In 1950, the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy stood on the precipice of a bold, transformational shift. That year, the husband-and-wife team of Romeo Giacobazzi and Afra Fontana opened one of the region’s first modern factories, setting the stage for rapid economic development. A decade later, the operation employed some 2,000 people producing over 20 million square metres of floor and wall tiles per year. By the time Romeo and Afra’s son Dante Giacobazzi co-founded Italgraniti in 1994, the company was becoming a global innovator. In 2025, it stands at the industry’s innovative edge — and at the brink of another existential shift.

Italgraniti’s Italian production site outside Reggio Emilia recently underwent a major expansion, adding a new plant specifically dedicated to the production of large slabs while staying true to the company’s ethos of sustainability.

Today, Italgraniti is at the forefront of a sector reinventing itself for a sustainable future. Now an unparalleled global hub of ceramic design innovation, the Emilia-Romagna region is also home to the world’s most advanced — and environmentally sensitive — manufacturing. Case in point? Opened this year, Italgraniti’s new factory in San Martino in Rio sets a new benchmark for responsible production. Devoted to manufacturing large porcelain stoneware slabs, the facility pairs exceptional technical precision with an advanced photovoltaic system that supplies all on-site energy, as well as a range of sustainable features resulting in 100 per cent rates of water recovery and raw/cooked waste recycling; 99 per cent of all waste is also recycled. Moreover, the facility boasts a 55 per cent reduction in particulate emissions compared to industry benchmarks, and 90 per cent energy self-sufficiency.

Elisa Giacobazzi and Francesco Maturo.

And it remains a family company at heart. Now employing some 300 people, Italgraniti is rooted in the Emilia-Romagna region. Representing the third generation of leadership, Elisa Giacobazzi and Francesco Maturo continue to be guided by the values of innovation and entrepreneurial culture as the company evolves. “Incorporating a high level of technological innovation, the new factory operates with greater energy efficiency, more sustainable use of resources and significantly lower emissions and waste,” says Elisa Giacobazzi, the company’s CEO. Just as importantly, it is a locus of industry and culture. “It is also a major driver of local development, with a forecast increase in employment of 25 per cent,” she says.

Sustainability is about more than numbers. While an emphasis on reducing carbon costs shapes every aspect of the company’s operations, a holistic approach to corporate responsibility also prioritizes workplace well-being. A certified B Corp since 2022, Italgraniti is steadfast in its commitment to a 100 per cent “Made in Italy” ethos while leading the sector in workplace gender equity and pay standards.

Not least of all, it leads the way with beauty. Under the creative direction of architects Andrea Parisio and Giuseppe Pezzano, Italgraniti’s award-winning ceramic portfolio pairs heritage with a forward-looking aesthetic and an embrace of emerging technology — leveraging the best-in-class production of exceptionally large, thin slabs and three-dimensional surfaces, as well as outdoor tiles that combine the tactility of indoor flooring with anti-slip surfaces. It bodes well for the next 75 years — and then some.

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Italgraniti.