Cultivated fields and wood groves: this is the landscape of the Po Valley, and Tecnofer is part of it since its birth. The great river Po flows just a few steps from us, with its living ecosystem and rich biodiversity. We know it well and we perceive it as a symbol, that’s why we wanted it to be with us on the wall of our booth in the two most important fairs we attended in 2022: K-Show and Ecomondo. His sight never tires us, yet last summer we looked at him with sadness and helplessly because dry and empty. A vision never experienced before: the evident proof that the climate is changing and that we, with our actions, are the only ones that can change things.
The green philosophy growing over the years
The company was founded in 1976 with the aim of facing the problem of plastic waste, growing fast and constantly in those years, and to provide technological solutions for recycling it. Before the 1960s the plastic was not recycled, but sent to landfills causing air and soil pollution. Making this material “circular” has been the starting point for the growth and evolution of the company, which over the years will develop more and more specific valorization systems and for a wider range of waste materials, such as waste pulper and packaged waste.
Today Tecnofer, through its technological solutions, being the result of constant investment in research and development, promotes a sustainable entrepreneurship aimed at improving the economic system and implementing the circular model, and increasing respect for people and the environment. The concept of sustainable growth in the company, in fact, concerns a multiplicity of aspects of intergenerationality, that is, everything that has as its objective to generate value in a long-term perspective and that can contribute to the socio-economic development not only of the environmental protection, but also of corporate well-being.
Over the years there have been many projects in the company aimed at safeguarding the environment and territory, but also to improve the work experience of the staff. Projects such as the Corporate Welfare program or the creation of green areas in the company. In fact, Tecnofer has allocated 12,000 square meters of green space, on a total of 40,000 square meters, and continuing to invest in the same direction as demonstrated by the new green project developed in the last months of 2022: a company forest of Paulownia.
Our “Green Smile”
Strengthened by our convictions in terms of environmental and territorial protection, in 2020 we began to think about a project that could generate a tangible benefit related to these topics. That’s how the idea of the forest was born, but before rushing headlong into the realization of the project we began to study the subject, the types of plants and the benefits that each selected species could bring to the territory. The choice fell on the Paulownia tree.
As a name for the project we chose “Green Smile“, a simple and incisive name, which wants to communicate at first glance the positivity of the green action. The smile is an expression with a strong emotional impact, which in a few moments leads to empathize and connect with those who show it. The forest, therefore, wants to be a “green smile” able to bring people closer to the theme of environmental protection, making them understand the beauty and importance of actions like this in every environment.
Why the Paulownia species?
The trees that shaped the Tecnofer forest are of the Paulownia type: not any trees. For those who do not know, the choice of planting this type of plant was mainly dictated by its incredible beneficial impact on the environment.
Although its origins are to be found in the east, being a sacred trees in many cultures, such as Japan, its proliferation in Europe in recent years is given especially by its ecological component. In fact, we are talking about the plant with the greatest carbon dioxide absorption in the world, with the greatest growth in the world and the ability to clean up the air around it, gaining the title of “anti-smog tree“. Paulownia, in fact, absorbs up to ten times more CO2 than any other tree species, releasing huge quantities of oxygen.
The forest “Green Smile” Tecnofer will allow the absorption of about 10 tons of CO2 per year, contributing to the preservation and environmental sustainability and the purification of the air of our territory, The Po Valley is in fact sadly known for the high degree of pollution due to particulates and nitrogen dioxide (source Lancet Planetary Health Journal).
The properties of the Paulownia tree
As mentioned above, this plant is to be considered a real CO2 capture machine, with a consumption ranging from 32 and 36 kg of CO2 every 12 months. Its huge leaves, which can reach even 80 cm in diameter, are covered with a fine down that retains the fine dust, contributing to the air purification process. But Paulownia is not only this:
- It extracts high amounts of carbon dioxide from the air thanks to its growth speed;
- The wood obtained from it is extremely versatile, both for its flexibility and its durability, and it has an incomparable weight/strength ratio that has given it the definition of wood-aluminum;
- Flowers, incredibly beautiful, colorful and fragrant, are also valuable for bees. The majestic foliage that is created in the spring months is an incredible source of nectar for bees, which consequently are able to produce honey thanks to it;
- It helps the soil to maintain a certain porosity, also purifying it from any impurities;
- Finally, the Paulownia has phytoremedical abilities.
This is good for everyone
The commitment we put constantly in our work, in our plants is the same that we want to invest in the environment. With this project we are taking another step towards sustainability, partially offsetting our CO2 emissions and helping the territory to improve in many ways. We are very attached to the figure of the tree, we see it a bit like us: however it grows, it changes shape over time and changes the leaves, its roots remain firm, strengthening and giving stability to all its parts.
If you want to learn more, visit the Tecnofer Sustainable Development page.