Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Echo Labs Supply chain crafts Furniture
Echo Labs: Indoor and Outdoor wood furniture regenerated from logistics disposable wood packaging.
Echo Labs is a concrete example of industrial symbiosis that experiments innovative sustainability production projects, with high inclusion social value through a global approach and local projects.
The interaction of profit and non-profit companies network, cooperate to feed circular economy supply chain capable of using used wood, generating new beauty and value. Training fragile individuals generate inter-generation dialogue, allowing them to become skilled craftsman.
The interaction of profit and non-profit companies network, cooperate to feed circular economy supply chain capable of using used wood, generating new beauty and value. Training fragile individuals generate inter-generation dialogue, allowing them to become skilled craftsman.
Italy
Local
Rho, Milan province.
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2024-01-30
No
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
Our Project embodies very well the three Bauhaus values - sustainability, inclusiveness and beauty - combining the local dimension with the participatory and interdisciplinary approach, in an example of industrial transformation that recycles materials otherwise destined for disposal, through an innovative recovery process, obtained in a sustainable way, and with a shared design principle that improves the quality of life for all (designed for all). Here is a summary: the wooden pallet boards used daily to move all kinds of goods in the Dachser and Fercam branches, together with the crate lids and related Ethafoam® packaging, used by the Fercam Fine Art division to store and transport paintings and works of art, have been transformed into furnishings for a partially underground space, creating the new multifunctional room in the Milan Rho branch. The concept, designed by our partner Laboratorio Linfa, took into account the unique nature of the place and transformed it into a bran new underground Pub-style venue, with a large counter, dining tables with seats, waste bins, stools, side tables and coat racks. The walls have been customized with a design solution that recalls the capital of the region where the project is located: the skyline of the Milan city, with clouds acting as coat racks. The project was an opportunity to raise awareness of reuse by actively involving the staff of Rome and Milan branches. In fact, the seat coverings were sewn by our partner yogis4nature (a social tailoring shop) with waste fabrics offered by colleagues: sheets for the cushion covers and jeans of various colors for the external covering.
Beauty
Sustainability
Innovative
Inclusivity
Affordable solution
EL, initially created to mitigate FERCAM's impact in its daily activities, has over time expressed scalable projects and positive values, based on eco-design:
• systematic recovery of disused material to generate complete upcycling projects, shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life cycle thinking;
• offering job and training opportunities to promote employment and inclusion for migrants and asylum seekers, people who need it most;
• a way of working that rewards networking and encourages the development of a new culture of respect for the environment and for diversity in all people. Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age or background, people feel welcomed, respected, valued.
The production process creates solid, beautiful and functional interior furniture. In its design choices, EL favors materials from the logistics chain destined for disposal (packaging, pallets, transport crates, etc.), the furnishings are the result of artisanal design and manufacturing, the assembly methods are as reversible as possible and the finishing treatments are based on natural waxes and vegetable solvents, therefore they are non-polluting and respectful of nature. The design result is a synthesis of functionality, aesthetics and availability of materials that promotes new visions.
The working group employs professionals in dialogue with young people from different backgrounds, thus obtaining a participatory process capable of representing different approaches and accessible solutions, with multilevel involvement and a trans-disciplinary approach.
It is exemplary because it is a replicable production model: applied in other situations it will have important impacts on materials destined for disposal, during the production cycle of companies. Recovered wood can not only have another life, but also stores significant quantities of CO2.
• systematic recovery of disused material to generate complete upcycling projects, shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life cycle thinking;
• offering job and training opportunities to promote employment and inclusion for migrants and asylum seekers, people who need it most;
• a way of working that rewards networking and encourages the development of a new culture of respect for the environment and for diversity in all people. Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age or background, people feel welcomed, respected, valued.
The production process creates solid, beautiful and functional interior furniture. In its design choices, EL favors materials from the logistics chain destined for disposal (packaging, pallets, transport crates, etc.), the furnishings are the result of artisanal design and manufacturing, the assembly methods are as reversible as possible and the finishing treatments are based on natural waxes and vegetable solvents, therefore they are non-polluting and respectful of nature. The design result is a synthesis of functionality, aesthetics and availability of materials that promotes new visions.
The working group employs professionals in dialogue with young people from different backgrounds, thus obtaining a participatory process capable of representing different approaches and accessible solutions, with multilevel involvement and a trans-disciplinary approach.
It is exemplary because it is a replicable production model: applied in other situations it will have important impacts on materials destined for disposal, during the production cycle of companies. Recovered wood can not only have another life, but also stores significant quantities of CO2.
EL projects are based on an artisanal production system and have multiple advantages:
• Craftsmanship is the basis of Italian culture and tradition. Beauty represents the highest expression of Made in Italy, a characteristic that has always been recognized all over the world. In a period of crisis in the artisanal sector, EL is convinced that the artisan carpenter still has a lot to say and for this reason it invests in the creation of new professional skills, usable in the new by-product supply chains, demonstrating with its unique projects that this is truly possible.
• Thanks to the care and professionalism of artisanal processes, furnishings are created that are certainly aesthetically pleasing and well-finished but also safe (unique pieces guarantee greater control) and more functional (in terms of anthropometry and comfort), compared to a low-quality design that translates into a reduced life cycle and consequently waste and generation of waste. • The "ad hoc design" curated by the eco designers of Laboratorio Linfa, EL's partner, aims to make each project "unique" because each solution is designed to be perfectly contextualized in the cultural and territorial environment that hosts it, and to respond to specific needs of users and customers;
• The creation of common internal spaces offers members of the community the opportunity to have a meeting place where live and share social moments of relaxation; a beautiful and well-furnished environment influence the colleagues mood generating positive emotions, and feeling more at ease better predispose to interpersonal relationships, stimulating bonds and creativity, essentially making people's lives richer, both in personal growth and in relationships with others. Basically, at EL, we aim to love each other more.
EL projects represent Beauty in the chosen way of working: by rewarding networking and alliances they favor the affirmation of this new culture of respect for the environment, diversity, people.
• Craftsmanship is the basis of Italian culture and tradition. Beauty represents the highest expression of Made in Italy, a characteristic that has always been recognized all over the world. In a period of crisis in the artisanal sector, EL is convinced that the artisan carpenter still has a lot to say and for this reason it invests in the creation of new professional skills, usable in the new by-product supply chains, demonstrating with its unique projects that this is truly possible.
• Thanks to the care and professionalism of artisanal processes, furnishings are created that are certainly aesthetically pleasing and well-finished but also safe (unique pieces guarantee greater control) and more functional (in terms of anthropometry and comfort), compared to a low-quality design that translates into a reduced life cycle and consequently waste and generation of waste. • The "ad hoc design" curated by the eco designers of Laboratorio Linfa, EL's partner, aims to make each project "unique" because each solution is designed to be perfectly contextualized in the cultural and territorial environment that hosts it, and to respond to specific needs of users and customers;
• The creation of common internal spaces offers members of the community the opportunity to have a meeting place where live and share social moments of relaxation; a beautiful and well-furnished environment influence the colleagues mood generating positive emotions, and feeling more at ease better predispose to interpersonal relationships, stimulating bonds and creativity, essentially making people's lives richer, both in personal growth and in relationships with others. Basically, at EL, we aim to love each other more.
EL projects represent Beauty in the chosen way of working: by rewarding networking and alliances they favor the affirmation of this new culture of respect for the environment, diversity, people.
EL proposes itself as a promoter of the Go-Green philosophy. Therefore, EL proposes and supports its partners and customers in the integration of environmental sustainability and social innovation practices, in particular with regard to projects concerning employee health and corporate social responsibility.
Since the transport of goods on pallets is present in every corner of the world and the recycling of broken pallets is therefore possible in every country, the new social model of reusing waste materials proposed by EL can be replicated wherever there is the simple will to do so.A model that promotes the recovery of raw materials rather than simply disposing of them, brings only economic, environmental and social benefits that make a government more efficient and responsible. Environmental sustainability is realized in reducing waste: recovering materials minimizes the environmental impact, preserves natural resources, reduces disposal costs (both economic and in terms of storage in the environment), and helps climate change.
The recovered raw materials are transformed into economic concreteness: there will be less need for supplies, with long-term savings.
The new industry of recycling and recovery of raw materials created generates new jobs.
And if investments in technologies for the recovery of materials are planned, innovation will benefit, making companies more competitive and promoting the development of new markets.
The policies of recovery of raw materials show the attention and commitment that we want to give to sustainability and social responsibility: they improve the image of the government and the companies that are involved. We have achieved our goal in the way we like: by teaming up, that is, by talking about our Project to our customers, having a vast portfolio.
Since the transport of goods on pallets is present in every corner of the world and the recycling of broken pallets is therefore possible in every country, the new social model of reusing waste materials proposed by EL can be replicated wherever there is the simple will to do so.A model that promotes the recovery of raw materials rather than simply disposing of them, brings only economic, environmental and social benefits that make a government more efficient and responsible. Environmental sustainability is realized in reducing waste: recovering materials minimizes the environmental impact, preserves natural resources, reduces disposal costs (both economic and in terms of storage in the environment), and helps climate change.
The recovered raw materials are transformed into economic concreteness: there will be less need for supplies, with long-term savings.
The new industry of recycling and recovery of raw materials created generates new jobs.
And if investments in technologies for the recovery of materials are planned, innovation will benefit, making companies more competitive and promoting the development of new markets.
The policies of recovery of raw materials show the attention and commitment that we want to give to sustainability and social responsibility: they improve the image of the government and the companies that are involved. We have achieved our goal in the way we like: by teaming up, that is, by talking about our Project to our customers, having a vast portfolio.
In the specific case of Milan Rho, the impact of involving colleagues was very simple and easy. They had to provide the waste raw material in terms of sheets and jeans needed to cover all the seats, internally and externally, with an aesthetically unsurpassable result. The idea of engaging them on use was born from a discussion between the HR offices and an internal communication to which the employees happily adhered. The most interesting aspect is that being involved in the project, at the end of it, made "the new brewery" a privileged place of belonging where everyone recognized themselves and knows they contributed by bringing the little piece of themselves that served to build it. In the brewery there are the jeans they have worn for years!
In our collaborations we always work in synergy with stakeholders to develop projects that minimize environmental impact and promote Corporate Social Responsibility.
Starting from the Graphic Design based on the specific needs of the Milan Rho Branch, taking into account the functions that must be fulfilled for the end users, we also respond to the needs of local institutions (in the event that the services cannot be offered directly by the municipalities). By adopting an inclusive approach through ‘design for all’, we seek the specificity of the end users of the furnishings and therefore guarantee maximum alignment with their needs. We also involve the various interested parties to increase the credibility and acceptance of the project, increasing the degree of satisfaction for everyone.
Laboratorio Linfa was entrusted with defining the graphic concept and involving students from academies such as Accademia Italiana (IAAD) and ISIA (the first public design institute in Italy, whose first teachers included students from the ULM School).
Yogis4nature also took care of the essential creative side: developing and creating resistant and comfortable seats was not easy, however, thanks to the precious contribution of their volunteers who sewed with great skill the different fabrics (house sheets and discarded jeans) the final result was exceptional.
The added value is that each stakeholder brings unique experience and knowledge. These are resources at various levels that enrich the project with new perspectives, consequently the project often requires innovative solutions, never tried before, maximizing the effectiveness of the project itself. Our teaming up with different stakeholders brings advantages in any case: the networks that are created increase mutual trust facilitating further opportunities in the future.
In our experience, a heterogeneous group of stakeholders and users is a guarantee of the success of the project.
Starting from the Graphic Design based on the specific needs of the Milan Rho Branch, taking into account the functions that must be fulfilled for the end users, we also respond to the needs of local institutions (in the event that the services cannot be offered directly by the municipalities). By adopting an inclusive approach through ‘design for all’, we seek the specificity of the end users of the furnishings and therefore guarantee maximum alignment with their needs. We also involve the various interested parties to increase the credibility and acceptance of the project, increasing the degree of satisfaction for everyone.
Laboratorio Linfa was entrusted with defining the graphic concept and involving students from academies such as Accademia Italiana (IAAD) and ISIA (the first public design institute in Italy, whose first teachers included students from the ULM School).
Yogis4nature also took care of the essential creative side: developing and creating resistant and comfortable seats was not easy, however, thanks to the precious contribution of their volunteers who sewed with great skill the different fabrics (house sheets and discarded jeans) the final result was exceptional.
The added value is that each stakeholder brings unique experience and knowledge. These are resources at various levels that enrich the project with new perspectives, consequently the project often requires innovative solutions, never tried before, maximizing the effectiveness of the project itself. Our teaming up with different stakeholders brings advantages in any case: the networks that are created increase mutual trust facilitating further opportunities in the future.
In our experience, a heterogeneous group of stakeholders and users is a guarantee of the success of the project.
The fields of knowledge related to the project of the multifunctional hall in Milan Rho concern carpentry, eco design, materials technology, mechanical engineering, social innovation. EL carries out research and development activities through a full-time multidisciplinary laboratory, both theoretical and practical, to support its approach to the circular economy in the disciplines mentioned above. This added value allows us to continuously improve both products and processes, helping us to better understand trends and needs of the market and customers, increasing our competitiveness and consequently our chances of success.
• carpentry and materials technology: selecting and dismantling tertiary packaging, reducing it to boards and semi-finished products that maintain their physical and structural properties, or with aesthetic qualities that can be improved based on future uses, is the work of our operators, interns or employees, supported by craftsmen with specific skills in the characterization and processing of materials;
• eco design: also called sustainable design, it is a design approach that considers the environmental impact of the product throughout its life cycle, from conception and production to use and disposal. At EL we only develop functional and inclusive upcycling projects, aesthetically beautiful, treated with natural materials, made with mechanical joining techniques that guarantee the reversibility of the materials, to guarantee future recovery cycles.
• mechanical engineering: supported by mechanical engineers we are making improvements in disassembly operations, transforming simple tools in use into tools for rapid disassembly activities;
• social innovation: by including fragile workers such as refugees and the unemployable, EL creates a network of collaborations between profit and non-profit companies, generating positive social cascades.
• carpentry and materials technology: selecting and dismantling tertiary packaging, reducing it to boards and semi-finished products that maintain their physical and structural properties, or with aesthetic qualities that can be improved based on future uses, is the work of our operators, interns or employees, supported by craftsmen with specific skills in the characterization and processing of materials;
• eco design: also called sustainable design, it is a design approach that considers the environmental impact of the product throughout its life cycle, from conception and production to use and disposal. At EL we only develop functional and inclusive upcycling projects, aesthetically beautiful, treated with natural materials, made with mechanical joining techniques that guarantee the reversibility of the materials, to guarantee future recovery cycles.
• mechanical engineering: supported by mechanical engineers we are making improvements in disassembly operations, transforming simple tools in use into tools for rapid disassembly activities;
• social innovation: by including fragile workers such as refugees and the unemployable, EL creates a network of collaborations between profit and non-profit companies, generating positive social cascades.
All over the world, discarded pallets are sent for disposal: at EL, we turn them into new raw material for furniture and objects, and this is precisely the innovation that we have introduced with our project.
Of course, when we started, we didn't know it... because everything was born simply, starting from listening to a truck driver's need.
The EL idea was born in the FERCAM Rome branch from the need to create an eco-sustainable relaxation area for employees and drivers, where they could take a break. From this first positive pilot project, we understood that we had a broader desire to start other regeneration initiatives, and non-urban, and we began to look around searching for those who were feeling the same: combining circular economy concepts, design and social integration with the proposal of a new relationship between civil society and the common good.
Having a lot of waste material available we easily combined the initial idea with material feasibility, and by reusing the pallets for disposal we no longer had to dispose them, reducing our amount of waste disposed, with an economic saving (and reducing our environmental impact), also bringing innovation and creativity with our new way of understanding furniture, creating jobs by giving prospects to those who need it most, saving our best oxygen resources (trees!) and last, educating society to be more sensitive to the environment in which we live, not only with words but with a concrete example. Everyone can do it: in every country there are design schools, carpenters and students with potential skills and, of course, pallets that break during the transport of goods!
Of course, when we started, we didn't know it... because everything was born simply, starting from listening to a truck driver's need.
The EL idea was born in the FERCAM Rome branch from the need to create an eco-sustainable relaxation area for employees and drivers, where they could take a break. From this first positive pilot project, we understood that we had a broader desire to start other regeneration initiatives, and non-urban, and we began to look around searching for those who were feeling the same: combining circular economy concepts, design and social integration with the proposal of a new relationship between civil society and the common good.
Having a lot of waste material available we easily combined the initial idea with material feasibility, and by reusing the pallets for disposal we no longer had to dispose them, reducing our amount of waste disposed, with an economic saving (and reducing our environmental impact), also bringing innovation and creativity with our new way of understanding furniture, creating jobs by giving prospects to those who need it most, saving our best oxygen resources (trees!) and last, educating society to be more sensitive to the environment in which we live, not only with words but with a concrete example. Everyone can do it: in every country there are design schools, carpenters and students with potential skills and, of course, pallets that break during the transport of goods!
Our wood is recovered from end-of-life transport packaging.
All EL furniture uses high-quality wood. We do not want to hide the interlocking systems, wooden joints or other connections to create the idea of a formally pure and clean piece of furniture. If making trendy furniture requires harmful glues, wood-effect plastic films, materials that are dangerous for our health and the environment, we prefer to be alternative.
We prefer to think about the warmth of wood, its iridescent and deep shades, its grain steeped in history. We much prefer being than appearing: what is essential lasts a long time, also thanks to the affection it earns; on the contrary, what is only appearance breaks in less than a generation, to the detriment of the environment, for which it constitutes a waste difficult to digest.
All treatments allow wood to return in the future (hopefully as late as possible) as "recyclable or reusable material" and not material with a high environmental risk. In fact, the treatment to preserve wood from mold and xylophagous insects is a solution of water and Boron salts in a percentage of 10%. Finishing products for surfaces are based on natural diluents: cooked linseed oil (lead-free), orange terpenes, wine vinegar, ethyl alcohol, raw beeswax, cobalt-manganese based desiccant, propolis, essential oils. All metal components such as nails, screws and staples are extracted and disposed of correctly. Connection with screws is preferred to gluing because at the end of their life, portions of the product can be dismantled and correctly differentiated.
“Leaving a positive mark on the world” is our slogan and the philosophy that guides us: we pay particular attention to the world of children and students in general, to stimulate, through the experience of the laboratories, the sense of affection, respect and care for things and common good.
All EL furniture uses high-quality wood. We do not want to hide the interlocking systems, wooden joints or other connections to create the idea of a formally pure and clean piece of furniture. If making trendy furniture requires harmful glues, wood-effect plastic films, materials that are dangerous for our health and the environment, we prefer to be alternative.
We prefer to think about the warmth of wood, its iridescent and deep shades, its grain steeped in history. We much prefer being than appearing: what is essential lasts a long time, also thanks to the affection it earns; on the contrary, what is only appearance breaks in less than a generation, to the detriment of the environment, for which it constitutes a waste difficult to digest.
All treatments allow wood to return in the future (hopefully as late as possible) as "recyclable or reusable material" and not material with a high environmental risk. In fact, the treatment to preserve wood from mold and xylophagous insects is a solution of water and Boron salts in a percentage of 10%. Finishing products for surfaces are based on natural diluents: cooked linseed oil (lead-free), orange terpenes, wine vinegar, ethyl alcohol, raw beeswax, cobalt-manganese based desiccant, propolis, essential oils. All metal components such as nails, screws and staples are extracted and disposed of correctly. Connection with screws is preferred to gluing because at the end of their life, portions of the product can be dismantled and correctly differentiated.
“Leaving a positive mark on the world” is our slogan and the philosophy that guides us: we pay particular attention to the world of children and students in general, to stimulate, through the experience of the laboratories, the sense of affection, respect and care for things and common good.
Methods and processes of the EL project for the reuse of disused pallets in order to create furniture and objects are exportable models and are aimed primarily at players in the logistics sector or multinational consumer goods companies. Since it is a broad-based model, it can also be used in other sectors (chemicals, energy, etc.) Companies could participate more in environmental protection objectives starting from involvement at a management and executive level that can occur through examples of Best practice: it would only require greater information on its potential.
Although it is not the company's true core business, we have demonstrated that it is a segment capable of generating value for both the company and the territory, with clear benefits in economic terms & saved CO2.
Although it is not the company's true core business, we have demonstrated that it is a segment capable of generating value for both the company and the territory, with clear benefits in economic terms & saved CO2.
The global challenge we all know is related to the reduction of CO2, a crucial issue in addressing climate change and its consequences.
CO2 emissions resulting from human work, mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels used for energy supplies, transport needs and industrial needs, have increased significantly in recent decades contributing to global warming.
One of the springs that could push companies towards the new local perspective proposed by EL with its Reuse Project and the certification of stored CO2.
Between 2022 and 2023, EL directed 38.5 tons of wood towards upcycling projects, equal to 11.55 tons of stored CO2 (Social Balance Sheet data).
The conversion between quantities of reused wood and stored Co2 is measured with the Regusto algorithms, the first ESG blockchain platform created in collaboration with the Perugia University on waste management and certification of positive impact.
Several universities around the world collaborate with companies to measure and analyze the impact of CO2 emissions and promote sustainable practices; our company also has this kind of collaboration with two prestigious universities in Rome and Milan.
Another challenge concerns Zero poverty and the reduction of inequalities, through the inclusion of fragile people (unemployed women and migrants) in concrete projects, with professional training that teaches how to work and therefore offers employment opportunities. For its commitment, EL is awarded every year by the UNHCR with the Welcome logo. Working for Refugee Integration is the certification assigned to companies promoting the employment of refugees.
The challenge of Health and well-being is equally important: creating accessible and design furniture that promotes beauty, sharing and well-being, serves to reduce stress in the workplace.
CO2 emissions resulting from human work, mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels used for energy supplies, transport needs and industrial needs, have increased significantly in recent decades contributing to global warming.
One of the springs that could push companies towards the new local perspective proposed by EL with its Reuse Project and the certification of stored CO2.
Between 2022 and 2023, EL directed 38.5 tons of wood towards upcycling projects, equal to 11.55 tons of stored CO2 (Social Balance Sheet data).
The conversion between quantities of reused wood and stored Co2 is measured with the Regusto algorithms, the first ESG blockchain platform created in collaboration with the Perugia University on waste management and certification of positive impact.
Several universities around the world collaborate with companies to measure and analyze the impact of CO2 emissions and promote sustainable practices; our company also has this kind of collaboration with two prestigious universities in Rome and Milan.
Another challenge concerns Zero poverty and the reduction of inequalities, through the inclusion of fragile people (unemployed women and migrants) in concrete projects, with professional training that teaches how to work and therefore offers employment opportunities. For its commitment, EL is awarded every year by the UNHCR with the Welcome logo. Working for Refugee Integration is the certification assigned to companies promoting the employment of refugees.
The challenge of Health and well-being is equally important: creating accessible and design furniture that promotes beauty, sharing and well-being, serves to reduce stress in the workplace.
The new multifunctional room in Milan Rho offers everyone a relaxing and comfortable space in which to spend convivial moments and celebrate special occasions.
The secondary advantage of the actions carried out by EL is that, acting as a multiplier, it has become better known by increasing its reputation. By building different projects over the years and taking advantage of different partners as a multidisciplinary network, is growing with a transversal impact. Some examples:
• collaborating with schools by raising awareness of sustainability issues for students and families. After having cleaned and redeveloped the green areas of a Roman high school (1800 students), following the positive experience it entered into a partnership with Rete Scuole Green: 450 associated schools;
• disseminating sustainable development issues in partnership with Voice Book Radio, the only Italian web radio entirely aimed at students;
• representing a permanent laboratory for research activities with universities and academic institutions. It works with La Sapienza University and SDA Bocconi on a best practice of the Supply Chain;
• since born, participating in events dedicated to art, culture and ecological transition to involve children and adults in outdoor carpentry activities and biodiversity workshops;
• offering work, with Medihospes, a cooperative for vulnerable people inclusion, and for the second year EL wins the UNHCR "Welcome Refugee" award, a recognition established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that honors distinguished organizations in welcoming and supporting refugees.
EL's impacts on the community are today multiple and varied; below those relating to the Milan Rho Project:
Beneficiaries: 46 Employees
Multidisciplinary partners: FERCAM; Yogis4Natura; Linfa Laboratory
473 kg of reused wood for furnishings and accessory structures
60 m of used fabric
2 Interns involved for 160 hours of training
The secondary advantage of the actions carried out by EL is that, acting as a multiplier, it has become better known by increasing its reputation. By building different projects over the years and taking advantage of different partners as a multidisciplinary network, is growing with a transversal impact. Some examples:
• collaborating with schools by raising awareness of sustainability issues for students and families. After having cleaned and redeveloped the green areas of a Roman high school (1800 students), following the positive experience it entered into a partnership with Rete Scuole Green: 450 associated schools;
• disseminating sustainable development issues in partnership with Voice Book Radio, the only Italian web radio entirely aimed at students;
• representing a permanent laboratory for research activities with universities and academic institutions. It works with La Sapienza University and SDA Bocconi on a best practice of the Supply Chain;
• since born, participating in events dedicated to art, culture and ecological transition to involve children and adults in outdoor carpentry activities and biodiversity workshops;
• offering work, with Medihospes, a cooperative for vulnerable people inclusion, and for the second year EL wins the UNHCR "Welcome Refugee" award, a recognition established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that honors distinguished organizations in welcoming and supporting refugees.
EL's impacts on the community are today multiple and varied; below those relating to the Milan Rho Project:
Beneficiaries: 46 Employees
Multidisciplinary partners: FERCAM; Yogis4Natura; Linfa Laboratory
473 kg of reused wood for furnishings and accessory structures
60 m of used fabric
2 Interns involved for 160 hours of training
