QN Economia features an in-depth article on Cartiere Carrara’s 2024 Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s achievements in environmental, social, and employment areas.
The article outlines the Group’s commitment to reducing water consumption, adopting European ESG reporting standards, and supporting job growth across its Italian plants. It’s an opportunity to showcase the company’s ongoing journey toward sustainability and innovation, aimed at combining production efficiency with environmental responsibility and care for people.
Below is the translation of the article:
Founded in 1873, Cartiere Carrara is today one of the most solid and recognized industrial players in Europe in the tissue paper sector. With over 150 years of history, the company — which operates seven production sites located in Tuscany, Liguria, and Lazio — has successfully combined tradition and innovation, transforming itself into a modern and integrated group that controls the entire production cycle, from raw materials to finished products.
The joint-stock company recently presented its 2024 Sustainability Report in Florence, drafted for the first time in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), thus anticipating the requirements of the upcoming EU directive on sustainability reporting. The value generated by the Group reached €465 million, with a production of about 300,000 tons of tissue paper, while the workforce grew by 86 employees during the year.
On the environmental front, water withdrawal decreased by 8.6% compared to 2022, nearly half of the waste produced was sent for recovery, and since 2020, 14,185 trees have been planted as part of the company’s reforestation project.
Greenhouse gas emissions also fell compared to the previous year, thanks to ongoing investments in innovation and energy efficiency across the plants.
“With this report, we wanted to present the results of 2024 and, at the same time, set the direction for the coming years,” said Mario Carrara, Vice President of Cartiere Carrara. “For us, sustainability means concretely integrating all its dimensions — environmental, social, and governance. It’s a commitment that goes beyond statements of principle, translating instead into measurable results, responsible investments, and everyday choices oriented toward the long term.”
In 2024, the company joined the United Nations Global Compact, formally committing to respect universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. The Group aims to further reduce water consumption, increase the share of energy sourced from renewables, and develop a decarbonization plan.
Cartiere Carrara’s business is structured around three main lines, covering the full spectrum of the tissue market.
The first is the “B2B” Away From Home division, dedicated to the production of disposable products for personal and environmental hygiene, made from virgin or recycled fibers and intended for out-of-home consumption in the HoReCa, Community, Office & Industrial sectors. The leading brands in this segment are CC Pro, BulkySoft, and Carind — names synonymous with reliability and quality, capable of meeting all market needs in the Away From Home sector.
The second line, “B2C”, is represented by the Consumer Division, focused on the domestic market. It also includes disposable products for personal and household hygiene, made from virgin fibers and designed for everyday use at home.
The range meets all the main needs related to tissue paper for household use — toilet paper, paper towels, industrial rolls, napkins, tissues, and facial tissues — distributed both under proprietary brands and private labels. The main brands representing this division are Tuscany – the beauty of paper, Maxi – the super paper, and BulkySoft, each positioned differently in terms of style, quality, and target consumer segment.
Upstream in the production chain is the Mother Reels business line, dedicated to the production of large tissue paper reels — the first link in the production chain — made from virgin or recycled fibers and intended for subsequent conversion into finished products for professional and consumer markets.
Alongside its industrial activity, Cartiere Carrara has long invested in education and youth development, considered a strategic pillar of the Group. Among its most significant initiatives is the project “La Carta che Pianta Alberi… va a Scuola” (“The Paper that Plants Trees… Goes to School”), aimed at students from schools in the Lucca and Pisa areas. The program combines environmental education, workshops, and plant tours with tree-planting activities to raise awareness of sustainability issues.
The company also collaborates with technical high schools specializing in paper production, organizing meetings and seminars with its managers and engineers to showcase the professional opportunities in the sector.
This commitment continues through the ITS Prime Foundation, a regional center of excellence for technical and industrial training, where Cartiere Carrara contributes through workshops and talks as part of the ITS Prime Tour.
Finally, the Group is a partner of the Master’s Degree in Paper and Cardboard Technology at the University of Pisa, supporting academic training through internships, research projects, and direct participation. This ongoing collaboration strengthens the link between business and education, promoting a development model grounded in knowledge, responsibility, and innovation.
