There is a way of talking about sustainability that remains on paper.
And there is a way that leaves a lasting mark on the local environment. In November 2021, in Vinovo, in the province of Turin, Farid Industrie helped create an urban woodland near Castello della Rovere, together with the Kirchhoff Group and the local council An area restored and given back to the local community.
An approach that makes a difference
The project went beyond simply planting trees. It focused on how they were planted.
The approach adopted – the BIO-LINK project – involves dense clusters of trees and shrubs, flowering areas to encourage pollinating insects, and Bug Boxes to provide nesting habitats. No plastic materials are used: stakes, ties and protective materials are all fully biodegradable.
Project estimates indicate approximately 60 tonnes of organic carbon stored, equivalent to the annual emissions of 10 cars, and the removal of around 15 kg of PM10 each year – a significant figure for an area such as the Po Valley.
Involving the community
Schools in Vinovo have adopted the woodland, with each school taking responsibility for a specific area. The Eco-gang of Garino, a group of secondary school pupils who began patrolling their neighbourhood during lockdown to clean it up, have taken responsibility for part of the woodland as a space for active environmental education.
A lasting legacy
Years later, the woodland is still there. Weather conditions and drought have put the vegetation to the test. But 1,785 plants are still alive and continue to grow.
This is what tangible sustainability really means: not an initiative designed to make an impression when it is announced, but a commitment whose results can be measured over time. In trees.
