Friday 25th September dedicated to sustainability
Today we join #FSCFriday, the international day of responsible forest management promoted by FSC©, which aims to raise awareness of the role of forests in everyday life.
Since years, ICT Group has chosen to be part of a responsible supply chain to contribute to preserving forests and promoting sustainable management activities, respecting the environment, people and forestry ecosystems.
Cellulose is one of the most sensitive materials we use in ICT and must be carefully managed throughout the supply management and production process; products bearing an FSC label guarantee consumers that the raw materials used come from responsibly managed forests, respecting high environmental, social and economic standards.
ECOLABEL licences renewed according to the new criteria
The year 2020 marks an important milestone for the Ecolabel certification as well.
All groups’ involved sites (Italy, Spain and France) have successfully completed the procedure to renew the certificate in accordance with the new, stricter, criteria that entered into force on 1 January 2020 with the Commission Decision (EU) 2019/70.
This is yet another demonstration of ICT Group commitment to implement a responsible management of
production processes to control and minimise environmental impacts.
Innovation, safety and increased production capacity: 3 concepts that are an integral part of the ICT France project
After the start-up of the automatic warehouse, ICT France is continuing its growth path: the latest two converting lines are now fully operational, thus increasing the company’s production capacity and productivity.
These new technologically advanced, high-performance lines ensure highest standards of product quality to meet the current and future demands of the most demanding customers.
As always, special focus was placed on safety; in fact, these are latest generation systems that can be controlled using digital technology, which also makes work easier for operators in order to ensure even greater safety.
LGV systems were also implemented, namely automated handling systems for products leaving the converting area, which make it possible to optimise the logistics process and streamline operations.
The overall project has created new jobs and further recruitment is planned for an additional line that will start up by the end of the year.
Final victory for ICT in Europe on patent infringement case against ESSITY
Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti S.p.A (ICT), a Lucca-based company and leader in the category of high quality tissue paper products for domestic use, with subsidieries in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Poland, is pleased with the now final decisions of the Paris Court of Appeal, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe and the Barcelona Provincial Court dismissing Essity’s claims of patent infringement in regards to ICT’s three ply toilet paper. The company is also satisfied to have demonstrated beyond doubt that its Branded and Private Label products are produced based on its own proprietary process, and patented under European patent 2 353 859.
The Paris decision, which is the most recent, ends a long-running patent infringement litigation with Essity and affirms ICT can continue to produce and distribute absorbent paper based on its own proprietary technology. The three courts in France, Germany, and Spain, have confirmed ICT’s argumentation that it is using its own novel technology, also patented. Essity’s claims of infringement were based on a patent originally filed by Georgia Pacific, and subsequently becoming Essity’s.
The patent litigation began in 2016 when Essity sued ICT in France, Germany and Spain for the alleged infringement of its patent related to the technical solution for the bonding of three layers of tissue for paper products such as high quality, soft and bulky, toilet paper.
In France, Essity claimed that ICT had breached the French part of its European patent 1 081 284 and that the toilet paper marketed as Foxy Soie Plus, and also certain other Private Labels, all produced by ICT France, had infringed on their patent. Essity demanded that all production operations be halted. The rolls of toilet paper were carefully analysed and there were no findings of infringement. The two French courts in first instance and in appeal rejected the claims and additionally the courts have ordered that Essity pay compensation for the legal fees to ICT Italy and ICT France.
In Germany, the case was first taken to the Mannheim District Court, well reputed in patent matters. The lawsuit mainly focused on the complex questions regarding the construing of the claims of Essity’s patent. The court ruled in favour of ICT, and Essity filed an appeal. In May 2019, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe also ruled that the German part of the patent 1 081 284 was not infringed by products marketed by the German subsidiary of ICT.
In Spain, after a first decision in favour of Essity at the lower court, the Barcelona Provincial Court clearly stated in a very well written appeal that ICT’s products, and in particular, Foxy Seda, Foxy Bouquet, certain Private Label product 3 Ply, were not infringing the Spanish part of the patent 1 081 284.
May 21st: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Happy World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development!
Cultural diversity is an important element for growth, at all levels.
It has many positive effects in the workplace: it provides more expertise, increases productivity, creativity and problem-solving skills, improves cultural knowledge whilst promoting innovation.
Our Greenfield Philosophy is also based on this.
ICT Group remains committed to sustainability and environmental protection
After rebuilding at the paper mills in Italy and at ICT Poland, the new vacuum system has now been put into operation at ICT France. The vacuum generating system for PM31 consists of two blowers and saves a considerable amount of electricity, resulting in lower CO2 emissions and a drastically lower amount of water used in the vacuum system. Turbo blower technology is currently one of the best solutions to reduce the energy impact, in line with the requirements of the BREF (Best Available Techniques Reference Document) for the paper industry. We are proud of achieving this result and of the amazing teamwork behind this project.
Marca 2020 Trade Fair
On the 15th and 16th of January, Bologna’s Exhibition Centre will host Marca, the only Italian event entirely devoted to commercial brands, where over 750 companies exhibit outstanding Italian Private Label products. Now at its 16th edition, Marca is a must-attend event for all Private Label professionals and market leaders. ICT Group will be there and looks forward to seeing you in Hall 36/Booth A32 – B31 to present its products.