Who chose EPDItaly tells its story: Zucchetti Centro Sistemi and the ZCS Azzurro range
Samanta Marzielli, Quality-Environment and Process Green Innovation Division
Zucchetti Centro Sistemi Spa was founded in 1985 in Tuscany as a software house.
The company quickly established itself in the international robotics, automation, and renewable energy markets. Today, Zucchetti Centro Sistemi stands out in the markets in which it operates for its innovative SMART & GREEN solutions that integrate the most advanced technologies. The Tuscan company decided to rely on EPDItaly first to obtain EPD certification for the entire ZCS Azzurro range (photovoltaic inverters, batteries, and charging stations). In this regard, we interviewed Samanta Marzielli, Quality-Environment and Process Green Innovation Division, who told us about the reasons that led the company to adopt EPD certification and the advantages of this document.
What organizational steps did you have to take to extend EPDItaly certification from photovoltaic inverters alone to the complete ZCS Azzurro range (inverters, batteries, and charging stations)?
To extend the EPD to the entire ZCS Azzurro range, we coordinated a cross-functional effort between R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain, precisely mapping the entire life cycle of each product (raw materials, processes, logistics, end of life). At the same time, we collaborated with external partners on the LCA study and the drafting of the Declarations in accordance with international standards. The main challenge was to harmonize heterogeneous data, ensuring consistency, traceability, and transparency of results.
You are two years ahead of the European deadlines: how does EPDItaly certification for the ZCS Azzurro line improve transparency and facilitate comparison with competing solutions, both in Italy and abroad?
The availability of EPDs today offers a real competitive advantage: we provide customers and designers with an objective benchmark on environmental impact, simplifying comparison with market alternatives, particularly in countries that are more sensitive to ESG criteria. In addition, we are aligning ourselves in advance with future ecodesign requirements, confirming a real and tangible commitment to sustainability throughout the supply chain.
How do you intend to leverage the results of Environmental Product Declarations in your innovation process to aim for even more ambitious sustainability goals?
For us, EPDs are a starting point, not a destination. LCA indicators allow us to identify the most impactful stages of the life cycle and take targeted action: continuous improvement in end-of-life management, optimization of transport and packaging, greater recyclability and durability of products. The goal is for every new ZCS Azzurro solution to be better not only in terms of performance and efficiency, but also in terms of environmental KPIs throughout its entire life cycle.
What tools and channels (e.g., brochures, website, webinars, presentations) do you use to share EPD data with customers, designers, and other stakeholders?
We have made EPD certifications easily accessible on the zcsazzurro.com website, both in a dedicated section and on individual product pages. We integrate them into commercial and technical presentations, webinars, trade fairs, and meetings with partners. We also support design studios and general contractors in drafting documentation for international tenders and projects.
What feedback have you already received from customers, distributors, or installers on the EPD for the ZCS Azzurro range, and how do you plan to use it to improve communication and products?
The feedback has been very positive: EPDs facilitate inclusion in specifications with environmental requirements and are a distinctive feature in the choice of our products. We are working to make the data even more accessible with infographics and video content, and we use feedback to strengthen our eco-design approach from the early stages of development, improving communication clarity and impact metrics.