Distributing euro 746 million in value
+32% value generated for the region
182 million Euro investments in services for the city
60% recycling rate achieved in Milan,
66% in the municipalities served in the outlying area (province)
6,000 “smart” waste receptacles installed
renewable energy provided to customers: doubled
529 new hires
-18% weighted accident rate
18,000 students involved in the school project
An ongoing pledge to provide material support to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Milano, 9 luglio 2019 - Today in Milan, and as part of the conference entitled “Sustainability's Value to Industry”, A2A presented its pledges and its actions towards achieving the UN 2030 Agenda goals, as summarised in its Integrated Report and in its Milan Sustainability Report. The data were detailed by A2A Group Chairman Giovanni Valotti, and CEO Valerio Camerano. The meeting provided the venue for a dialogue on the issue of the value, including the economic return, on sustainable development, and the tax-subsidy tools now available to pursue the same.
At the third annual Milan Sustainability Report, A2A detailed the work done, and the results achieved, in respect of eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the 2030 UN Agenda, aimed at promoting gender equality, incentivising a sustainable economy, ensuring access to cost-effective and reliable energy systems, ensuring responsible methods of production and consumption, and implementing measures to combat climate change and to protect the ecosystem
Goals 5 and 8 - Gender equality, promoting sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
In 2018, in the greater Milan metropolitan area, Euro 746 million in value was generated and distributed, representing a 32% increase over 2017: Euro 426 million spent on goods (70% of which benefited small businesses and start-ups, and 2% going to social cooperatives) and Euro 257 million disbursed as the cost of labour (+4%) to 6,053 employees in the area. In 2018, 529 persons were hired, 43% of whom under 30. Additionally, 433 persons were involved in the Smart Working project, for a total of 5,500 days of telecommuting from home.
Goal 7 - Promuovere l’accesso a sistemi di energia economici, affidabili, sostenibili e moderni
A2A Energia has provided energy to families and companies in the metropolitan area totalling 508 million cubic metres of natural gas, and 3,500 GWh of electricity, of which over a third was offered on the open market for renewable energy, representing a 102% increase over 2017. In 2018, certain solutions for energy efficiency for the end user were proposed. For example, thanks to an LED Kit purchased by A2A Energia customers, nearly 4,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided. The company moved forward with developing its remote/district heating, increasing the number of networked customers by 3%. Approximately 19% of the electricity and 50% of all heat was produced from non-recyclable waste, thereby avoiding the use of fossil fuels, used to meet the electrical demands of 140 thousand families (13% with respect to FY2017) and heating for 33 thousand families (+8%).
Goal 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
For A2A, infrastructure plays a fundamental role. It must be safeguarded, and developed over time. In 2018, the Group invested Euro 182 million to maintain and to develop the services it offers (representing a 4% increase over 2017). Amongst these was reaching the 77% completion mark for the plan to replace power-grid couplings, and programmes for maintenance and optimisation through the Silla2 waste-to-energy plan, and the Cassano d’Adda plant, and the fibre-optic network.
In 2018, A2A Pubblica Illuminazione [Street Lighting] was awarded a procurement contract to provide street lighting to five municipalities [Garbagnate Milanese, Cornaredo, Pero, Melzo and Cesate], whereas Unareti won a call for tenders for a natural-gas distribution contract for the Municipality of Milan.
Goal 11 - Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Over ten thousand people visited the Group's four sites in the Milan metro area, eight thousand of which went to the Casa dell’Energia e dell’Ambiente [Environmental and Energy House] at the AEM Foundation headquarters. Eighteen thousand students were involved in A2A’s School Project, which featured visits, contests, and classes.
2018 saw the installation of the first 6,000 “smart” receptacles, which serve to streamline waste-collection systems. When full, these relay a message to the central collection station.
The other projects devised during the forumAscolto, produced by A2A in January of 2017 in Milan, were the following:
SMART MOBILITY – a smartphone app to send alerts, and to receive information and updates, on Unareti utility-work sites
KEEPING THE CITY CLEAN – an awareness campaign targeting dog owners, and the community at large, was launched in November. The installation of new pet-waste bins, with complimentary plastic bags, is almost finished in the city's dog parks;
FOOD WASTE - ten open-air municipal farmers’ markets now feature a «Surplus Food Counter», where unsold food items are made available, free of charge, to those in need
STREET AND OTHER PUBLIC LIGHTING – a plan to install 1,500 new LEC street lights is underway, which are in addition to the 1,200 already renewed in the 2017-2018 year, for a total investment of Euro 8.6 million.
Goal 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Once again in 2018, and with a view towards a circular economy, nearly all (99.4%) of the municipal waste collected in the greater Milan area served by A2A was sent off for materials or energy recoupment. Milan remains one of the flagship communities in Europe in terms of recycling, reaching a 60% recycling rate at the end of 2018. To further improve recycling levels, various awareness campaigns have been run, including the “Did You Say Compost?” to help people find out how to properly recycle new compostable items (such as glasses, dishes, grocery bags, etc.) that can be included along with kitchen waste and sent for composting. Five Ecoisole have been installed. These innovative waste receptacles can be activated using one's national-health cared. Here, you can deposit broken and obsolete electrical, electronic, and light-fixture waste for proper disposal.
Goal 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
In 2018, 418 tonnes of CO2 emission were avoided thanks to production from waste-to-energy and co-generation systems. These reduce the need to use fossil fuels and landfills. Additionally, 117 tonnes and CO2 and 95 tonnes of NOx were obviated thanks to the remote/district heating network.
The e-moving network developed by A2A Energy Solutions further guaranteed 125 electric-car recharges, corresponding to 7.6 million km travelled at zero emissions, meaning 864 tonnes of Co2 saved.
Furthermore, 43 waste-compactor vehicles for the AMSA fleet, fuelled by petrol, were replaced with methane-powered machines; Unareti purchased 92 electric cars for its first-response fleet.
As part of the distribution of heat, A2A Calore & Servizi [Heat and Services] is experimenting with «LocPower» technology, through which it will be possible to recoup and transform hydraulic energy (currently dissipated) by using turbines built into the adjustment valves for the remote-heating network.
Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
A2A reaffirmed its support for social-welfare, cultural, and environmental programmes in the greater Milan area. It made social investments totalling Euro 2.5 million, through sponsorships and distributions to theatres, nonprofits, and foundations. Amongst these was the AEM Foundation, which in 2018 sponsored a number of programmes in Milan, including an exhibit entitled «Maccheariachefa» [What’s with this Air!] on the issue of air quality, featuring the work of Italy's most famous cartoon artists. The European project to improve the management of municipal waste in Quelimane (Mozambique) is moving forward. AMSA teamed up with the Municipality of Milan and CELIM on this project
Finally, in 2018, Banco dell’Energia Onlus [Energy Bank Nonprofit] teamed up with the Cariplo Foundation through a grant programme entitled “Doniamo Energia 2” [Donate Energy 2]. By identifying a further seven projects to sponsor (in addition to the eight already financed through the first round of grants), families in the greater Milan metro area who are facing economic and social hardships were provided the help they need. The two “Donate Energy” grant programmes sponsored efforts totalling Euro 4 million across the Region of Lombardy.
A2A Media Relations
Giuseppe Mariano
Tel. 02 7720.4583
ufficiostampa@a2a.eu
NOTE: Only italian version Video
