A shared future, sustainable value: Cefla publishes its 8th Sustainability Report
For Cefla, 2025 was a year of major confirmations and new achievements. With the publication of the 8th Sustainability Report, we share numbers that demonstrate our Group’s financial solidity and, above all, the actions that breathe life into our mission: “to create value over time” for a cooperative that has looked to the future responsibly since 1932, to pass on a solid legacy to future generations.
In 2025, we generated an economic value of €703 million, distributing nearly €640 million to our stakeholders: a clear demonstration of our ability to create shared value. However, true value is also measured by the impact we have on the environment, people and the communities in which we operate.
The ecological transition: a tangible, measurable commitment
Our eco-transition can be translated into clear statistics and measurable actions. In 2025, we reduced total energy consumption by 28.6% compared to the previous year. In parallel, we also achieved a 60% reduction in our direct emissions (Scope 1). Moreover, our energy mix is increasingly green: the share of energy from renewable sources increased from 7.3% to 10.2%, thanks also to our photovoltaic systems, which generated nearly 4,000 MWh of electricity.
Furthermore, starting this year, we’ve extended rigorous monitoring of our carbon footprint to the entire value chain (Scope 3), tracking both the impact of the materials and services we purchase and usage of the products we sell worldwide.
Human capital: the powerhouse behind our growth
In 2025, Cefla’s workforce grew by 8.9%, reaching 2,049 employees globally. Employment is characterised by stability and opportunity, with 97% of employees having permanent contracts.
We believe in a fair, inclusive workplace: thanks to our Gender Equality-certified policies (UNI/PdR 125:2022), the gender pay gap narrowed further to 5.19% We invest in young people and the future: for example, the ‘Talent Hub’ project has allowed us to permanently hire 58% of apprentices involved in technical training programs. Last but not least, investment in safety has borne fruit, with the workplace accident rate dropping to 5.50.
The commitment of our Business Units: Innovation and sustainability
Cefla achieves sustainability through an unwavering focus on innovation, as evidenced by the €14 million invested in Research and Development in 2025. Each of our Business Units and subsidiaries has translated this vision into cutting-edge technological solutions:
- Engineering BU: at the forefront of the energy transition. In 2025, the BU completed its engineering of the ‘NOVA Solution by Cefla’ range of hydrogen-ready fuel cells: these systems are now able to operate with hydrogen blends (or 100% green hydrogen), producing electricity with zero NOx, SOx and particulate emissions. Furthermore, the BU has developed AI-powered Smart Water Management solutions to proactively identify leaks in public water networks.
- Finishing BU: a solid commitment to reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes has led to the development of next-generation UV drying systems that eliminate the use of mercury lamps. The latter include the new modular LED UV oven: previewed at the Hannover Messe, this offers an outstanding combination of superb styling and significant energy savings.
- Medical Equipment BU: Technological development focused on patient health and data security. In addition to expanding the functionality of its 2D and 3D imaging platforms, the BU reconfirmed the rigorous certification (ISDP©10003:2020) of its diagnostic software (e.g. NNT/iRYS) and cloud platforms, ensuring data is processed in full respect of people’s privacy and fundamental rights.
- C-LED: our specialised LED technology company took part in the construction of Italy’s largest vertical farm, supplying some 18,000 lamps for optimised indoor cultivation. What’s more, C-LED continued to participate in major projects – alongside Italy’s National Research Council (CNR) – that aim to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from waste water by using UVC sanitisation technology.
A renewed bond with local communities
Even as we grow internationally, our connection with Imola and local communities still constitutes the core of Cefla’s cooperative identity. We firmly believe in the ‘power of working together’ to generate social well-being.
In 2025, the Group donated a total of €94,700 to local associations, institutions and organisations. This commitment has provided practical support in several fields, from Culture and Community to Health and Scientific Research, from Sport to Social Inclusion.
The Sustainability Report is a strategic compass that points the way to a better tomorrow. Only by combining our manufacturing and engineering expertise with a future-focused vision can we overcome the challenges posed by the market, climate change and digitalization.