“Green Talk”, Stiga’s initiative to explore the combination of nature and technology in sustainable garden care innovation

STIGA, a leading company in the garden care sector in Europe, through an official note, presented “Green Talk,” a journey into the heart of innovation, technology, design and sustainability through the authoritative voice of industry experts, with a point of unique view to explore the union between nature and technology.

Andrea Frassetto, with a solid background in the field of controlling, business intelligence and business process improvement, is today an integral part of STIGA as Process Improvement & ESG Directorcontributes significantly to the all-round sustainable development of the company.

“The sustainable approach is at the heart of our work – this is demonstrated by STIGA’s membership of the UN Global Compact. – but to transform our environmental, social and governance priorities into tangible successes, a collective commitment and that everyone within the company shares this mission is essential. Part of my role is to connect people from different departments, each with specific priorities and objectives, promoting a company culture that values ​​and supports sustainable practices. In this way, we ensure that our ESG strategy is not only understood, but also implemented with enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility throughout the organization, integrating it into daily work”.

Thanks to continuous investment in research and development Stiga aims to guarantee effective and sustainable solutions for its customers, but also to lead the entire market towards more conscious and innovative gardening solutions. “To achieve this objective, we work in parallel on three fundamental pillars: Products, People and Processes “– explains Frassetto. “As a leader in the gardening industry, we are committed to finding new solutions that bring concrete improvements to our products, including their environmental footprint along the entire value chain, from sourcing recycled materials, to finding supply chain operators who share our sustainable approach, up to the post-sales phase in favor of the circularity of the life cycle of our products. We are also working to develop the “green skills” of all our employees and are making important steps forward in the use of energy from renewable sources.”

Among the projects that have seen Andrea Frassetto personally involved, it is particularly significant the electric transition project, aimed at progressively replacing petrol-powered engines with battery-powered and electric motors in all STIGA products, from lawnmowers to handheld tools which can be used in gardens of all sizes. “When we design our products, we take a 360-degree approach to sustainability, evaluating the benefits we can offer both the planet and consumers. We create cleaner, quieter tools that consume less energy and reduce pollution, emissions and the need for excessive use of fertilizers. Today, electrical products represent 24% of the total and we aim to constantly increase the share“.

This commitment is supported by an important investment in electrical products – 76% of R&D investments for 2023 and a dedicated team, which constantly improves tests and technology – as well as partnerships with the University of Trento and the University of Padua on the development of battery life cycle management practices. But not only that, the reduction of the company’s environmental impact has also been the subject of a review and strengthening of internal processes and procedures. “We have embarked on a journey to make our plants and offices more efficient and low impact. Looking at last year’s results, we are proud to have used 100% renewable energy in all plants and 96% globally: an achievement made possible by the installation of solar panels on the roof of our Italian headquarters and which will allow further energy savings in the years to come” concludes Andrea Frassetto.