The new GreenItaly 2025 Report highlights how the green economy is not just an ethical choice but a strategy capable of generating development, employment, and competitiveness.
Sixteen years after its first publication, the study—produced by Fondazione Symbola, Unioncamere, and the Tagliacarne Study Center with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security—presents data and real cases that confirm the central role of sustainability in the future of Italian enterprises.
Table of Contents
A portrait of an Italy that innovates through green transformation
The Report analyzes more than two hundred examples of ecological transition and captures a scenario in which Italy stands out for its adaptability and innovation capacity. Data show how resource management, energy efficiency, and the use of secondary materials have become strategic elements across sectors such as agri-food, fashion, mechanics, and construction. While many countries still struggle to balance development and decarbonization, Italy is emerging as an international point of reference.
Sustainability as an economic engine
According to Ermete Realacci, president of Fondazione Symbola, the push toward sustainability is not driven only by environmental convictions but by solid economic logic. Investing in renewable solutions, technological innovation, and high-quality production processes makes businesses more resilient and competitive. The green economy does not slow industrial activity—it strengthens it, giving companies an advantage in evolving markets.
Competing without chasing: Italy and the China case
China dominates the global market for critical resources and renewable-energy technologies. However, the Report shows that Italy can stand out not through massive production but through its expertise in material recovery and reuse. In 2023, Italy recycled 92.6% of total waste, far surpassing France, Germany, Spain, and the European average. In a global context marked by raw-material scarcity, this capability represents a decisive competitive advantage.
European frontrunners in the midst of the green transition
As COP 30 takes place, GreenItaly 2025 highlights how Italy is accelerating in innovation, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness. Despite an ongoing debate within the EU about the cost of the green transition, it becomes clear that sustainability must remain central to policy—an opportunity, not a burden. The path is complex, but Italian companies are already paving the way.
Sustainability enters business strategy
“Sustainability is no longer a compliance cost but a competitive asset,” notes Alessandro Rinaldi of the Guglielmo Tagliacarne Study Center. Companies that have invested in green initiatives report better production performance, higher exports, and increased employment. Moreover, the use of renewable energy helps reduce energy bills and, in some cases, achieve partial autonomy.
The green transition as a measure of industrial strength
For Andrea Prete, president of Unioncamere, the ecological transition is the new arena where industrial capacity and national productivity are tested. Companies that adopt net-zero technologies, advanced energy-efficiency systems, or circular materials achieve stronger results and make a tangible contribution to emissions reduction. Over the past six years, more than 578,000 businesses have invested in the green economy, despite concerns over rising energy costs.
Green jobs are growing, but skills are falling behind
In 2024, 13.8% of employment contracts were linked to sustainability roles, involving 3.3 million workers. The trend is widespread throughout the country, with higher concentrations in the North. However, companies face difficulties in finding qualified professionals: green skills are now required for most roles, but available profiles do not always match emerging needs.
Italy leads Europe in recycling and material management
Italy has already met—ten years ahead of schedule—the EU recycling targets set for 2030. In 2024, the actual recovery rate for packaging reached 76.7%, with peaks above 90% for paper and steel. The end-of-life tire recovery sector alone avoided over 90,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent, while generating substantial savings in fossil resources. These results confirm Italy’s European leadership in a domain essential for decarbonization.
Toward a future that requires bold decisions
Despite significant progress, only 35% of the UN 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals show positive trends, while nearly 20% are moving backward. According to the World Economic Forum, the cost of climate inaction will exceed the investments needed for prevention. The Report therefore urges policymakers and businesses to view the green transition as a key driver of national growth and competitiveness. As Realacci recalls, quoting President Mattarella, it is essential to “make decarbonization a strategic element for the country’s development.”
