Towards a Sustainable Future: Nicro SPA’s Journey through the Sustainability Report

Sustainability is a fundamental pillar in the agenda of many modern companies. However, not all of them embrace the ecological philosophy to guide their strategic decisions today. Nicro SPA, on the other hand, has once again translated this commitment into a variety of initiatives that place environmental aspects, and social and governance commitments, at the center of its corporate strategy, as well as in the 2024 edition of the sustainability report.

Sustainable Ecological Innovation

Nicro SPA has placed ecological commitment at the heart of its agenda, seeking effective solutions to reduce the impact of its activities in the development and construction of high-nickel steel alloy products (used in industries such as oil & gas, heat treatment, and power environment sectors, to name a few).

For years, the core of Nicro’s environmental initiatives has been the operation of its photovoltaic plant, which covers over 50% of the energy needs and thus prevents the production of about 160 tons of CO2 annually. However, in 2023, as highlighted in the Sustainability Report, this was just the beginning: the company installed a system of sensors to detect electricity consumption on high-energy-use machines (Laser 6030, Laser 5060, Laser 3D, Press Brake, Plasma Cutting), in line with the guidelines of certification 50001. This analysis is part of a comprehensive policy to reduce energy consumption, following the implementation of a new LED lighting system throughout the production facility, and the preventive evaluation of the environmental impact of technologies and processes to identify and adopt those that are less polluting.

Year after year, the company has implemented a meticulous recycling policy that includes the total recovery of production scraps (from sheets to repaired products), aiming for a continuous search for new materials and processes that help minimize the extraction and use of non-renewable resources. The ambitious goal for 2025 is to reduce the company’s overall environmental impact to achieve zero emissions.

Welfare and Human Resources

Nicro SPA’s welfare policy is strictly oriented towards employee well-being, with initiatives ranging from skill development to worker health. In 2023, Nicro reaffirmed its attention to workplace safety by upgrading machinery and employing new equipment (mobile platforms for high-altitude work and maintenance and blue safety lights for forklifts), as well as adapting safety procedures to maintain the high standards of ISO 45001 certification.

Beyond ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, as highlighted in the Report, the Group continuously invests in the training and professional development of its employees, with programs aimed at improving individual skills and strengthening the sense of belonging and motivation within the organization. Among the most important courses are those on Lean Management, aimed at the continuous improvement of the company’s products, production layouts, and information systems.

Significant attention is also given to compensation management, introducing a series of rewards and benefits to gratify employees and retain highly qualified and productive staff. All this is part of a welfare network that covers baby funds, extended bereavement leave, smart working for office employees, highly specialized laundry services for production departments, team-building activities, and moments of gathering, such as Family Day, to facilitate the balance between personal and professional life.

Social Commitment

For Nicro SPA, social responsibility extends beyond the company’s boundaries to the local community. Nicro actively participates in the well-being of the territory and its inhabitants by funding projects that contribute to the revitalization of urban spaces and the professional training of young people.

In 2023, Nicro continued its partnership with the Social Cooperative “IL SUSINO” in Caravaggio, which carries out work integration activities for disadvantaged individuals. Through the collaboration with the Cooperative, several beehives have been installed in the area of the social garden over the years, to set up training projects for people with disabilities together with the company Apicolturaurbana. Attention to the environment is combined with the new project of planting an area of over one hectare in the municipality of Caravaggio (on the border with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin) to create an urban orchard of flowers and ornamental plants. The project’s goal (extending from the end of 2023 into 2024) is to initiate a process of territorial regeneration involving companies and citizens, allowing local cooperatives to organize production and transformation projects.

Significant are also the internships and school-work alternation, in synergy with the education sector, and the active participation in the vocational training center Consorzio ENFAPI of Treviglio (BG). Attention to the world of education translated in 2023 into the first participation in the PMI days organized by Confindustria Bergamo, to bring third-grade middle school students closer to the world of work, showing how teamwork is done every day to achieve a common goal.

Therefore, Nicro SPA’s 2024 Sustainability Report is not just a reporting document, but a declaration of intent. Through active commitment in all areas of sustainability and a corporate strategy that integrates social, environmental, and governance efforts, Nicro demonstrates how sustainability can become a true engine of innovation and success. For NICRO, operating sustainably means not only respecting the environment and society but also leading the entire metallurgical sector towards a new standard of responsibility and quality.