Roncadin and widespread well-being
Roncadin presents its first impact report measuring progress in circular economy, energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing, waste reduction and labour enhancement.
High-quality deep-frozen pizzas with 100 million pieces produced per year, exported to 38 countries, and a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility are the hallmark of Roncadin, which recently presented its first sustainability report: a goal achieved in 2022, after the one reached in 2021, when the Meduno (PN)-based company became a Benefit Corporation.
Roncadin's journey began in 1992 when the company chose to establish production in Meduno, an area rich in natural resources but underdeveloped and suffering from depopulation, where initiatives for sustainability followed in rapid succession.
In 2010, for example, the company installed a photovoltaic system that now produces 1.5MWh, the core element of a 100% green energy strategy for which Roncadin was awarded the “Coop for Kyoto” prize in 2014 (an initiative promoted by Coop to recognise the most sustainability conscious suppliers and which ItaliaImballaggio spoke about during the interview with Chiara Faenza).
Moreover, the company is in the process of converting its car fleet to electric, while waste water recovery and energy efficiency systems on the freezing tunnels have led to a reduction in emissions equal to -600 t of CO2 per year. There is also no shortage of initiatives to protect biodiversity, such as the company apiary with 650,000 bees, or the focus on packaging: 80% of Roncadin's packaging comes from recycled materials and, for some product lines, the packaging is made using 100% recycled and recyclable paper, with an internal protective film that is 100% compostable.
Its constant quest for improvement also emerges with its latest initiative, namely its adhesion to the Too Good To Go “Conscious Label” campaign, which raises consumer awareness against food waste.
The tangible result of such a long-established approach as the one adopted by the Friuli-based company can be seen in the consumption data measured in the period 2021-2022: the consumption of kWh per pizza has been reduced by 18%, with a decrease of - 1.4 kg of CO2 produced per piece.
Roncadin's commitment to sustainability also regards supply chains that are increasingly sustainable, ethical, organic and short, where emphasis is placed on raw materials and local producers. In fact, the Roncadin brand aggregates about 600 Italian suppliers in 80 provinces, adhering to Intesa Sanpaolo's Supply Chain Development Programme.
Finally, a brief note on the concept of sustainability, which requires social as well as environmental sensitivity, is linked to the 800 workers, 80% of whom are women, for whom Roncadin makes constant investments in training, welfare and family support, attracting more and more people to the Meduno area and helping to generate widespread well-being.
