The meeting was attended by Rossano Rossi General Secretary of CGIL Tuscany and Adolfo Bellucci, Councillor for Trade, Productive Activities and the plan for the Terrafino area of the Municipality of Empoli. Fausto Cosi, IRPLAST CEO presented Company’s sustainability development plan.
Empoli, December 19th 2024 – Today, President of Tuscany Region, Mr. Eugenio Giani, visited IRPLAST production plant in Empoli, together with Rossano Rossi, General Secretary CGIL Trade Union Tuscany, Brenda Barnini, former Mayor of Empoli and Adolfo Bellucci, Councillor for Commerce, Productive Activities and the plan for the Terrafino area of the Municipality of Empoli. The meeting with CEO Fausto Cosi and with President Gabriele Corradi allowed to deepen the strategic program of development of the Company. With an investment of more than 50 million euros (mainly for the Atessa site, in Abruzzo region), within the next two years IRPLAST is preparing to embark on a path of deep transformation on sustainability item and technological progress, that will have a significant impact also on the Tuscan territory, in terms of economic growth, development of new skills and attractiveness of talents.
Fausto Cosi, IRPLAST’ CEO said: “It was a great pleasure to welcome the President Giani, Councillor Bellucci of the Municipality of Empoli and Rossi representative of CGIL Toscana and share with them our goals for a more sustainable future. The meeting was an important opportunity for discussion and a sign of deep attention towards our market, which allowed us to show the great investments made by the group in recent years and future. The rebirth of Irplast – after difficult years – has been possible by making system between Company, Institutions, Unions and Banks: we are proud of this synergy and deeply grateful to those who have contributed to its realization. The main critical issue that today threatens the competitiveness of companies is the high cost of energy. We also hope for the commitment of the Institutions in this area”.
President Eugenio Giani commented: “IRPLAST is a virtuous example of how systems can be made; this model needs to be exported. Today we have a further confirmation of the path that we want to carry out in Tuscany, demonstrating that industrial development, technological research and sustainable policies can not only coexist, but also prove to be a motor of development for the whole territory. Operations such as IRPLAST also strengthen the prestige and leading position of our products in foreign markets, which are making our region more attractive. On the energy front we fought hard to realize the Piombino regasifier – worth 5 billion cubic meters of gas more annually available to Italy, in addition to the 5 billion produced by Livorno – that will allow to halve energy costs, In a path that will lead us to be increasingly independent from foreign sources”.
Rossano Rossi, general secretary of CGIL Tuscany has explained: “The contribution of the Trade Union has always been constant towards Irplast even in the most difficult years, in front of a constant confrontation with the Management and a serious commitment of restructuring and investments”.
For over forty years IRPLAST has positioned itself on the Packaging market as an innovative company, looking for high-performance and cutting-edge packaging solutions. Now all markets, not just in packaging, are looking for sustainable solutions ready for implementation, and IRPLAST – which has been investing in the creation and production of sustainable films, labels and tapes for years – is able to propose a range of alternatives that address the ecological issue from multiple points of view. Sustainability for IRPLAST is not a matter of image but a business factor: thanks to our know-how, advanced technologies and new investments (in particular the new Brückner line with LISIM technology) we now offer key components for multilayer mono-material recyclable packaging, to replace multi-material more complex structures, and promoting the circular economy.
COMPANY PROFILE
IRPLAST is a leader in the production of bi-axially oriented polypropylene films using simultaneous stretching, of printed wrap-around labels for bottles and containers, and of printed adhesive tapes and multipack solutions, for the food & beverage, dairy, personal care and home care markets. The vertical integration in production – from film extrusion to printing processes – positions Irplast as a key partner for all the principal international brands in the food & beverage sector, where a high degree of product customisation and continuous on-site technical assistance make the difference.
Back in 1999, IRPLAST was the first company in Europe in the packaging world to commission and operate a LISIM simultaneous stretching line for BOPP. In 2023 the Company signed a contract with Bruckner Maschinenbau for the delivery of a new LISIM line for BOPP production. The new line – which will reach full operation at the end of 2025 – will add a further 25,000 tonnes capacity for specialty BOPP films, practically doubling the current company production. The new line is dedicated to the production of films for fully recyclable packaging structures, conceived as mono-material PP laminates, with mechanical and thermal resistance properties tailor-made for the market requirements to have fully recyclable complex packaging structures in line with EU directives. The Company exports over 75% of turnover, to 70 countries worldwide. In 2024, the annual turnover reached € 120 million euro. The company employs over 380 people between the three highly automated factories in Atessa (South of Italy) and Empoli (Florence).
