Barilla Group has reported a significant expansion in its resource management capabilities, coinciding with Global Recycling Day and World Water Day. The company confirmed that 99.8% of its current packaging is now designed for recyclability, while the volume of water recycled and reused across its global production sites increased by 45% between 2022 and 2024.
These developments are part of a broader industrial strategy to transition toward more circular production models, focusing on efficient water utilisation and the reduction of fossil-based packaging materials.
Water Conservation and Industrial Investment
Water is a critical resource for pasta and sauce production. To manage this resource, Barilla has implemented an Environmental Management System compliant with the UNI EN ISO 14001 standard. The Group utilises Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and the Water Scarcity Index to monitor regional water consumption and ensure environmental compliance.
Key industrial achievements in water management include:
Water Stress Mitigation: In water-stressed regions, the company increased its water recycling rate by 164% over the past two years.
The Rubbiano Plant Case Study: The Parma-based facility, which produces sauces and pesto, recovered over 62,000 cubic meters of water between 2022 and 2024 following upgrades to its wastewater treatment systems.
Future Capital Expenditure: Barilla has launched a 168 million euro Energy and Water Plan. This includes a 5 million euro investment specifically for the Rubbiano plant to increase the recycled water index further.
The Group aims to increase its recycled water index by 250% in high-stress areas by 2030 compared to 2022 levels.
Transitioning to Circular Packaging Solutions
Packaging remains a primary focus of Barilla’s environmental strategy, particularly in reducing waste and carbon emissions. Currently, 71% of the Group’s packaging is paper- or cardboard-based, and more than 50% of all materials used globally are derived from recycled sources.
The Group’s Sustainable Packaging Principles, established in 1997, continue to guide current redesign projects. A primary objective of this strategy is to remove approximately 4,000 tons of packaging material from the market by 2030 through optimisation and redesign.
Supply Chain and Environmental Oversight
Barilla’s sustainability efforts extend into the agri-food supply chain. The company maintains voluntary collaborations with tomato and basil suppliers to implement more efficient irrigation and farming practices. Internally, every production site is held to annual reduction targets, which are monitored monthly via the Supply Chain Scorecard, a global platform used to track environmental performance across the organisation.
By integrating these water and packaging initiatives, Barilla aims to stabilise its supply chain and reduce the environmental footprint associated with high-volume food manufacturing.
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