Sustainability bites – Maccaferri’s commitment to protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity

In this new episode of the column “Sustainability bites”, we explore how Maccaferri contributes to the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Environmental protection is a pillar on which Maccaferri’s action is based; over the years, the company has strengthened its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its solutions and to achieving a balance between technical performance and natural integration. Among the objectives, there are favouring solutions that enhance biodiversity, providing perfect habitats for different species, as well as respecting the presence of wildlife – including endangered species – and increasing the growth of vegetation.  

In line with UN SDGs 14 and 15, Maccaferri’s efforts are aimed at protecting the endangered and most vulnerable species at a time when the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident.  

For instance, in the Knysna Basin (South Africa), Maccaferri was called upon to intervene against the phenomenon of coastal erosion; for this purpose, the use of Polymer coated Reno MattressesTM was crucial, enabling the preservation of an endangered species, the Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis. Several studies have shown that Reno mattresses provide new habitats for this endangered species, proving to be effective for future preservation activities. In order to offer safe solutions that fully integrate into the surrounding environment, Maccaferri has also developed RenoMesh to protect the riverbank from the action of burrowing animals. While traditional methods to limit the damage caused by these animals often involve lethal approaches aimed at reducing their population, RenoMesh pushes burrowing animals to migrate to other non-critical areas of the river, protecting their existence. Furthermore, this solution contributes to the growth of vegetation. 

Follow us in the next episodes to explore in detail the best practices adopted and the changes implemented by Maccaferri along its journey towards a more sustainable world.