LIBRANDI CELLAR, VIRTUOUS EXAMPLE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

In Calabria, a virtuous union defines the circular economy path in the wine supply chain, embodied by three prominent protagonists: the F.lli Caffo Distillery, the Librandi winery and the Fattoria della Piana agricultural company. These companies, which not only contribute significantly to the development of the territory through their excellent production, also represent an exemplary model of sustainability, united in particular by the vision of a profitable balance between economy, environment and society. From Cirò Marina to Limbadi, up to the Piana di Gioia Tauro, these three places and their respective entrepreneurial realities are intertwined through a shared commitment to building a development process based on responsible use of resources, generating work and income with a prospect of well-being and quality of life. The process that the three Calabrian excellences have adopted and implement is circular: the Caffo distillery acquires the pomace from the Librandi winery, transforming it into a fine local grappa. The by-product of distillation finds new life in the Fattoria della Piana biogas plant, converting into electricity. The resulting digestate, rich in organic matter, becomes an ideal fertilizer for the vineyards of the Librandi winery, thus completing the cycle. “The importance of participating in the circular economy system – explains Paolo Librandi of the historic Librandi winery – is an act of respect, responsibility and gratitude towards a land, Calabria, which itself gives us the raw material for our productions. It is therefore our duty to create a process that gives back at least part of what we receive." Librandi highlights how sustainability understood as a social, economic and environmental commitment is an essential guideline of the company, which has always been attentive to the care of the territory and the protection of biodiversity: "We have chosen to translate in an objective manner - continues Raffaele Librandi - what has always been the company philosophy through the adoption of the Equalitas standard, a guarantee, for the consumer and stakeholders, of the requirements defined according to the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental and economic)." Raffaele Librandi concludes: “From the land to the earth therefore: our company is a material witness that can be taken and returned to nature and this prepares us to build a future in which man is increasingly integrated with the environment in compliance with an economy that takes into account rural development, of profit but also of the aim of creating value for society" . Projects like this, explain the three leading companies, based on the intelligent use of by-products, offer a real competitive advantage, improving efficiency and addressing the challenges associated to the rising costs and volatility of resource prices. In fact, it is a system that not only contributes to tackling the problem of disposing of by-products more effectively, but also transforms them into resources. Drastically reducing the impact on the environment, the process returns nutrients to the soil, produces 100% organic fertilizer and excess electricity, contributing to the well-being of the community