems for recovery and valorization of production waste and process water, generating a virtuous circle that allows reducing costs, creating new business opportunities, promoting sustainability and strengthening the local economy through resource sharing and creating a more efficient supply chain.
Waste and scraps of "green" or "fired" products generated by ceramic companies, instead of being disposed of as waste, are recovered within the district's ceramic companies (in 2024, 11.2% of raw material needs were covered using recycled material). Process water is recovered and recycled through purification systems and re-introduced into the production cycle without being discharged into the network (in 2024, 48% of water needs were covered by wastewater). Some solid by-products, such as filtration sludge, are recovered and used as secondary raw materials in other ceramic production contexts or other industries.
Symbiosis has also created business opportunities for companies that have specialized in the recovery, treatment and resale of these by-products, contributing to the territory's economic growth. The reduction of waste and efficient use of resources have contributed to making the District more sustainable, improving its reputation and attractiveness.
An extension of the Industrial Symbiosis concept, no less important than the previous one, is represented by the collaborative model that has developed in the District for over 20 years; the established practice of sharing Memoranda of Understanding between Confindustria Ceramica, the Emilia-Romagna Region, ACIMAC and Trade Union Organizations has enabled the implementation of prevention strategies to contain and combat the accident phenomenon in the sector and ensure practical application of regulations on the matter and a balance between health and safety protection and business competitiveness.
Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, in relation to the IN.S.E.T. project (Industrial Symbiosis capacity building for Enterprises and related actors through a disruptive, digital and pragmatic Training and awareness approach), led by the University of Strasbourg, interviewed Simone Mosconi, Head of Management Systems and Health and Safety at Work Area of Confindustria Ceramica, to assess whether Industrial Symbiosis represents a concrete competitive lever for the ceramic production cluster.
The investigation highlighted tangible benefits that the adoption of Industrial Symbiosis practices can offer to enterprises, particularly:
- process and product innovation;
- strengthening of business competitiveness;
- implementation of sustainable development models.
IN.S.E.T. is a European project that aims to achieve three main objectives:
- To raise awareness and inform the production system and territorial governance actors about the opportunities to activate intra- and inter-company Industrial Symbiosis initiatives, as a model for concrete change in the productive business model.
- To develop the capacity to activate, manage and grow a network of local actors, to maintain the principle of Industrial Symbiosis stable over time in collaborations between enterprises.
- To outline policy briefs to sustainably support the commitment of all territorial economy actors towards production models that favor the continuous use of resources through by-product recycling.
Through these actions, IN.S.E.T. aims to consolidate Industrial Symbiosis as an operational tool for a more competitive, innovative and sustainable industry.
Ceramic Sector Between Tradition and Innovation: The Commitment of the Italian Ceramic Industry to Ensure the Sustainability of Ceramic Products and Foster the Competitive Revival of the Sector
The ceramic sector cluster in Emilia Romagna is a concrete example of Industrial Symbiosis application to enable the territorial system to remain competitive, optimizing the use of materials and by-products.
Confindustria Ceramica has supported over the years the gradual change of production systems that have led ceramic companies to adopt a virtuous, competitive and sustainable business model.
INTERVIEW
1) Can you describe the ceramic cluster in Emilia Romagna, and Confindustria Ceramica's commitment over the years to support a change towards sustainability of production systems?
The territory of Emilia-Romagna, and in particular the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, is characterized by ceramic tile production. In Sassuolo, in the heart of the "Ceramic District," Confindustria Ceramica is headquartered - the national Association that represents in Italy, Europe and the World, producers of ceramic tiles, bricks, refractories, sanitary ware, tableware and technical ceramics.
In the district, ceramic production began as early as 1700 and, favored by a combination of positive factors (presence of raw materials, water availability, artisanal culture, capital from agriculture, and infrastructure system) has developed to the present day. Over the years, also thanks to the presence in the territory of ceramic technology suppliers and ACIMAC, the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics, technological innovations have enabled ceramic industries to increase and improve the efficiency of production processes.
Confindustria Ceramica has promoted and promotes initiatives to foster the growth and progress of ceramic industries. The effective collaborative activities with ASLs (Local Health Units) and Business Associations and Trade Union Organizations, adopted by the ceramic sector for many years, as well as collaboration with Research Institutions and associated companies has led to the publication of studies and Guidelines that have improved the sustainability of the production process and ceramic product while ensuring the protection of workers' health and safety.
Starting from 2016, the Association has supported and promoted the development of the sectoral Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to certify and express the environmental performance of Italian Ceramics.
During 2024, the sectoral EPD, based on an LCA study (life cycle analysis) that referenced environmental data from 87 production sites of companies (associated with Confindustria Ceramica) representing over 82% of Italian production, was updated.
At the beginning of 2025, Confindustria Ceramica also launched the new "Ceramic of Italy" campaign that revolves around the concept of responsibility: a value that has distinguished Italian ceramic producers for years with targeted actions to reduce environmental impact, create a sustainable production cycle, and protect the safety and well-being of employees.
Last but not least, it is important to emphasize the contribution made by Ceramicolor, the National Association of Ceramic Color Manufacturers and Metal Oxide Producers, which includes Italian and multinational companies producing frits, glazes, colorants and auxiliaries for ceramics, inorganic pigments and metal oxides.
The presence in the district of industrial realities serving ceramics has contributed to the growth and development of the district and the efficiency of the production process with social, economic and environmental benefits for the community as well.
2) How does industrial symbiosis impact the ceramic production cycle?
Over the years, a strategic business vision, also favored by Confindustria Ceramica and the presence in the ceramic district of the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics and collaboration with the National Association of Ceramic Color Manufacturers and Metal Oxide Producers, has enabled careful and optimized management of the production process.
The ceramic tile sector reinvests on average 8-10% of revenue in research and development, reflecting a strong propensity for innovation. Investments focus mainly on sustainability and automation to reduce environmental impact and improve production efficiency.
For many years, ceramic companies have adopted logics typical of "closed-loop" systems and the "circular economy," favoring the recovery and reuse of waste/refuse and by-products. In this perspective are the recovery and reuse of process water and ceramic sludge, hot fumes generated in kilns for product firing, "green" tiles (semi-finished awaiting firing) and "fired" tiles, and powders generated in cutting, squaring and grinding operations of ceramic products; products that are recovered internally or sold to district companies to be reinserted into their production processes.
Furthermore, in "full-cycle" ceramic companies, so-called "spray-dried powder" is produced (a fine powder ideal for pressing and forming tiles) which is used internally and/or distributed/sold to other "partial-cycle" companies where production starts from the spray-dried powder pressing phase.
The production process of porcelain stoneware tiles remains substantially uniform across all 122 production facilities represented by Confindustria Ceramica (85.46% of ceramic tile production is concentrated in the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia and over 94% in the Emilia-Romagna Region - data updated to 2024) employing over 18,000 direct workers.
In the ceramic district, Industrial Symbiosis is a strategy, applied for many years, that has involved ceramic producers, technology suppliers, raw material suppliers and their respective trade associations, enabling the valorization of ceramic products by creating a circular and more competitive economy.
3) In your opinion, how necessary is it to support Industrial Symbiosis logics in production systems? Does Industrial Symbiosis have a future for the local economy? Three years from now, how do you evaluate the trend in by-product management - could it increase or experience a slowdown? What additional areas of Industrial Symbiosis application could be explored (e.g., recovery of aggregates from construction to regenerate and/or reintroduce them into production systems...)
The initiatives identified by the European Union within the Green Deal require increasing attention and a business strategy increasingly oriented towards the circular economy. Over the years, Italian ceramics has made important steps forward to optimize and improve the efficiency of the production process. In the near future, the need to contain waste by valorizing by-products, even from other sectors, will be a challenge that will concern the entire European production context.
The results achieved to date have also been contributed to by the sustainable development policies identified by the Emilia-Romagna Region which, since 2015 with Regional Law No. 16, has identified objectives for waste reduction by promoting the activation of coordination to define, for certain types of sectors, the types of by-products generated in the production process.
In ceramics, four types of by-products have been determined: powders and pastes from green ceramics, powders from fired ceramics, green ceramic formats (intact or fragments), and fired ceramic formats (intact or fragments); this has contributed to achieving a recovery of approximately 25,000 tons of by-products identified for the sector each year. In the ceramic process, materials from glass recycling bins are also recovered, albeit with limited volumes, and one company in particular is recovering fired materials from the sanitary industry from the Civita Castellana district.
In this sense, Italian ceramics already looks to the future. Through research activities carried out by the Centro Ceramico (Center for Research and Experimentation for the Ceramic Industry founded in 1976 and managed by a University Consortium whose partners are the University of Bologna, Confindustria Ceramica and the National Association of Production and Service Work Cooperatives), regional, national and European research projects are underway to study new compositions and new mixtures for ceramic products; the objective is to evaluate the possibility of integrating an ever-increasing share of recycled materials among ceramic raw materials.
Recent studies conducted in collaboration with UNIMORE and UNIBO, and promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, have highlighted the versatility of ceramic products that lend themselves to using a wide range of raw materials; during firing (above 1200°C) the minerals used melt allowing material consolidation and the formation of a solid structure.
However, further verification and studies are necessary to evaluate and understand the physical, chemical and mechanical properties and characteristics of new mixtures and assess compliance with product standards as well as possible large-scale industrial feasibility.
4) In your opinion, what can be the main barriers and what opportunities for further development of IS in the sector? What needs to be done to exploit opportunities? What to overcome barriers?
Although increasingly relevant, the topic of Industrial Symbiosis has not yet fully entered business management logic; in some large companies and some districts, production needs have favored the development of synergies and resource exchanges between companies.
The lack of awareness of the topic, poor mutual knowledge of the needs of other production realities, including fears of having to modify and revolutionize their production processes to favor the exchange of "waste" (resources) between companies, represent barriers to Industrial Symbiosis development. Added to these are the bureaucratic complexities related to the necessary involvement of multiple actors (companies, public entities, universities) that require time, compliance with procedures and pre-existing regulations, not always compatible with production needs.
The opportunities that can derive from Industrial Symbiosis include, first of all, the possibility of obtaining "revenue" from waste valorization with a reduction in disposal costs of generated waste. A reorganization of the production process can also lead to improvement and efficiency of resources used with consequent positive impacts in terms of business competitiveness and environmental benefits for the community.
Finally, positive external impacts should not be underestimated; business commitment to sustainable practices can lead to improved external company vision, strengthening market image, increasing customer, supplier and stakeholder confidence, and facilitating access to new markets and customers.
To best exploit the opportunities offered by Industrial Symbiosis, it is essential to promote conscious business management vision; however, it is also necessary to foster and implement meeting networks, including virtual ones, between companies that encourage the "supply and demand" of required/offered "waste" products.
It is also necessary to develop a structured set of clear and precise rules that define the practices to follow for conscious exchange and practical application of Industrial Symbiosis objectives.
It is also essential to overcome, by simplifying them, regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles, identify sources of support for companies in the initial implementation phases, as well as promote training and awareness-raising on the matter, fostering a cultural change that sees recovery as an investment and not as an expense.
In the ceramic sector, the intrinsic needs to limit consumption and waste (energy, gas, water, raw materials) to ensure product competitiveness have favored the adoption, for many years, of logics typical of Industrial Symbiosis, creating a circular and more competitive economy with social, economic and environmental benefits also for the community.
5) Can you describe an exemplary case of IS application in the ceramic sector that has generated business improvement, collaboration between companies, and impact on the local economy?
The Ceramic District represents a concrete example of how Industrial Symbiosis can transform the concept of "waste" into a resource, promoting sustainability and creating a more efficient and competitive local economy.
In the Ceramic District, companies have initiated systems for recovery and valorization of production waste and process water, generating a virtuous circle that allows reducing costs, creating new business opportunities, promoting sustainability and strengthening the local economy through resource sharing and creating a more efficient supply chain.
Waste and scraps of "green" or "fired" products generated by ceramic companies, instead of being disposed of as waste, are recovered within the district's ceramic companies (in 2024, 11.2% of raw material needs were covered using recycled material). Process water is recovered and recycled through purification systems and re-introduced into the production cycle without being discharged into the network (in 2024, 48% of water needs were covered by wastewater). Some solid by-products, such as filtration sludge, are recovered and used as secondary raw materials in other ceramic production contexts or other industries.
Symbiosis has also created business opportunities for companies that have specialized in the recovery, treatment and resale of these by-products, contributing to the territory's economic growth. The reduction of waste and efficient use of resources have contributed to making the District more sustainable, improving its reputation and attractiveness.
An extension of the Industrial Symbiosis concept, no less important than the previous one, is represented by the collaborative model that has developed in the District for over 20 years; the established practice of sharing Memoranda of Understanding between Confindustria Ceramica, the Emilia-Romagna Region, ACIMAC and Trade Union Organizations has enabled the implementation of prevention strategies to contain and combat the accident phenomenon in the sector and ensure practical application of regulations on the matter and a balance between health and safety protection and business competitiveness.