The Smurfit Westrock Group inaugurated its new recycling plant on April 8, 2025, at the Verzuolo paper mill (Cuneo, Italy) — the largest in Italy and among the biggest in Europe — with an annual production capacity of 500,000 tons and 220 employees. This is the company’s second “Recovered Fiber” unit in Italy, following the plant in Marlia (Lucca), and marks an important step in strengthening its role as a circular economy leader in the country. The new facility, authorized for the treatment of loose paper and cardboard, processes material sourced both from Smurfit Westrock’s own facilities and from municipal collection, large-scale retail (GDO), and local industries. This enables the transformation of paper waste into new raw material, promoting a sustainable production model based 100% on recycled fiber. The initiative is part of a strategic plan launched in 2022. To date, the plant has enabled a 17% reduction in energy consumption per ton produced and a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions and landfill waste. The goal for 2025 is to reduce disposed material by 53.3% compared to 2022 by converting waste into secondary raw materials.
At the inauguration, Dietmar Bogensberger (VP Recovered Fiber) emphasized the site’s importance for ensuring supply to the paper mill and creating virtuous circular economy models in collaboration with the local area. Javier Rivas (President, Paper and Board Mills) highlighted that paper can be recycled up to 25 times, and that the unit’s new name, “Recovered Fiber,” better reflects its mission.
Saverio Mayer (CEO Europe, MEA and APAC) praised the Verzuolo team’s commitment to combining sustainability with commercial performance. Raffaele Marinucci (General Manager, Verzuolo) stated that the project reduces environmental impact and shortens the supply chain, creating new opportunities and reinforcing the company’s sustainable production model. Finally, Gianluca Castellini (CEO Corrugated Italy) emphasized the strategic value of the integrated hubs in Piedmont and Tuscany in supporting raw material recovery and strengthening ties with local communities.