On Saturday, November 16th, 2024, Buzzi Unicem enthusiastically participated in the third edition of "Fai la Mossa Giusta", an event dedicated to educational, training, and career orientation, held at the Riccardo Coppo Exhibition Center in Casale Monferrato.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with students, families, workers, and adults seeking new professional opportunities, fostering direct dialogue between companies, institutions, and the public. Throughout the day, visitors had the chance to meet representatives from major local and national organizations, gaining practical advice for building strategic educational and career paths.

As a company, we were pleased to share our commitment to nurturing talent and supporting the growth of the local community. At our stand, participants could submit their resumes, apply for open positions, and receive guidance on identifying the most suitable educational or career path for their aspirations.

Notable highlights of the day included the debate “A Job for Everyone, the Right Job for Each Person” and entrepreneur Umberto Signorini’s talk on the relationship between innovation and tradition. Experts like Gabriele Corazza (Illumia) and Simone Marcovecchio (Bulgari) enriched the event with insights on how to harness talent in the professional world.

Our participation in "Fai la Mossa Giusta" reaffirms our commitment to building bridges between schools, businesses, and the community, contributing to a more informed and sustainable future for young people and local areas.

On Thursday, 10th October, the Monselice Plant hosted a meeting to present the Nuada project, launched last spring, to the local community. The project aims to capture CO2 emissions and accelerate the decarbonisation of the cement industry.

The event began with opening remarks from Paolo Zelano, CEO of Buzzi Unicem and Paolo Paoletti, Director of the Plant. Luigi Buzzi, Group Technical Director, illustrated the principles of the Roadmap ‘Our Journey to Net Zero’, a long-term plan for decarbonization, in line with the objectives set by the European Green Deal.

Next, Francesco Magli, a specialist in Research and Development projects, shared the reasons for the collaboration with Nuada, a UK-based supplier of CO2 capture technologies. The proceedings were closed by Conor Hamill, CEO of Nuada, who emphasized that this pilot project represents a significant innovation milestone in carbon capture and highlights the technology's potential for cement production.

Nuada’s highly energy-efficient carbon capture solution combines new solid sorbents called Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) with an advanced vacuum oscillating pressure adsorption (VPSA) process. This is an electrically powered system that separates CO2 from industrial flue gases using pressure rather than heat. It offers a promising approach to overcome the challenges of energy consumption, costs and integration compared to the use of traditional carbon capture solutions in industry.

The Monselice experimental activity is aimed at acquiring useful information for the industrial-scale construction of a plant of this specific technology, potentially capable of capturing the majority of the CO2 emitted by the Group’s cement plants. Buzzi’s choice to make the Monselice plant available to Nuada is dictated by logistical and plant engineering reasons and does not preclude future experiments in other plants. The first data emerging during the tests are being processed and Nuada engineers believe they are in line with the simulations carried out on a theoretical basis.

At the end of the presentations, the guest participants had the opportunity to visit the capture facility.

Sunday, September 22nd was dedicated to Family & Friends, a special day in which the plant opened its doors to employees from Casale, Trino, and Vercelli, along with their families and friends. The event saw a great attendance, with over 850 people participating in the many activities.

In addition to the Area907 tour, the company provided several themed stands: safety, overseen by the EAS (Ecology, Environment, and Safety) Department; the Sales Department stand focusing on sales strategies; and the Human Resources Department stand, highlighting Stakeholder Engagement policies. The cement production process was explained in detail, with insights into the specific phases at the Trino grinding center, from the arrival of clinker from Robilante to shipments. Guests also had the opportunity to visit the laboratory and closely observe the various stages of material testing. To make the day even more memorable, there were educational environmental games, concrete workshops, and entertainment areas that engaged and delighted both adults and children.

The event was part of Federbeton's "Open Doors" program, a series of days organized by the cement industry to allow local communities to visit plants and get closer to a state of the heart sector of reliability, innovation, and sustainability of its materials.

On Saturday, September 21st, the inauguration of Area907 took place, an immersive journey within the Trino plant, which holds a significant place in Buzzi's history, as the cement plant was founded in 1907, the same year as the company.  This project has focused on memory, technological innovation, and the industrial present and future, told through the stories of the people who contributed to the growth of the company. The inauguration was enhanced by the blessing of the Archbishop of Vercelli and the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by local authorities, highlighting the importance of the event for the community.

In addition to the exhibition route, two new adjacent spaces were opened: the first, enriched with images and objects from the Historical Archive, traces the history of the company and introduces visitors to the museum area; the second, a striking glass structure, hosts the alphabet by artist Giuseppe Stampone, a collaborator on the participatory art project that permeates the entire journey. The Area907 project is dedicated to the memory of Eng. Sandro Buzzi and has the ambitious goal of being fully integrated into Museimpresa, an association born to safeguard the memory of Italian industry as a driver of sustainable development and a cornerstone of widespread economic, social, and civil culture. The visit unfolds along the old plant, from the Pa.Vo. and Fo.Co. kilns (acronyms for "Patience and Will" and "Strength and Courage") to the control room, from the production of Ares to the pilot furnace, from the Pacific to the clinker mills, and finally to the world's first experimental Horomill.

Buzzi Unicem continues to make progress in the European HERCCULES project, launched in January 2023 and lasting five years. The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the entire CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) chain in Southern Europe, essential for achieving the goal of complete decarbonization by 2050.

In the coming months, a CO₂ capture pilot plant will become operational at the Buzzi Unicem plant in Vernasca, with experimentation set to begin by the end of the year and which will last for 12 months. Meanwhile, the design of the experimental mineralization plant will continue, enabling the reuse of CO₂ produced in the cement production cycle, thus promoting resource circularity.

Buzzi's Built research and innovation laboratory, specialized in the field of materials characterization, will play a crucial role in HERCCULES project. It will be indeed responsible for collecting and characterizing materials to be employed in the mineralization tasks by exploiting the developed CO₂ and will provide support in the development of the pilot mineralization plant.

These initiatives strengthen Buzzi Unicem's commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon future, significantly contributing to the achievement of European climate goals.

Click here to learn out more.

From 13th to 16th June, Guidonia Montecelio will host the "Social Tour," a project dedicated to raising awareness about social issues through art.

The Social Tour represents an immersive experience that combines artistic expression with an understanding of social challenges. By promoting understanding and acceptance of diversity, this initiative aims to eliminate prejudices and build a more inclusive and informed community.

The program includes four days of free, intense events featuring artists, experts, and enthusiasts from various fields. There will be meetings, performances, concerts, street art, and exhibitions, all with the goal of raising awareness in the Guidonia Montecelio community about social issues through art, music, and sports.

The tour will conclude on Sunday, 16th June, at our Guidonia plant with exhibitions, information spaces, and an unmissable concert-performance.

For more details and to view the complete program, visit the event’s official website at this link.

Il nostro partner SEA Srl ha recentemente iniziato a utilizzare il carburante alternativo HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), una soluzione innovativa ottenuta da materie prime rinnovabili. Questo passo rappresenta un importante avanzamento verso un trasporto su strada più sostenibile, riducendo le emissioni dei trasporti rispetto ai carburanti tradizionali fino al 90%.

L'HVO è un biocarburante avanzato che, grazie al processo di idrotrattamento, offre una significativa riduzione delle emissioni di CO2, senza compromettere le prestazioni dei veicoli. È compatibile con la maggior parte dei motori diesel attualmente in uso, rendendo possibile una transizione fluida verso una mobilità più verde.

Secondo le stime dei dati del 2023, ci aspettiamo che nel 2024 il 27% dei chilometri percorsi tra i nostri stabilimenti di Trino e Robilante sarà coperto dal Gruppo SEA utilizzando l'HVO come carburante. Questo risultato sarà un passo significativo nel nostro percorso verso la sostenibilità, contribuendo alla riduzione delle emissioni di gas serra.

La nostra partnership con SEA è un esempio di come la collaborazione possa portare a soluzioni concrete per un futuro più verde. Continueremo a lavorare insieme per esplorare nuove opportunità e implementare tecnologie sostenibili nei nostri processi di trasporto.

Per ulteriori informazioni sull'utilizzo dell'HVO da parte del Gruppo SEA, visitate il loro sito: https://www.seatrasporti.it/il-gruppo-sea-utilizza-hvo-su-tutti-i-suoi-automezzi/  

In April, the third edition of ‘Porte Aperte’ promoted by Federbeton, the Federation representing the cement and concrete industry in Italy, restarted and will continue until the end of September.

Buzzi Unicem has once again joined this initiative by opening the doors of its Italian cement plants to local communities, sharing insights of its operations, technological innovations, and its attention to the environment. The company confirmed its commitment towards young generations by dedicating these days especially to schools, where interest in sustainability-related topics is increasingly widespread.

This valuable opportunity allows us to showcase the quality of the Italian industry through the voices and experiences of people, describing the development of our activities, technological advancements, and our commitment to the decarbonization challenge.

For those interested in visiting our cement plants: https://www.buzziunicem.it/dove-siamo

The fourth edition of the Stakeholder Engagement Report presents the projects developed in Italy during 2023 for the benefit of our stakeholders, reaching over 9,000 direct beneficiaries.

Through this activity, we maintain an active dialogue with our stakeholders regarding the strategies and initiatives undertaken in the short and medium term.
Among the 2023 events that most strengthened the bond with the communities, the CGreen Days and the Federbeton Open Doors stand out: these occasions offered us the opportunity to illustrate the production processes and share the company's commitment to decarbonisation.

Read the complete report here.

“A nation in which no children are born has no future and does not innovate”.

Starting from this assumption, the company has developed the Family Friendly Company project to support women and families who wish to give birth to children. This is a set of measures, with economic and non-economic effects, to support colleagues of Italian companies of the Group in their life and growth choices.

More generally, Buzzi aims to counter the birth rate in our country, which is experiencing serious demographic decline. In fact, Italy is at the bottom of the European ranking of children per woman (only 1.22); furthermore, 43% of women with one child have no intention of having more for economic, professional and social reasons (Sources: ISTAT, June 2023; Save the Children Report: “Le Equilibriste - La maternità in Italia 2023”).

The company says: “In line with sustainability policies and people valorization, we want 'our parents' to face motherhood and fatherhood with serenity and that 'our mothers' have equal development opportunities, knowing that they can choose to bring children into the world, without their career path being limited as a consequence."

The interventions involve accompanying new parents from the months preceding the birth until they return to work.

The figure of the 'Family Friend' is established, a person designated to maintain contact with the colleague on leave for information purposes and on a voluntary basis, to update her/him on what is happening at work, in order to facilitate her/his return; the 'Thank you bonus' and the 'Up to kindergarten' are economic additions to optional post-natal leave; the 'Happy kids' contribution is a financial support for each new born up to a maximum of 3,000 euros gross per year for 3 years (the beneficiaries of this measure also include parents with children who, as of 31 December 2023, have not yet 3 years of age); finally, the return accompaniment path called 'Back on track' facilitates and harmonizes the colleague’s return to work.

Family Friendly Company is part of a broader project that intends to strengthen the company's commitment to promote an increasingly inclusive culture, based on equity and equal development opportunities and aimed at maintaining a healthy balance between work activity and family size.

In the plenary meeting held at the end of the year, the managers of Buzzi Unicem Ecologia, Ambiente e Sicurezza Function led an intense training session on the main regulatory innovations and sharing the main results and objectives for 2024.

It was an opportunity to talk about the issues introduced by the new group Health and Safety policy, first of all the goal of reducing accidents and occupational diseases to zero: an ambitious goal achievable thanks to twenty-year path undertaken and the new initiatives being introduced in the cement and concrete production units.

In November 2023, the injuries frequency rate was the best ever recorded by Buzzi Unicem in Italy: a result achieved thanks to the daily work carried out by the entire workforce. The involvement of all employees is in fact crucial in order to increase awareness and perception of risk.

On Saturday 2 December Buzzi Unicem participated in the second edition of 'Fai la mossa giusta', a day of meeting with local production companies for orientation towards higher education organized by the Municipality of Casale Monferrato.

During the event, authoritative interventions on the topic of orientation took place: in the morning the session was opened by Eng. Giuseppe Ricci, General Director of ENI Energy Evolution, followed by the young musician Riccardo Marchese and the architect Paolo Scoglio; the highlight of the afternoon program was the speech by Luigi Ballerini, guidance counselor and writer, as well as promoter of the 'Festival Nazionale dell’Innovazione Scolastica'

The event continues online: on the website of the Municipality of Casale it is possible to access the presentations prepared by companies, including that of Buzzi Unicem.

The CGreen Days tour of Italy concluded with the final event in Sardegna: from spring to autumn, a journey of seven stages across Italy to meet customers and present the technological evolution that has led to the creation of new generation cements, with low environmental impact.

Starting from Vernasca, the route touched the facilities of Barletta, Guidonia (Roma), Robilante (Cuneo), Monselice (Padova), Augusta (Siracusa) and finally ended in Siniscola (Nuoro).

The format has always had three main moments: a meeting with local customers, to underline the strategic choices undertaken with a view to decarbonisation and to present the new cements with reduced environmental impact; the guided tour of the plants, to learn about investments in optimizing the production process; a convivial moment to discover the territory and the communities in which Buzzi Unicem operates.

The CGreen days proved to be pleasant days of updating and sharing and touched on special places such as the Masone Labyrinth in Fontanellato, the historic center of Trani, the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor in Tivoli, the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, Fort Vittoria in Augusta, the Source of Su Gologone.

A formula that has proven to be appreciated for its ability to combine work topics with entertainment and valorisation of the territory.

Yesterday 4 September 2023, at the age of 90 years and two months, Sandro Buzzi concluded his earthly journey and reached the Father's house. We like to remember with affection and emotion his role as an enthusiastic, optimistic, passionate and empathetic leader.

Sandro Buzzi had a long, beautiful, challenging and successful life. His story has been inextricably linked to that of the company, since 1957, when as a young chemical engineer was called by his father Luigi to promptly take care of the transition from natural to artificial cement. Over time he has developed an almost unique knowledge and specialization of cement process and technology. The passion for the product led him to extend his scope of knowledge and work also to applications, especially the standards and the quality of the nascent ready-mix concrete industry. Starting in the 1980s, he has held various top positions within the group and, sided with the brothers Franco and Enrico, he has been the architect of the main phases of company development (acquisition of Unicem in 1997 and Dyckerhoff in 2001).

Sandro Buzzi also nurtured a great love for the sea, in particular offshore sailing. In many competitions he participated as skipper, at any level, both in the Mediterranean and across the Ocean. He instilled in this hobby the same passion for engineering that he had from his daily work, starting with the use of the sextant to the development of innovations such as twin foils coupled with canting keel.

We will continue to follow his example of dedication and love for work, family and business.

At the end of May, the second edition of the TagCem Master in Advanced Techniques for the Management of Cement Production Plants began, linked to an advanced training and research apprenticeship contract.

The ten students began attending lessons in the offices of Casale, identified as the academic headquarters; in a second phase, they will move to the classrooms of the Polytechnic of Turin, partner of the project. This two-year course includes periods of stay in the group's various plants to acquire operational technical skills.

This edition also aims at transforming apprentices into expert professionals, preparing them for entry into industry and providing them with the know-how necessary to face the challenges of the future. The Quarries and Mines Management, the Ecology, Environment and Safety Management, the Operations Management, the Logistics and Purchasing Management, the Projects and New Plant Management and the Quality and Technical Assistance Management were involved in this important project.

Three events in as many local communities, for a significant moment of sharing with the younger generations: Buzzi Unicem has decided to dedicate to schools the "Porte Aperte" event, promoted by Federbeton Confindustria - the Federation that represents the cement and concrete supply chain in Italy - to introduce communities behind the scenes of the Made in Italy effort in the construction sector.
The artistic and social sensitivity developed in recent years has led Buzzi Unicem to honor this commitment by organizing a relevant event in Monselice on May 6th: two hundred students from the JFK Institute and Jacopo da Montagnana high schools have been spectators of “La voce della Costituzione”, as part of the Este vicariate "Teatrando" project. A representation full of meaning and value, which has been staged by Alberto Riello and Stefano Corbo in the bagging area.

On May 20th it was the turn of the Barletta plant, which hosted 200 students of Cassandro Fermi Nervi and Ipsia Archimede; on May 27th in Siniscola, over 100 young people from ITCG Luigi and IIS Michelangelo Pira visited the local plant, learning more about the cement production cycle, the theme of quarries and environmental restoration, as well as safety in the workplace.

By reserving the "Porte Aperte" space for schools, Buzzi Unicem confirms its sensitivity for the young protagonists of the community: kids who live the sustainability issues and who will soon have to make important choices for their future.

The second edition of the AEuganeus Basketball Party was staged on Sunday 28 May, with a tournament dedicated to the Aquilotti category, at the Monselice production site.

In addition to Virtus Padova, Pallacanestro Redentore, Basket Conselve, Battaglia Terme and Pallacanestro Camin also joined and participated with the Aquilotti teams on the playing fields set up within the spaces made available by Buzzi Unicem. An alternative Sunday for all the children who put on a show with jumps, basket shots and lots of smiles, in front of their parents' eyes, playing in a unique location.

In addition to the basketball tournament, the guests were able to attend (as in the previous edition) the performance of the Tamburini dell'Augusta Contrada di Marendole, a group that for several years has been awarded as best drum 'ensemble' in the historic procession of the 'Palio di Monselice'. In the afternoon, after a tasty lunch break, spotlight on inclusive basketball with a beautiful BaskIN demonstration game starring the Redentore Baskin Este team.

During the event, the families and all the participants had the opportunity to visit the company and learn about the manufacturing processes of the plant.
“Also this year we are proud to host the AEuganeus Basketball Party with lots of children and parents who had fun, in addition to the many local associations with which we are happy to collaborate. A beautiful event for everyone and we can only give everyone appointment for next year edition”, commented Daniele Bogni, Director of the Buzzi Unicem plant.

The event was attended by Chief Executive Officer Antonio Buzzi, plant manager Daniele Bogni, Virtus Padova Director Nicola Bernardi, Virtus head coach Riccardo De Nicolao, captain Federico Schiavon, Umana Reyer Venezia playmaker Andrea De Nicolao and FIP Padova President Flavio Camporese.
“Even this year it has been a wonderful even: it allows us to involve the children of mini-basketball and many local realities with an organization like no other. We can only thank Virtus and Buzzi Unicem for making these activities possible", commented Flavio Camporese, President of FIP Padova.
The spaces made available within the Monselice plant also housed the Italian Red Cross, with a special area reserved for blood sugar and cholesterol tests, the Italian Naval League Sect. Padua with the display of their boats, the Augusta Contrada di Marendole which has created a podcast with the protagonists of the day and the Salus Pueri Foundation, which supports the Paediatrics of Padova and promotes the health of all children, with a presentation of the project 'Salute, Giovani e Stili di Vita' (to which a special fundraising moment was dedicated, with a fancy charity shooting competition whose proceeds will be doubled by Buzzi Unicem).

“It has been a truly special day, which combined sport and education, leaving everyone with many beautiful memories, in the name of sport, celebration and sharing in a different setting from the usual with the possibility of getting to know the activities and the work behind a company like Buzzi Unicem which is also linked to social commitment by bringing into play important values such as inclusion and solidarity, with the fun shooting competition for charity in favor of the Salus Foundation Pueri", commented Riccardo De Nicolao, Technical Manager of the neroverde youth sector.
 

Seven stops, between spring and autumn, to meet customers and present the technological evolution that has led to the creation of new generation cements with low environmental impact.

The first CGreen Day of the season was held on Friday 14th April: an interesting day of updating and sharing, which began in the fascinating location of the Masone Labyrinth in Fontanellato (Parma) and then continued in the afternoon at the Vernasca facility.

The meeting allowed the company to underline the strategic choices undertaken for decarbonisation: a commitment signed in the Roadmap 'Our Journey to Net Zero' towards total carbon neutrality by 2050.

Once the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% over the last two decades has been achieved, a major investment has been planned to achieve the intermediate goals of 2030 and continue along this demanding path of sustainability.

In addition to the introduction of CGreen cements with a lower clinker content, the essential technological actions include the replacement of fossil fuels (with new installations for the use of CSS), the use of decarbonised and mineralizing raw materials, renewable energies and systems which increase the use of alternative fuels.

The tour of Italy will experience its second stage on May 19, when Buzzi Unicem will meet customers who refer to the Barletta cement plant.
 

In its Sustainability Report 2022, Buzzi Unicem shares with its stakeholders an accurate snapshot of the company's economic, environmental and social performance.

In this edition, the twenty-second one to be exact, the company once again seizes the opportunity to give an update on its goals. The year 2022 was the year in which we achieved the goals announced in 2017: a 5% reduction in our specific CO2 emissions, the implementation of structural engagement projects, and increasingly safer working conditions at all production facilities. 

Also worthy of note is the introduction of a section dedicated to the Roadmap "Our Journey to Net Zero" and to the validation by SBTi, an authoritative international body that has approved our targets to 2030. 

Lastly, in this Report we provide all the information required by Taxonomy Regulation: after the indication of the percentages of eligible turnover, investments and operating costs, provided in last year's Report, this year we also included the respective percentages of alignment according to the criteria established by the Regulation for the cement industry.


Read the complete report here.