Asiago is the only DOP to have certified the entire supply chain "from grass to fork" and the first cheese with Protected Designation of Origin to obtain MADE GREEN IN ITALY, the voluntary certification promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security to encourage sustainable models of evaluation and communication of the environmental footprint of Italian products. The Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago thus reaches a new milestone in the promotion of a growth model that offers a concrete response to European sustainability objectives.
The Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago, as part of the continuous improvement process that, since 2022, with the innovative Asiago Green Edge project has involved, for the first time in the dairy sector, the entire production chain, is committed to translating into action the commitment to responsible development based on three pillars: the protection of the natural environment, animal welfare and energy efficiency. The adoption of the voluntary MADE GREEN IN ITALY certification, accompanied by more sustainable production practices, allows each dairy to reduce its energy consumption by an average of 20% per year and, in practical terms, to save approximately 150 MWh of electricity and 100,000 Sm³ of gas, with a consequent reduction of approximately 250 tons of CO₂, equal to the emissions produced by 150 apartments. The focus on sustainability also extends to the breeding phase, where optimizing the use of water, electricity and diesel can lead to further reductions in resources estimated between 15 and 20%. The benefits of certification translate into a double environmental advantage, generating not only energy savings, but also a significant reduction in the carbon footprint along the entire supply chain.
MADE GREEN IN ITALY is the only certification that combines Italian manufacturing excellence with a careful assessment of environmental performance along the entire value chain and is the first of an institutional and public nature . The alliance between Italian excellences demonstrates the value of a shared approach : Asiago DOP, which combines authenticity and innovation, three leading universities - Polytechnic of Milan, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa which represents the scientific referent of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for this certification - and a certifying body ( CSQA ) which with their research know-how enhance its impact culminating with the first MADE GREEN IN ITALY awarded to a DOP cheese, thus strengthening the link between tradition and sustainability.
“Achieving this goal ,” says the President of the Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago Fiorenzo Rigoni , “is the recognition of our sustainable development model that includes productive, environmental and social aspects in which each member is a protagonist and the consumers who trust Asiago DOP every day are part of the process. This certification today indicates a concrete and viable path to make Asiago cheese increasingly attractive. A choice that is proposed as a benchmark for all the protected designations of origin in the dairy sector of our country, offering a replicable model for a more sustainable future.”
“The Made Green in Italy certification demonstrates the commitment of the Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago to environmental sustainability,” says Matteo Zanchi, general manager of Enersem, a spin-off of the Politecnico di Milano . “For Enersem, it was a valuable experience to work with the Consortium and the university to develop the Environmental Decision Support Software that now allows farmers and producers to collect their data independently and constantly compare themselves with concrete objectives in favor of the environment and a sustainable product.”
CSQA CEO Pietro Bonato concludes: “CSQA strongly believes in sustainable development and was the first certification body in Italy accredited by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for the Made Green in Italy scheme. The adoption of structured sustainability paths represents a great opportunity for companies that can embrace this theme through recognized and advanced certification tools, as a guarantee for companies, products and consumers”.