Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships: the tannery district of S.Croce sullArno Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy

The tannery district of S.Croce sullArno Location: Tuscany Region (prov. Pisa) Territorial area: 4 municipalities, 240km 2 Employment: 800 firms, employees Size: 90% of enterprises have less than 9 employees Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy Tannery district Italy is the leather sector's most important location in the EU in terms of sites, employees, production and turnover. S.Croce is the biggest tannery cluster in Italy.

Tannery district of S.Croce: the challenges of sustainability the tanning process has always been associated with odours and other important impacts on air, surface and ground water and solid waste (environmental pillar of sustainability); in the last years eco-innovation is perceived as a driver for competitiveness, especially to face up to competitors operating in third countries, as India and Pakistan (economic pillar); in the territorial area of S.Croce sullArno, local communities have showed over time a high awareness and sensitiveness on environmental issues (social pillar); Moreover, the continuous incremental changes in environmental regulation are stimulating tanneries to develop eco-innovation in order to pursue environmental compliance (e.g.: Water Directive, Waste Directive, VOCs Directive) Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy

The cluster approach: technological responses Thanks to the co-operation and synergies among local actors and SME (typical of clusters): creation of a modern tanning technological and research centre, to test new materials and eco-friendlier substances, in collaboration with local Universities; setting up of two large waste water treatment plants; realization of two plants with specific processes for the recovery of chromium and sludges considerable reduction in VOC emissions (averagely more than 50%) by means of input-substitutions, spray-controlled paints application and other technological innovations (e.g. modification of air collection devices) Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy

The cluster approach: eco-management responses By way of an innovative attitude to share management and organizational resources in the cluster: application of EMAS regulation at the cluster level (according to article 38 of the new Emas III Regulation proposal); implementation of a strong partnership between public and private actors (Municipalities, trade associations, representatives of the industrial sector, Environmental Agency, Province of Pisa) to apply the Emas Cluster and negotiate and agree upon the environmental policies for the area; higher stakeholder involvement, with particular reference to the local communities and citizens; carrying out of an LCA – Life Cycle Assessement for some typical tannery products and drafting of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for these products (work in progress) Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy

THANK YOU Tiberio Daddi Tiberio Daddi, Responding to environmental challenges through cluster partnerships, S.Anna University, Italy