Laboratory for the regeneration of wood from logistics disposable packaging.
FERCAM Echo Labs is a concrete example of industrial symbiosis that experiments production processes with low environmental impact and high social value, through a global approach and local projects. It uses a network of profit and non-profit companies and associations to feed a circular economy supply chain capable of utilising used wood avoiding its shredding or incineration. It trains fragile individuals, such as asylum seekers,to become skilled craftsmen able to build new beauty from waste.
National
Italy
{Empty}
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-12-31
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): FERCAM Echo Labs Impresa Sociale srl Type of organisation: Social Enterpris First name of representative: Dino Last name of representative: Menichetti Gender: Male Nationality: Italy Function: President of Echo Labs Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Via Marie Curie 2 Town: Bolzano Postal code: 39100 Country: Italy Direct Tel:+39 0471 530261 E-mail:dino.menichetti@echolabs.fercam.com Website:http://echolabs.fercam.com
FERCAM Echo Labs (from now FEL) is a social enterprise founded in 2021 by FERCAM S.p.A. to give new life to wood intended for disposal.
The idea of FEL developed from a need rose in the branch of FERCAM Rome: the creation of an eco-sustainable area dedicated to relaxation for employees and collaborators, where they could take a break from work. From this first project, the desire of launching urban regeneration initiatives became bigger. These projects are aimed at combining concepts of circular economy, design and social integration with the proposal of a new relationship between the civil society and the common good.
FEL's approach is based on ecodesign, which is expressed through:
• the systematic recovery of disused material to generate upcycling and circular economy processes;
• the provision of internships and work opportunities to promote employment and social inclusion (for migrants, asylum seekers but also unemployed people in the area);
• the representation of a way of working that rewards networking and encourages the development of a new culture of respect for the environment, diversity and human rights.
The production process is aimed at producing fittings, objects and gadgets that stimulate good sustainable practices against to mass production of low design quality and short life.
In its design choices, FEL favours the use of material in the logistics chain that is destined for disposal (packaging, pallets, transport crates, etc.). The products are the result of handmade design and manufacture, where the assembly methods are as reversible as possible, and the finishing treatments are based on natural waxes and vegetable solvents.
The design result is a synthesis of functionality, aesthetics and material availability.
The working group employs professionals and young trainees from different backgrounds who are able to represent diverse approaches and solutions.
Profit-non-profit partnership
Circular economy
Upcycling of supply chain resources
Eco-Design and Handicrafts
Social inclusion and innovation
FEL, which was initially created to mitigate the environmental impact generated by FERCAM in the operation of its daily business, has expressed positive and scalable projects and values over time:
• create a circular economy chain capable of reabsorbing products from logistics activities and giving them new life. The possibility of scaling up this practice in other production realities and other territories (FERCAM is present in 21 countries) is extremely high;
• the life cycle of wood can last indefinitely, with environmental and economic benefits. Recycling wood means indeed saving energy, improving air quality and at the same time avoiding waste;
• through the sale of the furniture, an economic spin-off is generated which allows us to support the work of asylum seekers and frail persons, giving them the opportunity to integrate through work. At FEL, two asylum seekers were hired on a permanent basis and many others had the opportunity to do internships that improved their employment possibilities;
• innovate through the research into sustainability, the blue economy and ecodesign. FEL, in line with Directive 2008/98/EC Art.4 of the European Parliament, has invested resources to study how to reduce material waste as much as possible, intervening on prevention. The replication of this production model in other realities will have important impacts if applied to all materials are destined for disposal during the production cycle. All recovered wood not only can have another life, but also stores significant amounts of CO2.
FEL is based on a handcraft production system and, unlike industrial systems, has multiple benefits:
• it represents a way of working that rewards networking and alliances and encourages the emergence of a new culture of respect for the environment, diversity and human rights;
• craftsmanship is the basis of Italian and European culture and tradition. It also represents the highest expression of Made in Italy. In a period of such crisis for the craft sector, FEL aims to invest in the creation of new professional skills that can be applied in the new subproduct supply chains;
• thanks to the care and professionalism of the craftsmanship involved, it is possible to create furniture that is safer (one-off pieces provide more control), functional (in terms of anthropometry and comfort) and aesthetically pleasing;
• ad hoc design is provided by the architects of Linaria and the ecodesigners of Laboratorio Linfa, a partner of FEL, with the aim of making each project unique. Each solution is perfectly contextualised in the cultural and territorial environment that hosts it and responds to the specific needs of the users;
• through the creation of common areas, FEL offers to the members of the community the possibility of having a place to meet. Here people can share opinions and to experience collectively and with greater awareness, moments of confrontation and relaxation;
• the spaces created by FEL provide oases of urban microbiodiversity, ensuring that flora and fauna have places of urban refreshment;
• FEL aims to be a promoter of the Go-Green philosophy. Therefore, FEL supports its partners in the integration of environmental sustainability and social innovation practices, especially with regard to projects concerning employee health and corporate social responsibility.
FEL is a non-profit social enterprise that focuses on inclusion as the engine for the social and individual development and growth. Through its projects, FEL aims to achieve these goals:
• offer unemployed migrants and Italians a space for socialisation, training, integration and social inclusion, in order to restore their professional and occupational dignity;
• build craft skills and knowledge for people in fragile situations, such as asylum seekers and disadvantaged workers;
• develop professionalisation paths with the people included through teaching and work practice. In the FERCAM Echo Park (FEP) project alone, 216 hours of teaching were provided. Through workshops aimed at creating the furniture itself, the project aims to train new craftsmen and support them over time with new job opportunities, tools and further training courses;
• include in the professional network artisans who already work on their own, but sometimes in financial difficulty due to a lack of customers; FERCAM, thanks to its large customer portfolio, intends to outsource some of the requests that it is not yet able to manage on its own in this start-up period. This is the case of the social carpentry company K_alma in Rome, which participated in the Prologis project by putting in 600 hours of work;
• adopt an inclusive approach through the 'design for all', researching the specific needs of furniture users and ensuring maximum alignment with their needs;
• fight inequalities and social inequities by focusing on the dignity of the human being through work and skills development.
FEL brings people closer to a bio-sustainable lifestyle through the communication of responsible resource consumption, urban regeneration, social inclusion and active participation in community life.
FEL relies on a widespread, multidisciplinary network of partners, through which it operates and incorporates the needs of the region:
• works with schools to raise awareness of sustainability among students and families. This is the case of the project to clean up and regenerate the green areas of the Amaldi high school in Tor Bella Monaca (1800 students). From this first positive experience, with the aim of giving continuity to the project, FEL has formed a partnership with Rete Scuole Green, which has more than 450 member schools;
• partnership with VoiceBook Radio, which the only web radio aimed entirely at students, for the spread of sustainable development issues;
• with Medihospes, a work and social integration cooperative for fragile people, FEL signed an agreement to provide employment opportunities for fragile people; 2 permanent hirings are already in progress. Wars and environmental disasters are constantly growing and it is essential to think of an integration system that gives new personal and professional dignity to the people involved;
• through partnerships with academies such as the Faculty of Architecture of Roma Tre and the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, FEL is a place of experimentation and a permanent laboratory for students of all levels who are involved in awareness-raising activities and participate directly with workshops, contests and research activities;
• raising awareness of eco-sustainability among children and parents, through events open to the public, such as ROM-Eu. This event is dedicated to the ecological transition and it is held in the centre of Rome, where FEL carried out carpentry activities en plein air with thousands of visitors for two days.
The transversal nature of FEL is defined by the implemented projects, which on the one hand makes it possible to work in a sustainable and inclusive manner on the individual territories, and on the other allows it to co-design circular chains that can impact on a bigger system and consequently on new territories. This dual dynamic allows high possibilities of replicability of territorial projects and the ability to include new workers within the organisation.
Right from the start, when defining its graphic concept, it was decided to involve students from the ISIA (Italy's first public design institute, whose first professors included students from the School of ULM).
All projects are implemented together with the client taking into account the functions that need to be fulfilled. For example, the project that FEL is realising in the Interporto of Bologna with Prologis responds to the needs of the local institutions. It was requested to offer to the local community spaces for recreational and sports activities, which could have not been offered by the municipality directly.
The initiatives in schools are the result of research and discussion between teachers and students as well as having developed a shared plan. The activities are realised through workshops were students are involved.
Partnerships with operators in other sectors have been established with the aim of creating sustainable supply chains in the field of theatre scenography (Ecomuvi), museum, music and sports events (CONI) and trade shows (Fiera di Roma).
The partnership with FERCAM itself intends to realise synergies and projects to reduce environmental impact and Corporate Social Responsibility.
FEL does research and development through a full time multidisciplinary laboratory in order to support its circular economy approach, both via theory and practice, in the following disciplines:
• materials technology and joinery: selection and disassembly of tertiary packaging, reduced to boards and semi-finished products, which retain their physical and structural properties or with aesthetic qualities that can be enhanced according to future uses. To do this, the operators, whether trainees or employees, are supported by craftsmen who own specific skills in the sector, combining design and craftsmanship skills;
• ecodesign: upcycling designs with wood recovered from sub-products and the development of functional and inclusive projects which will be aesthetically refined, treated with natural materials and made with mechanical joining techniques that guarantee the reversibility of materials, are done in order to guarantee future recovered cycles;
• mechanical engineering: FEL, through research and development with mechanical engineers, is making improvements in the disassembly operations, turning existing simple machines into tools for rapid disassembly activities;
• design innovation: in the design and implementation phase the students of the Prototypes and Models Laboratory of the Faculty of Architecture of Roma Tre are involved;
• social innovation: by including workers from sensitive groups such as refugees, unemployed and unemployable people, FEL created a network and collaborations between profit and non-profit businesses, generating positive social and environmental cascades.
DIRECT BENEFITS
In just one year of activity, FEL has:
• hired 2 asylum seekers on a permanent basis;
• offered an income opportunity to more than 20 people (between interns and emplyees) either unemployed or in vulnerable situations;
• paved the way for 8 traineeships that will facilitate opportunities to enter the world of work;
• provided more than 850 hours of on-the-job training for the categories of fragile workers involved;
• recovery of various types of wood that can no longer be used.
More than 500 pallets, approximately 8 tonnes of wood were reintroduced into the production cycle. This resulted in saving of around 14 tCO2 , equivalent to 100,000Km travelled by a commercial logistics van (calculation made according to the European Commission's 2020 target of 147g CO2 /km for the emissions of an average van).
INDIRECT BENEFITS
• FEL raises awareness for citizens and companies to the theme of Sustainable Development through CSR projects and with the collaboration of an important network that counts strategic partners: Medihospes - inclusion of disadvantaged people; Laboratorio Linfa - quality of design and workmanship; Linaria - landscape architecture and choice of flora for urban biodiversity areas; World Matic - distributors of quality and organic products at km0 for the set-up areas; VoiceBook Radio - for the creation of awareness-raising content on the theme of circular economy; Green Schools Network.
• FEL represents a tool for social and environmental reflection with respect to recycling, reuse and the development of a virtuous and circular economy. The availability and use of poor materials that are no longer useful for production becomes the prerequisite for the search for innovative and functional solutions.
FEL is part of an ecosystem where profit and non-profit meet, i.e. the logistics industry (FERCAM) and social enterprise (FEL), creating a series of opportunities for both:
• create social and environmental projects of compensation;
• ensure a sustainable supply chain from material recovery (mainly wood) to transport of the furniture;
• use a less energy-intensive, zero-emission process compared to companies that use waste material in downcycling, to create new laminated chipboard products and fittings;
• wide availability of raw material for production through the donation of wood and other sub- products;
• FERCAM offers support for the management of FEL by offering services and consultancy as well as requesting projects such as office upgrades and creation of sustainable gadgets for employees and customers;
• access to professional networks on a global scale;
• mutual opportunities for visibility.
The FEL theoretical approach represents a replicable operational model and a permanent experimental laboratory that finds application in concrete circular economy and inclusion projects. The theoretical references are various and embrace a rather broad academic field:
• Circular Economy - Lacy, P. & Rutqvist, J. (2015). Waste to wealth: The circular economy advantage. McDonough, W., & Braungart, M. (2002). Cradle to cradle: Remaking the way we make things (1st ed). North Point Press.
• Blue Economy - Pauli, G. (2015). Blue economy/version 2.0: 200 projects implemented. Ipg-Academic - Jackson, T. (2017). Prosperità senza crescita - I fondamenti dell’economia di domani.
• Social Innovation - Manzini, E. (2015). Design, when everybody designs: An introduction to design for social innovation. The MIT Press.
• Decentralized Production - Maffei, S. & Bianchini, M. (2013). Microproduction everywhere. Social, local, open and connected manufacturing.
In addition, there is further empirical evidence experienced within FEL:
• research and methodology in the field of ecodesign, as part of the problem that needs to be solved and to propose new useful objects. Moreover, typological and morphological research related to wood waste, comparison of anthropometric percentiles to achieve design for all, study of connections to minimise the use of glues and increase resistance or resilience, depending on the stresses that the furniture will have, mechanical or environmental;
• analysis and regulatory solutions to create a circular economy supply chain consistent with European laws and ISO standards;
• material research on products used in production and finishing (impregnating treatments, water-repellent, fire-resistant or pathogen-free finishing with non-polluting substances), so that products in a third life cannot be labelled as special waste;
• engineering research to create new equipment capable of conveniently disassembling pallets.
The FEL project makes replicability and scalability one of its greatest strengths:
• the process of material recovery, disassembly, design and realisation is replicable in other Italian and foreign territories. FEL is the ideal partner for every company as it creates networks and synergies between the CSR programs. Thanks to the active participation in the workshop and the partnership with FEL, partner companies can straightaway realise projects aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• the network of partners generated by FEL gives the project a glocal peculiarity: on the one hand, action is taken on individual territories, learning from practice; on the other hand, all the case studies become useful material for the generation of new projects, to be re-contextualised with new local partners in order to respond punctually to the needs of the territory and involve the community;
• from a technical point of view, research in the regulatory, material handling and engineering fields (e.g. pallet disassembly machines that can rationalise the wood reconditioning process) have created know-how on methodology and tools that can be replicated in other scenarios. The serial production of such machinery and shared research will be useful for the development and expansion of new good practices in the sector;
• the production cycle involves artisan workshops that are offered a funding opportunity through the assignment of work and the request for consultancy. This creates the preconditions for improving employment opportunities for people who are unemployed or in socially fragile situations;
• all the processes of collection, sorting, disassembly, material processing, design, production and its application are largely replicable in other production contexts that offer available and usable raw material in an upcycling process.
FEL's operational mode and its implemented projects have important direct and indirect impacts in terms of SDG's and create opportunities to raise awareness of environmental issues with workshops, team building, trade fairs and media opportunities. In particular:
• responsible consumption and production: creation of a supply chain for the recovery of wood that allows the material to be given new life to create eco-friendly design fittings and furniture with a sustainable design and production model that reduces waste and CO2 emissions;
• fighting climate change and life on earth: FEL creates urban biodiversity stations, generating functional gardens for people and all elements of nature as they stimulate the development of biodiversity. It promotes the dissemination of culture and encourages the development of a new relationship between citizens and urban nature through initiatives that reach out to workers, students as well as their families. Educational paths are set up with schools and young people to spread the word about sustainable development and reach their families;
• zero poverty and reduction of inequalities, through the inclusion of fragile people (unemployed women and migrants) in real projects and with professional training offers employment opportunities and promotes work and social inclusion (for migrants, asylum seekers but also unemployed people in the area);
• health and well-being: creates accessible, design-led furnishings that promote sharing and well- being, to reduce stress in the workplace. All furniture is the result of extensive research and the use of non-toxic materials and treatments, free of harmful emissions;
• partnership for goals through:
- creation of a network of people and organisations capable of acting together for social/environmental sustainability
- representation of a way of working that rewards alliances and encourages the emergence of a new culture of respect for the environment, diversity and human rights.
