Autogrill and Gruppo Hera Forge Alliance to Propel Circular Economy Initiatives

(IN BRIEF) Autogrill, a leading travel foodservice provider, and Gruppo Hera, a major Italian multiutility, have forged a strategic alliance to drive circular economy initiatives, sustainable mobility, and environmental communication in alignment with the UN’s Agenda 2030. The one-year agreement encompasses a range of environmental measures across 390 Autogrill foodservice points in Italy, including waste management optimization, plastics recycling, and food waste reduction. A groundbreaking project kickstarts the partnership, aiming to repurpose over 100 tonnes of spent vegetable oils from Autogrill locations into biofuel, exemplifying the potential of circular economy principles in fostering sustainability.

(PRESS RELEASE) MILAN, 7-Jun-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Today marks a significant milestone in the realm of sustainability as Autogrill, a prominent travel foodservice provider, and Gruppo Hera, a leading Italian multiutility, join forces to spearhead circular economy initiatives. This collaborative endeavor, underscored by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, is poised to drive transformative change in waste management, sustainable mobility, and environmental communication, aligning with the UN’s Agenda 2030

In a memorandum of intent inked between the two entities, spanning a duration of one year, the partnership sets the stage for the implementation of a comprehensive suite of environmental measures across approximately 390 Autogrill foodservice points in Italy. These measures encompass a spectrum of strategies, including waste management optimization, plastics recycling, food waste reduction, and proactive waste reclamation initiatives. Moreover, the collaboration extends beyond operational realms to encompass joint communication endeavors targeting both customers and employees of Autogrill, fostering a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

At the forefront of this collaborative effort is the launch of a pioneering project aimed at repurposing spent vegetable oils from over 70 Autogrill foodservice points, totaling more than 100 tonnes. These oils, remnants of food preparation activities, will be reclaimed and transformed into biofuel, thereby bolstering sustainable mobility initiatives. Leveraging the partnership between Gruppo Hera and Eni, the pre-treated oils will undergo a transformative process at a biorefinery in Porto Marghera (Venice), exemplifying the potential of circular economy principles in driving tangible environmental benefits.

Orazio Iacono, CEO of Gruppo Hera, heralded the partnership as a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to championing the transition to a circular economy paradigm. He emphasized the intrinsic alignment between Hera’s corporate ethos and the overarching goals of sustainability and resource regeneration, underscoring the pivotal role of collaborative endeavors in realizing tangible progress.

Echoing this sentiment, Massimiliano Santoro, CEO of Autogrill Italy, reaffirmed the company’s steadfast dedication to integrating sustainability into its operational framework. He emphasized the pivotal role of partnerships in driving meaningful change, highlighting the imperative for businesses to unite in pursuit of common objectives aimed at safeguarding the planet’s finite resources.

With a steadfast focus on innovation and sustainability, the partnership between Autogrill and Gruppo Hera represents a beacon of hope in addressing the pressing environmental challenges of our time. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of both entities, the alliance is poised to catalyze a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.

Gruppo Hera
Gruppo Hera is a major Italian multiutility operating in the environment, energy and water sectors with over 9,000 employees engaged every day in meeting the multiple needs of around 5 million citizens, mostly in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Toscana and Abruzzo. Listed since 2003, it is one of the top 40 Italian companies by market capitalization (on the Ftse Mib) and has been on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe, since 2020.
www.gruppohera.it

Autogrill
Autogrill Group is the the world’s leading provider of food & beverage services for travellers. It operates in 774 locations in 30 countries across 4 continents, managing around 3,300 points of sale (of which around 390 in Italy), and is present in 139 airports. Autogrill can count on around 46,000 employees.
www.autogrill.com

Media Contact:

Gruppo Hera:
Cecilia Bondioli
cecilia.bondioli@gruppohera.it
ufficiostampa@gruppohera.it

Autogrill:
Group Corporate Communication Department
dir.com@autogrill.net

SOURCE: Autogrill