Resources and materials

Purchases that make a difference

Responsible and inclusive products (PDO, PGI, organic, vegan, from fair trade or grown on land confiscated from the mafia), a preference for recycled materials and the elimination of plastic wherever possible: Camst also makes choices in purchasing.

Even in this difficult situation, still characterised by long periods of business stoppages, Camst has pursued a corporate policy aimed at prioritising 'responsible' purchasing - i.e. organic, PGI, PDO, sustainable fishing products, etc., which now account for more than a quarter of the total - and 'inclusive' purchases (vegan, halal, kosher, soy-based products), which meet consumer needs not only from a nutritional point of view, but also from an ethical and religious one.

With regard to animal proteins, purchases of organic and antibiotic-free meat have also increased. Organic products, obtained without the use of chemical, synthetic and genetically modified organisms, come from farms that respect animal welfare. Antibiotic free products, on the other hand, assure the consumer that no antibiotics have been used in the first weeks of the animal's life, thanks to a more restrictive approach than that required by law.

With regard to our non-food purchases, 2021 saw an intensification of Camst's commitment to reducing the use of single-use plastics in favour of recycled materials, also to cope with the increased demand for protective packaging and take-away packaging reported by all operators as a consequence of the health emergency.
This commitment has resulted, on the one hand, in the introduction of better performing and more environmentally friendly packaging, such as containers made of CPET - a food-safe polymer obtained from recycled and almost infinitely recyclable material - and paper seal trays made of recyclable FSC cardboard; and on the other hand, in the gradual introduction of R-PET recycled plastic bottles, the production of which results in lower CO2 emissions than any other solution. In 2021, Camst purchased 13,357,104 bottles of water through its distribution centre, of which 8.3% were R-PET, an increase of three percentage points over the previous year. This is in line with European Directive 2019/904 (known as SUP - Single Use Plastic), which requires PET bottles to contain at least 30% recycled plastic by 2030.
Listen to the podcast 'Small daily gestures to save the planet', with Matteo Biffoni, Mayor of Prato

Wherever possible, the Group has also continued to promote free beverages - a service consisting of the self-service distribution of microfiltered natural and carbonated water, juices and natural or fair trade drinks, and carbonated soft drinks - with a view to environmental education and the protection of the Planet. Free beverages reduce CO2 emissions by eliminating plastic bottles and their transport by road.
Listen to the podcast 'Plastic pollution, the role of citizens and companies', with Lorenzo Zitignani, co-founder of Plastic Free

Plastic-free trays with the Better Future Kit

The collaboration between Camst and Guzzini in 2022 led to the creation of the Better Future Kit: a complete set of fork, knife and spoon in Italian-made steel, placed in a bio-based plastic container, which Camst will make available to schools and businesses that join the project. This represents concrete action to replace disposable plastic cutlery, involving and raising the environmental awareness of all users of catering services, called upon to do their part with a small daily gesture.
Find out more and watch the interview with Domenico Guzzini, president of F.lli Guzzini S.p.A.