MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Improving the management of Professional WEEE is no longer just an environmental issue, but a strategic lever for the competitiveness of enterprises and for the seal of the industrial system. In a context marked by the imminent arrival of the Circular Economy Act and the concrete risk for Italy of an infringement procedure, intervene correctly within the disposal chain becomes a necessary step to contain the risk manager, other environmental damage, and not least intercept new sources of supply of critical raw materials. It’s what emerged during the day of presentation of the study “Exceed Program, strategies and efficiency available to Producers and Networks”, presented at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan and promoted by Erion Professional, the Erion System Consortium dedicated to the management of Professional WEEE.
Professional RAEEs, i.e. electronic waste generated by commercial and industrial activities, are still a partially unexpressed resource. A significant share of these flows continues to escape official circuits, especially in some compartments.
The Exceed program, developed by Erion Professional, supports businesses in structured product life management. The data of 2025 showed the solidity of the model. Over 4,000 tonnes of nationally managed Professional WEEE, Exceed contributed 75 percent.
The printing sector is confirmed to be relevant for volumes, with 2.585 tons collected and the involvement of 340 retailers. The climate sector instead records 455 tons, with 123 installers served Overall, the three-year 2023-2025 shows an increase.
The study – presented by Simonetta Cota and Francesca Rampinelli Strategic Development & Innovation by Erion – highlighted how a greater interception of Professional WEEE can generate concrete environmental impacts. Reaching the 65 percent collection target would bring significant benefits, including increased material recovery, reduction of emissions and significant energy savings.
The estimates indicate a total reduction of 112,300 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, of which 99.576 tonnes in the climate sector and 12,724 in printing, as well as an energy saving of more than 70 million kWh. Numbers that return the size of the potential still available for the system.
Already today the application of the Exceed model allowed in 2025 the correct recycling of more than 3.000 tons between professional printing equipment and air conditioning systems, generating significant environmental benefits with more than 6.000 tons of CO2 avoided and more than 10,5 million kWh saved.
The regulatory framework, defined by Legislative Decree 49 of 2014, gives the producer responsibility for the management of Professional WEEE. The system, however, presents structural criticalities, including the difficulty in intercepting flows, operational complexity and the need for coordination between the different actors of the supply chain. Danilo Bonato, Director of Strategic Development and Institutional Relations of Erion, spoke on the gaps of current legislation and the next steps of European legislation.
As explained by Simonetta Cota, “Exceed is proposed as a response to this fragmentation, introducing a more efficient organizational model based on consortium management, structured logistics, guaranteed traceability and certified processes. The system is now divided into three main sectors, Exceed clima, food and printing, following the specificities of the different markets.”
The objective is to ensure full regulatory compliance, on the other hand to transform end-of-life management into a value factor. An approach that allows enterprises to reduce risks and seize economic opportunities and competitive differentiation.
“The study confirms the potential strategistsrAEE? Professionals, both environmentally and economically – said Walter Rebosio, general manager of Erion Professional – The enhancement of these flows allows to recycle raw materials and contain impacts related to new extractions, contributing to the efficiency of the production system”.
WEEE management is increasingly linked to regulatory compliance and business risk. From the round table that accompanied the presentation emerged how incorrect management could expose companies to sanctions, but also to wider risks, including reputational ones.
“There is a high risk of entry into the criminal sphere when the management of the WEEE is not correct – Eva Maschietto, lawyer and founder of EMLEX, intervening at the round table together with Marcello Acquaviva, president of Assoit, and Roberto Nocera, president of Ucimac -. The discovery of a trademarked product does not automatically imply criminal liability, but requires an accurate assessment of the context,” he added. “It is necessary to develop a careful risk assessment activity to understand the implications of operational choices. It is necessary to assess in a balanced way the relationship between costs and benefits in the management of the supply chain, without neglecting the reputational risk, which can have a significant impact on enterprises”.
“The adoption of Exceed has allowed us to improve operational efficiency, ensure complete traceability and simplify document management” – explained in public Enzo Ferloni, Product Regulatory and Compliance Manager of Mitsubishi Electric Europe -. “We have strengthened the relationship with our network and increased the level of security in regulatory compliance, presenting our customers with a concrete competitive advantage.”.
– photo press office Erion –
(ITALPRESS).
