Unioncamere commissioned a survey of a sample of 3000 manufacturing companies to analyse their green and digital investments in 2020.

The results showed that most companies did not embark on a real transformation path. 62% said they would not invest in the future, while 26% of the sample chose to invest in only one of the two areas.

Recent research by Capgemini has produced similar results: around half of companies claim to have developed a sustainable operating approach, yet fewer than one in five have actually put in place a coherent IT strategy to reduce their environmental footprint and design a credible path to decarbonisation. Nevertheless, the trend looks set to change.

Inevitably, the 'environmentally conscious' use of digital is increasing. In this era, the enormous potential of new technologies to automate and agile production processes cannot be ignored. At the same time, these technologies have an immediate impact in terms of reducing waste and limiting CO2 emissions.

Nor should we overlook the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the market scenario that rewards sustainability and inclusion, opening up new business models and new investments. We are thinking, for example, of broadband connectivity, 5G networks and the creation of a national cloud infrastructure for the use of digital public services. But also services related to environmental sustainability, also focused on the use of new technologies. That Artificial Intelligence, additive manufacturing and other digital technologies are accelerators of efficiency is beyond dispute, also in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and disposal cycles. And above all, the current macroeconomic data are better than expected: Italian manufacturing is looking to the economic recovery with optimism and a desire for innovation.

The European Commission raises the bar, estimating a +5% increase in Italian GDP in 2021.

Armando Martin