Those who chose EPDItaly share their story: Cugini spa

Alice Alberti, Head of Technical Consulting and Design at Cugini Spa

Cugini SpA was established with a focus on the production of natural hydraulic lime. Since the 1990s, the company has expanded its operations to include the production of calcium carbonate fillers and pre-mixed mortars for the construction industry. Today, Cugini produces approximately 400,000 tons of construction materials annually; its core business is centered on calcium carbonate fillers, hydraulic binders, and pre-mixed mortars.

The Lombardy-based company chose to partner with EPDItaly to obtain the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its calcium carbonate filler. To discuss this further, we interviewed Alice Alberti, Head of Technical Consulting and Design, who detailed the motivations behind the company’s adoption of the EPD certification and the strategic advantages of this document.

What were the primary motivations that led you toward voluntary EPD certification?

The main driver was our desire to take clear responsibility toward both the environment and our clients. The EPD allows us to share comprehensive, verified, and actionable environmental data to assess our products’ sustainability. Through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, we objectively analyzed the entire life cycle, identifying key impacts and opportunities for improvement. This certification represents a concrete commitment to transparency, while also serving as a strategic tool to optimize production processes and meet growing market demands for environmental performance.

Which of your company’s products have obtained the EPD, and what are their key characteristics?

The focus of our initial EPD study was calcium carbonate filler, produced by grinding carbonate rocks from the Roveto quarry—adjacent to our Nembro (BG) plant—in a closed-circuit mill. The study covered three different filler types developed for specific applications within the construction industry. The material is chemically inert and free of clay components, amorphous silica, and organic matter. It is primarily used as a mineral filler to optimize the particle size distribution in various formulations, particularly in concrete, bituminous mixtures, and masonry mortars. In compliance with European standards, the product is marketed under three different names based on its intended use. Furthermore, our fillers have been voluntarily certified as by-products; the certificate issued by ICMQ verifies that the recycled, recovered, or by-product content of the filler is 90%.

What are the main advantages of publishing an Environmental Product Declaration, and how does it impact the final consumer?

For the company, publishing an EPD provides a competitive advantage: it enables us to meet client demands for transparency, facilitates participation in tenders where environmental requirements are increasingly critical, and provides a technical foundation for further process improvements. For the final consumer, the EPD guarantees clear, comparable information regarding the product’s environmental impact, allowing for more informed purchasing decisions and strengthening trust across the entire supply chain.

Do you believe EPDItaly can help spread a culture of product sustainability?

Absolutely. EPDItaly plays a fundamental role in making tools like LCA and environmental declarations accessible and understandable. By promoting common standards, they increase the credibility of certifications. The presence of an authoritative Italian Program Operator is key to accelerating the transition of our production system toward more sustainable models.

In your opinion, how important is the presence of sustainable Italian products within a Program Operator that leverages an international network?

It is vital. Placing Italian products within an international network ensures visibility, comparability, and recognition in global markets. Participation in such a Program Operator allows Italian companies to benchmark themselves against international standards and demonstrate that our industrial sector can provide highly sustainable and competitive solutions.