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Simonelli Group is working to make the world of espresso more sustainable. CEO Marco Feliziani shares the company’s eco-friendly initiatives and its new energy-saving technology.
Sustainability has been a core pillar of Simonelli Group’s philosophy for decades. While some European manufacturers only began considering their environmental impact after the European Union (EU) set the ambitious goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Simonelli Group – which encompasses brands Nuova Simonelli and Victoria Arduino – has long been producing some of the most energy-efficient espresso machines on the market.
For CEO Marco Feliziani, the company’s approach to sustainability stems from a deep respect for people and the environment, which he says also generates long-term sustainable shared value for Simonelli Group’s investors.
“At Simonelli Group, we are committed to driving meaningful changes that benefit not only the planet but also our local community in Belforte del Chienti and the communities of our customers around the world,” says Feliziani.
Under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, due to commence in 2026, all large companies will need to disclose their carbon emissions. This includes Scope 3 emissions, indirect emissions that occur outside of the company’s direct operations.
Since 2019, Simonelli Group has reported its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and published an annual sustainability report. The reports highlight how the company has reduced the energy consumption of its headquarters by installing solar panels, switching to 100 per cent renewable energy sources, reducing natural gas consumption by 36 per cent, and increasing self-produced energy by 33 per cent, among other initiatives.
“We have just received our 2024 carbon audit, which includes Scope 3 emissions for the first time. Although not yet mandatory, we felt it was important to assess the downstream impacts of our products when in use in cafés,” he says.
“In Scope 3, around 96 per cent of our impact comes directly from the energy consumption of our espresso machines in coffee shops. Over the past 20 years, we’ve focused on assessing and reducing the energy consumption of our products, conducting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies since 2011, to name just one initiative. This report confirmed our hard work has paid off – work we began long before Scope 3 even existed.”
A major focus of Simonelli Group’s research and development (R&D) team has been energy recovery systems and thermal stability. Feliziani highlights the advancement from the Victoria Arduino VA388 Black Eagle espresso machine to the Black Eagle Maverick, which resulted in an energy-requirement reduction of almost 37 per cent.
“We developed a Thermal Energy Recovery System, which uses the hot water discharged from flushing the group head to warm up new water entering the boiler,” he says.
The Black Eagle Maverick also features a more efficient boiler. While the VA388 Black Eagle required a 14-litre boiler to deliver peak performance, the Maverick delivers the same pressure and consistency with less water from an eight-litre boiler.
Also designed to produce fewer emissions is the Victoria Arduino Eagle One machine. Its NEO engine features an instant heating system with a unique insulation mechanism, which reduces both heat dispersion and energy consumption. A LCA found that, compared to other machines in the same category, the Eagle One has a 23 per cent lower environmental impact.
In fact, the company is already working on the next generation of Eagle machines, featuring a new insulation system that will reduce energy consumption even further.
“I can’t say too much about it at the moment, but our R&D team has been working very hard to produce our most sustainable machine to date,” says Feliziani.
In December 2024, Simonelli Group acquired a stake in Swedish filter machine company 3TEMP. Feliziani says the company’s shared commitment to sustainability and energy-reduction was pivotal in the acquisition.
“3TEMP brewers are boilerless, so they only heat up the exact amount of water needed. This makes a huge difference in terms of energy consumption, while also delivering much better results,” he says.
“The team at 3TEMP share our values, so we felt the partnership was a natural fit. Our search for the right partner to accelerate our ambitious growth plans has always been focused on finding a company that aligns with our relentless commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.”
Feliziani says that recent consolidation in the café and coffee shop sector has led venues to increasingly look for sustainable options when updating their equipment.
“The industry has changed in recent years and big corporations are now leading the market. These big companies face increasing pressure to report on their environmental and social impact, not only from governments but also from consumers,” he says.
“We were one of the first manufacturers to offer products that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliant. LEED is a globally recognised green building certification system that allows venues to earn points towards the certification of their own buildings by the implementation of our products.”
To remain at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, Simonelli Group invests in two tiers of research: an internal R&D team of engineers, and its Research and Innovation Coffee Hub (RICH), founded in 2016 in collaboration with the University of Camerino.
Whereas the internal team work on the development of new equipment and technology, RICH focuses on a wider range of topics.
“Around 90 to 95 per cent of the Hub’s research is centred in sustainability,” says Feliziani.
“One of the most recent projects focused on recovering caffeine and other compounds from spent coffee grounds. In order to reduce waste, it explored reusing these caffeine compounds as ingredients for energy drinks.”
For Feliziani and the whole company, sustainability means more than just developing espresso machines and grinders with a reduced impact on the planet. Every year, the company sets a range of goals – from corporate to environmental – with one of the key focuses being society. The company allocates one per cent of its net profits to support social initiatives.
“We are constantly engaged in projects that align with our values of social responsibility. We support local cultural institutions and private organisations that promote inclusion and assist vulnerable social groups. For instance, we support the local basketball team and recently invested in a school for young women who want to play the sport,” he says.
“These projects are part of our broader philosophy to give back to our community, as well as to our shareholders and stakeholders. As a company, we’re not only responsible for maintaining a profitable business but also have a social responsibility to the network around us. For this reason, we’re currently launching a startup incubator to provide qualified training programs, facilities, and networking support to promising startup projects with sustainable and innovative business ideas.”
Simonelli Group’s effort to make a positive impact also extends to the people within the company. With nearly 250 employees worldwide, Simonelli Group is strengthening its welfare offerings with economic support, service benefits, and training opportunities to help achieving a better work-life balance.
For more information, visit simonelligroup.com
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