EN BILANCIO SOCIALE 2024_pagina doppia

Social

Report

2024

1

Copyright © 2024

di Echo Labs

Via Amaseno 52

00131 Roma

PIVA 03144410218

www.echolabs.it

Editing & publishing

Claudia Coscarella

Contributors

Andrea Boninsegna

Bettina Baumgartner

Dino Menichetti

Lorena Biasi

Valentin Racman

The non-profit becomes a real opportunity for efficiency and innovation,

with positive economic impacts for all.

2024 was a year marked by intense and multifaceted activity.

Within the pages of this Social Report, we showcase our upcycling work for new modular

exhibition stands, custom design furnishings for prestigious itinerant exhibitions currently

underway, recent projects for furnishing sports centers or new canteens, prototypes

presented at Milan’s Fuorisalone, and initiatives linked to the Blue Economy. We also took

part in notable events dedicated to wine, within the context of jazz music festivals, alongside

projects for children and schools, always a key area of focus for us.

We had the pleasure of meeting many remarkable individuals drawn to the Echo Labs project,

not only from the third sector, but also among our suppliers, clients, and colleagues, all

united by a sincere commitment to supporting this initiative. The support we received, in all

its forms, was fueled by these positive energies and genuine goodwill. Witnessing so many

people getting involved with passion and generosity has been a source of deep satisfaction,

joy, and gratitude.

What I value most is the human side of our work. Through our workshops, our carpenters,

young African men who have been granted political asylum in Italy, had the opportunity to

showcase their skills and humanity. One of the most meaningful moments for us was during

the Festival dei Due Mondi, when Nina, a little girl from Spoleto, would come every day to

learn basic woodworking techniques from Sebastien. Watching them interact naturally, and

seeing other groups of children work with their hands creatively, rediscovering the value of

manual skills that foster imagination and autonomy, was truly inspiring. That shared work,

side by side with our other tutors, became a real moment of integration. It made us believe

that Nina, like the other young participants, will grow up free of prejudice, open to diversity in

skin tone, faith, tradition, or custom. For Nina, Seba isn’t “different”, he’s her friend. A small

but powerful sign of change.

From an environmental sustainability perspective, I believe it’s important to stress that

projects like Echo Labs should never serve as a pretext for the indiscriminate use of

resources and raw materials, especially when it comes to a noble, living material like

wood, meant to accompany humanity in shaping its habitat. Trees are the very soul of our

landscapes: cutting them down means altering the essence of a place. Therefore, wood must

be used with the utmost care.

What I mean is that projects like Echo Labs gain full meaning only when they are part of a

supply chain already moving toward a virtuous cycle. Post-use recycling cannot become

an excuse for the continued, careless consumption of raw materials upstream. It is our

responsibility to use every natural resource wisely, avoiding wasteful practices, rather than

justifying overuse with the idea that reuse or recycling will come later.

Lastly, I want to say that this social project has shown, to me first and foremost, that

collaboration between the profit and non-profit sectors is not only possible, but can lead

to self-sustaining models of circular economy. In this vision, the non-profit becomes a true

value-added partner to the profit sector, contributing to improved corporate reputation in a

world where CSR is an integral part of business operations.

From this perspective, the non-profit becomes a strategic partner to business, within a

logic of industrial symbiosis. It proves that the shift from linear to circular economy is not

only possible but can also be advantageous from environmental, social, and economic

standpoints.

Not a cost to subsidize, but a real opportunity for efficiency and innovation, with positive

economic impacts for all.

Dino Menichetti

Graphic design & layout:

President of Echo Labs

Evangelina Belèn Frate

2 3

INDEX

63

07 IDENTITY

WORKSHOP & EDUCATION

32 UPCYCLING

15

STRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT

& ADMINISTRATION

76

RESEARCH

25

PEOPLE WORKING FOR

THE ORGANIZATION

ISTITUTIONAL

COMMUNICATION 80

30

GOALS, ACTIVITIES, AND

IMPACTS GENERATED

86

FUTURE PROSPECTS

88

FINANCIAL

ECONOMIC SITUATION

AND

4 5

METHODOLOGY USED FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

SOCIAL REPORT

The Social Report is the result of a process through which the organization accounts for its

decisions, activities, results, and use of resources, enabling various stakeholders to understand

and consciously assess how it interprets and fulfills its social mission.

The objective of the Social Report is to measure and communicate the meaning and value of the

work carried out, in order to strengthen dialogue and trust with the different stakeholders.

Reporting standards

The Social Report has been prepared in accordance with the “Guidelines for the preparation of the

Social Report of third sector entities” issued by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies on

4 July 2019.

The reporting period refers to the year 2024 (from 1 January to 31 December), which coincides with

the financial year.

It should be noted that information relating to the meetings of the governance and management

bodies (number of attendees, key issues addressed, and decisions taken) is included in the section

“Structure, governance and management”.

This document adheres to the reporting principles set out in the Guidelines: relevance, completeness,

transparency, neutrality, accrual basis, comparability, clarity, truthfulness and verifiability, reliability,

and independence of third parties.

Additional information on the reporting process and methodology

The 2024 Social Report of Echo Labs was drafted by the working group composed of Bettina

Baumgartner, Dino Menichetti, Claudia Coscarella, Lorena Biasi, and Andrea Boninsegna.

The Social Report was approved by the Board of Directors and is available on the website

www.echolabs.it.

IDENTITY

6 7

IDENTITÁ IDENTITY

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENTITY

LOGISTICS SECTOR FOCUS

Name of the entity:

Tax Code and VAT Number: 03144410218

Echo Labs srl social enterprise

5,41%

1,16 mln

3.341kg

90%

Legal form:

Classification under the

Third Sector Code:

Registered office:

Limited liability company

Social enterprise, registered in the RUNTS (National Single

Register of the Third Sector) with entry number 14886 –

Mass registration of social enterprises on 21 March 2022

Via Marie Curie 2, 39100 Bolzano BZ – Italy

logistics sector’s

contribution to EU

GDP¹

people employed in the

freight transport and

logistics sector in the EU²

average packaging

waste generated per

year per citizen in

Europe

of pallets used in

logistics are made of

wood; the rest are plastic,

metal or cardboard²

Transport is a strategic sector of both the Italian and European economies. It creates added

value, supports the development of new services for people and businesses, and enhances the

competitiveness of regions and production systems.

Operating office:

Territorial scope of activity:

HISTORY

Via Amaseno 52, 00131 Roma RM – Italy

Entire Italian territory

Echo Labs was founded on 22 December 2021 on the initiative of FERCAM, in response to the

need to create, in Rome, a sustainable relaxation area for direct employees, warehouse staff, and

drivers, a place to enjoy a restorative break.

To bring this project to life, the association Linaria was invited to collaborate and proposed a

biodiversity station built entirely from end-of-life materials from the logistics supply chain. The

project provided an opportunity to initiate training for refugees and asylum seekers, giving them the

chance to learn a trade.

From this initial initiative, an operational model took shape, progressively enriched with new values

and the awareness that it is possible to generate a meaningful and positive impact on people and

the environment, leaving behind a legacy to be proud of.

Today, Echo Labs is based on two key pillars:

In Italy, logistics, including transport and warehousing, employs 1.16 million people and generates

a value of €92.7 billion, equivalent to 5.41% of the GDP.

More specifically, over half of Italy’s logistics workforce (50.5%) is employed in land transport, 27.9%

in warehousing and support activities, 15.8% in postal and courier services, 3.6% in maritime or

inland waterway transport, and 2.1% in air transport.

The sector is undergoing a transition to ensure greater environmental sustainability. In this direction,

the European Commission has proposed measures to make freight transport more efficient and

sustainable by improving railway infrastructure management, incentivizing low-emission trucks,

and enhancing information about greenhouse gas emissions associated with goods. The goal is

to increase the efficiency of the sector and support the target of a 90% reduction in transport

emissions by 2050, as established by the European Green Deal, while allowing the EU single market

to continue growing.

One environmental impact of the logistics sector that must be monitored is the generation of waste.

Packaging, in particular, is one of the primary uses of virgin materials: 40% of plastic and 50% of

paper used in the EU are allocated to packaging. Without intervention, packaging waste in the EU is

projected to increase by a further 19% by 2030, and plastic packaging waste by as much as 46%.

Through specific regulations and policies, the EU aims to reduce packaging waste per capita by

15% by 2040 (compared to 2018 levels) in each member state, by promoting reuse and recycling.

In Italy in 2023, a total of 3,330,784 tonnes of packaging were used, including 1,574,934 new

pallets and 944,940 reused pallets (28.79%).

• a circular economy project based on the recovery of end-of-life wood from the logistics

supply chain, including packaging used for the transport of goods (pallets) and works of art (crates);

• a social inclusion project providing training and job placement for vulnerable groups, starting

with migrants.

1. Randstad Research - Transformations in the sector and of professions in logistics

2. Fondazione Sviluppo Sostenibile - Ricycling in Italy 2023 - https://www.fondazionesvilupposostenibile.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_

uploads/Riciclo-in-Italia-2023.pdfhttps://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/it/ip_23_3767

8 9

IDENTITÁ IDENTITY

WOOD RECOVERY 3

The European context

According to FEFPEB (European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers),

approximately 100 million cubic meters of sawn timber are produced annually in Europe, with over

25 million cubic meters used for pallet and packaging production.

The average lifespan of a wooden pallet ranges from 5 to 7 years. Around 90% of pallets are made

of wood, and a high percentage is recycled or repaired.

Over four billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in Europe. In 2022 alone, the European

Pallet Association (EPAL) produced over 100 million new EPAL Euro pallets. Repair volumes for

EPAL pallets remained nearly unchanged from the previous year.

Wooden packaging production in Italy

According to the latest data, the wooden packaging sector generated €2.1 billion in 2023, a sharp

drop from the previous year (-22.8%). Regarding industrial production volumes, wooden packaging

registered a -4.3% decrease between January–May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

The wood packaging recovery chain in Italy

The wood supply chain achieved a recycling rate of 65%, with over 2.1 million tonnes recycled

(down 0.73% from 2022), well above European targets.

Rilegno⁴, Italy’s national consortium for wood packaging recycling, directly managed 35% of this

volume, while the remaining 65% was handled by the market.

Pallet regeneration

Pallet repair is a crucial aspect of the wood packaging supply chain, more so than in other material

chains, due to the robustness and reparability of wood.

Although many pallets are designed for single use, they are often reused, following sorting and

repair if needed.

The process involves various steps: the repairer may collect pallets from users or receive them

directly; then, usable pallets are separated from those needing repair or disposal. Repairs consist of

removing broken deck boards or blocks and replacing them with new or reused parts. Reconstruction

may involve recovering elements from irreparable pallets.

3. Data Federlegno Arredo

4. Rilegno is the national consortium that deals with the collection, recovery, and recycling of wooden packaging

Recycling and reuse of wooden packaging

In 2023, the wood packaging sector in Italy achieved a recycling rate of 64.9%, totaling around 2.2

million tonnes. Italy has already exceeded the EU recycling targets for wood packaging waste: 25%

by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

Recycling targets for wood packaging waste in Italy,

2019-2023 (kt & %)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Source: Rilegno

Further context:

62%

2.009 kt

62%

1.892 kt

64%

2.203 kt

63%

2.147 kt

65%

2.162 kt

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Target 2030

Target 2025

Packaging refers to protective containers that allow goods to be handled, transported, and stored, from raw materials to

finished products, ensuring delivery to the end user. Wooden packaging, made entirely from virgin or reclaimed wood, generally

falls into three categories:

• Pallets

• Industrial packaging

• Food packaging

The most commonly used wood types include poplar, beech, fir, pine, birch, and, to a lesser extent, larch, alder, and chestnut.

Wood for packaging must meet specific mechanical resistance standards (compressibility, flexibility, hardness), and comply

with density requirements. Plywood and OSB (oriented strand board) panels are also used, particularly for crates.

Pallet categories by use:

• Single-use pallets: designed for one transport cycle only

• Reusable pallets: designed for multiple use cycles

• In-house pallets: used only within one company or a closed logistics system

• Exchangeable pallets: used under reciprocal agreements between parties

10 11

IDENTITY

ÁIDENTITÁ

INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN ECHO LABS AND ITS

STAKEHOLDERS

As of 09 April 2024, Echo Labs is

jointly owned by FERCAM S.p.A. and

DACHSER & FERCAM Italia.

Both companies see sustainability as a

key driver of their development and are

committed to promoting an innovative

and sustainable business model.

Specifically, their activities on the market

focus on:

• adopting technological solutions to

optimize every phase of the supply

chain, offering increasingly smart and

efficient services;

• pursuing freight mobility solutions

aligned with the companies’

mission, enabling the reduction of

environmental impact, especially in

terms of CO₂ emissions intensity;

• developing partnerships in the fields

of technological innovation and

collaboration along the entire value

chain, and promoting actions that

support the circular economy.

This area in particular reflects the development of industrial symbiosis with Echo Labs, which

fosters innovation in the logistics supply chain by promoting sustainable growth focused on

people’s well-being and the responsible use of resources.

The synergy between FERCAM, DACHSER & FERCAM Italia and Echo Labs increasingly

strengthens a virtuous managerial and organizational model based on the sharing of skills

and resources.

12 13

IDENTITY

MISSION

Leaving a positive mark on the world

Echo Labs is a social enterprise that aims to promote innovation in the logistics supply chain

through sustainable growth, with a strong focus on people’s well-being and the responsible use of

resources.

It drives a systemic approach aimed at fostering circular economy processes, social inclusion,

biodiversity, and the regeneration of living and working environments, by connecting a network of

individuals and organizations that share the same values and goals. This commitment aligns with

the United Nations 2030 Agenda, and in particular with Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals.

Echo Labs is a permanent laboratory for research and innovation, developing concrete and scalable

solutions through co-design with businesses, universities, schools, youth, local authorities, and

third sector organizations, starting from the territories where each actor operates.

AREAS OF ACTIVITY AND RELATED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

UPCYCLING

Projects that give new life to

packaging used for transport.

RESEARCH

Each project is developed with

innovation in mind, in partnership

with universities and the research

community, to create functional

and scalable solutions.

EDUCATION

Collaboration with schools is

essential to spread the culture

of sustainability among younger

generations.

The mission and activities of Echo Labs contribute to achieving the following UN 2030 Agenda

Sustainable Development Goals:

STRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT

& ADMINISTRATION

14 15

STRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT & ADMINISTRATION

SHAREHOLDERS

The founding of Echo Labs by FERCAM and DACHSER

On April 9, 2024, DACHSER & FERCAM Italia Srl joined the shareholder structure of FERCAM Echo

Labs by acquiring 50% of the shares previously held by CO.TRA.F. – Consorzio Trasporti FERCAM.

On April 11, 2024, the shareholders’ meeting approved the amendments to the Articles of

Association, officially changing the company name to Echo Labs Social Enterprise.

Shareholders and holders of rights to stocks and shares

“DACHSER & FERCAM Italia’s interest represents a valuable growth opportunity and a strong

recognition of our commitment. Just a few years after its founding, our social enterprise has

already gained attention for its practical, innovative approach, particularly for its awareness

efforts against waste and for urban and industrial regeneration projects. This new ownership

structure opens up international challenges for us, but above all it ensures continuity for our

social carpentry workshop, the true beating heart of our enterprise.”

Dino Menichetti,

General Manager of the Rome Business Area, DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, and President of Echo Labs

Summary of corporate composition and other holders of rights to shares or stock as of 12/31/2024

DACHSER & FERCAM ITALIA SRL

50%

Share capital

€ 10.000,00

FERCAM SPA

50%

The chart and table below are a summary of the company's ownership structure relating only to ownership rights, which does not

replace the actual legal disclosure provided by the shareholder list below, where possible constraints on shares are also shown.

Partners

FERCAM SPA

DACHSER & FERCAM ITALIA SRL

Value

5.000,00

5.000,00

%

50%

50%

“The recent acquisition of 50% of Echo Labs by DACHSER & FERCAM Italia highlights the shared

commitment of FERCAM and DACHSER to comprehensive sustainable growth, fully aligned with

the UN 2030 Agenda.”

Bettina Baumgartner,

Innovation Manager at FERCAM and Board Member of Echo Labs

16 17


GOVERNANCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Shareholders’ assembly

Board of directors

Audit comitee

Board members must not be subject to legal disqualification, preventive measures ordered by the

judiciary, or final convictions. The role is incompatible with similar roles, employment relationships,

consultancy contracts, paid assignments, or other financial ties with other third sector entities that

may compromise their independence.

Board members must have at least three years’ experience as volunteers or in professional or

intellectual activities relevant to the company’s purpose.

The Board holds full powers of ordinary and extraordinary management, except for those reserved

by law or the Articles of Association to the shareholders.

It may assign and revoke powers of attorney and is authorized to appoint, replace, and remove a

General Director, defining their duties, responsibilities, and authority.

Board members are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their

duties; however, in line with Echo Labs’ sustainability goals, online meetings are preferred to

minimize environmental and economic impact from travel.

Shareholders’ assembly

It is convened by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Vice President and is responsible for:

• approving the financial statements and profit allocation

• appointing the Board of Directors and the Control Body

• amending the Articles of Association and Bylaws

• approving internal regulations

Each shareholder has the right and duty to participate in the decision-making process, and their

voting power is proportional to their share of the company’s capital. Shareholders are not entitled

to any form of remuneration.

Board of Directors

The Board is composed of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 members, who remain in office for

an indefinite period, unless removed or resigned. Members may also be shareholders.

The Shareholders’ Meeting has confirmed both directors.

L’assemblea conferma i due amministratori.

Componenents Charge Date of first

nomination

Term of office

Dino Menichetti President 22 December 2021 Indefinitely

Bettina

Baumgartner

Managing Director

22 December 2021 Indefinitely

In 2024, the Board of Directors met once, on 29 March 2024, to approve the draft financial statements.

The Shareholders’ Meeting was convened twice, on 11 April 2024 and 30 September 2024.

Main matters discussed and decisions taken:

• review and approval of the financial statements

• company name change

• adoption of new Articles of Association

• other business

Audit comitee

Meetings

held

Attendees

% participation

rate

Hours

Free role

Board of Directors 2 2 100% 2,5 yes

The Control Body is appointed for a term of three fiscal years and ensures that the social enterprise

complies with its statutory objectives. The following individuals and firms are responsible for control

activities: Dr. Matteo Di Stefano, appointed as Statutory Auditor pursuant to Article 2429 of the Italian

Civil Code and the company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) S.p.A., appointed as External Auditor.

Given the social purpose of the company, both control bodies have decided to carry out their duties

on a pro bono basis.

Components Charge Date of first nomination

Matteo di Stefano Mayor 30/09/2024

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) S.P.A Reviewer 22/12/2021

18 19


President

Dino Menichetti

Born in Rome in 1973, he began his career in 1996 at a

transport and logistics company in Pomezia (RM).

In 2017, he joined FERCAM as Regional Manager. In 2020,

he became part of the project team for the company’s

Distribution Strategy, with responsibility for defining safety

and operational standards for assets and equipment.

He became the face of the innovative Emission Free Project,

FERCAM’s transition program toward low environmental

impact solutions.

In 2021, he was appointed President of Echo Labs, and in

2024, with the establishment of DACHSER & FERCAM Italia,

he became General Manager of the Rome Business Area.

STAKEHOLDER MAPPING

Echo Labs relies on a diverse network of partners, involving companies, universities, schools and

young people, local authorities and third sector entities interested in research and the development

of concrete, scalable solutions.

Category Stakeholders Engagement Methods

Shareholders

• FERCAM SPA

• DACHSER & FERCAM Italia

(as of 11/04/2024, replacing CO.TRA.F.

- Consorzio Trasporti FERCAM)

Launch of the project and ongoing

support to Echo Labs activities

Managing Director

Bettina Baumgartner

Born in Bolzano in 1989, she studied Economics, Finance,

and earned a Master’s in Hospitality Management in Paris.

She began her career abroad and returned to Italy in 2015,

taking on a responsibility role in digital marketing for a

European sportswear brand.

In 2017, she joined the family company FERCAM as CRM

Project Manager. Shortly after, she became Innovation

Manager, leading several digital transformation projects.

In March 2021, she founded FERCAM Future Labs, supporting

and investing in innovative startups and technologies. At the

end of the same year, she was appointed Managing Director

of Echo Labs.

Staff

• Echo Labs staff

• FERCAM staff assigned to

Echo Labs

• Support for staff functions:

Marketing & Tender, Media Relations,

Administration, Tax, HR, Quality,

Environment & CSR, Health & Safety

• Regular meetings on current and

upcoming projects Participation in

internal meetings to communicate

the mission, values and initiatives of

Echo Labs, encouraging employee

engagement

• Corporate volunteering days (e.g.,

renovation of outdoor spaces at a high

school in Rome’s suburbs)

• Communication through:

• FERCAM Connect: dedicated intranet

section

• Articles in the internal magazine

FERCAM Info and on the company

notice board

20 21

Strategic

partners

Other

partners

Clients

• FERCAM

• DACHSER & FERCAM Italia

• EcoMuvi

• Linaria

• Laboratorio Linfa

• MediHospes

• Regusto

• Apicoltura Urbana

• Associazione Roma BPA – Mamma

• Roma ed i Suoi Figli Migliori

• Falegnameria sociale K-Alma

• Repubblica del Design

• Ridaje

• Voice Book Radio

• FERCAM

• Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia

• Prologis

Schools • Primary School “PATRIZIA BADIALI”

(67 students)

• 13 schools in Spoleto (137 students)

University

& research

• Accademia Italiana

• IAAD

• SAE Institute

• Department of Architecture,

Roma Tre University – Models and

Prototypes Lab

• SDA Bocconi - Sustainable

Operations and Supply Chain

(SOSC) Monitor

• Sapienza University of Rome,

Faculty of Economics, Department

of Management

They provide spaces and support

staff activities with their own

personnel. They promote corporate

volunteering among their employees.

Partnerships for staff selection.

Partnerships for the recovery of endof-life

materials

Partnerships for activities and events

on private projects

Partnerships for public space

redevelopment projects

Participation in events with

workshops

Joint participation in debates and

conferences for dissemination and

awareness-raising purposes

In-person and media initiatives

to raise student awareness

of environmental and social

sustainability issues

Development of upcycling projects

School participation in events

Redevelopment of outdoor areas

Protocols and Collaborations

Partnerships for Activities and Events

Participation in Observatories and

in research and publishing activities

(academic articles and papers)

Collectivity • Citizens Awareness-raising initiatives and

events

Communication on radio, website,

and social media

PARTNER

Introducing Echo Labs’ strategic partners, organizations that share its values, objectives, and

operational approach, along with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030

Agenda they support.

Partners

FERCAM

Founder

DACHSER &

FERCAM Italia

EcoMuvi

Linaria

Founded in 1949, FERCAM is one of Europe’s leading logistics providers.

From the outset, it has been committed to environmental protection and

enhancing people’s well-being.

SDGs targeted: 8, 9, 12, 13, 17

benessere delle persone.

Established in 2023 and operational from early 2024, DACHSER & FERCAM

Italia is a joint venture between FERCAM and the multinational logistics

provider DACHSER. It is the natural evolution of a twenty-year partnership in

the management of European groupage transport.

SDGs targeted: 8, 9, 12, 13, 17

EcoMuvi is the international sustainability certification standard for audiovisual

productions. After filming concludes, we recover wood used on sets to

promote the principles and good practices of upcycling and, more broadly,

material reuse.

SDGs targeted: 11, 12, 13, 17

Founded in Rome in 2011, this association promotes reflection on botanical,

social, and cultural diversity through projects, installations, events, and

publications. Its goal is to encourage dialogue and active citizenship.

SDGs targeted: 4, 10, 11, 15, 17

Media • Trade press

• Newspapers

• Echo Vibes radio podcast (Voice

Book Radio)-

Information and awareness-raising

on the circular economy and

sustainability

Participation in outreach events

aimed at citizens and students

22 23


Partner

Laboratorio Linfa

A design and craft company that creates furniture, displays, and installations

using reclaimed wood and non-toxic materials. Together, we develop upcycling

projects using discarded logistics materials, promoting environmental

awareness and waste reduction.

SDGs targeted: 9, 11, 12, 13, 17

MediHospes

A cooperative with over 1,500 employees, providing nearly 2 million hours

per year of care and support to over 7,500 vulnerable individuals across Italy,

including in contexts of health and humanitarian emergencies.

We work together on vocational training and professional reintegration,

particularly for migrants, offering skills that improve employability and income

opportunities.

SDGs targeted: 1, 4, 8, 10, 17

Regusto

Regusto’s platform enables the optimization and tracking of wood donations

from FERCAM and DACHSER & FERCAM Italia to Echo Labs. This partnership

allows us to measure the impact of industrial symbiosis and assess the social,

environmental, and economic benefits of material recovery.

SDGs targeted: 9, 12, 13, 17

PEOPLE WORKING FOR

THE ORGANIZATION

24 25

PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE ORGANIZATION


Types, numbers, and composition

In 2024, Echo Labs closed the year with a workforce of three full-time and one part-time employee:

Two on permanent contracts; Two on fixed-term contracts; Three of them work in the carpentry

workshop and are employed as manual workers, while the technical activities coordinator, who

holds a degree in set design, is employed as an office worker.

During the year, three training internships were hosted.

2024

Employees 4

of which full-time 3

of which men 3

of which women 1

of which permanent 2

of which workers 3

Other human resources: training internships 1

With the exception of the only woman and a design intern, all workers at Echo Labs belong to

vulnerable categories, particularly asylum seekers and refugees. The organization offers them a

path to professional training and work autonomy. This gives the workshop the nature of a social

carpentry lab.

THE MIGRATION PHENOMENON 5

According to the Global Trends Report 2023 by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 117.3 million

people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2023 due to persecution, conflict, violence, and

human rights violations, that’s 1 in every 69 people worldwide.

In the past decade, the number of forcibly displaced people has more than doubled. By the end of

2023, 43.4 million were officially registered as refugees or in need of international protection.

As of May 2024, the total number of displaced persons reached 120 million, marking the 12th

consecutive year of growth, driven by new conflicts and the failure to resolve ongoing crises.

“Behind these growing numbers lie countless human tragedies. This suffering must compel the

international community to act with urgency to address the root causes of forced displacement,”

said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “Refugees can, and do, contribute to

society when they are included. And last year, millions were able to return home, offering a vital

glimpse of hope. Solutions exist, but they require real commitment.”

Since its foundation, Echo Labs has chosen to play an active role in this global humanitarian

issue. Its Articles of Association explicitly include the goal of “Humanitarian reception and social

integration of migrants.”

For this clear and tangible commitment, Echo Labs was awarded the “Welcome. Working for

refugee integration” logo by UNHCR, a recognition granted annually to companies that stand out

for promoting the social and professional inclusion of refugees in Italy.

WORKING FOR REFUGEE INTEGRATION 6

Launched in 2017 by UNHCR in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies,

Confindustria, Global Compact Network Italy, and AIDP (Italian HR Association), the Welcome -

Working for Refugee Integration initiative reached its sixth edition in 2024 (updated figures to be

released shortly).

In 2023, a total of 11,700 professional pathways were activated for refugees, bringing the cumulative

total to 34,000 placements since the program’s launch.

220 companies participated in the sixth edition, a 32% increase over the previous year.

5. Global Trends Report 2023 – UNHCR available online: https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-report-2023)

6. Focus 2023UNHCR available online: https://welcome.unhcr.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024_ WELCOME_IT_WEB_DEF.pdf

26 27


Età dei dipendenti

FOCUS 2023

The Welcome logo.

Working for refugee integration

1.1. THE WINNING COMPANIES OF THE 2023 EDITION

F1 - INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS

With the sixth edition, the Welcome program once again sees an increase in applications from companies,

244 in the year 2023, representing a 32% increase compared to the fifth edition and nearly four times since

the program began in 2017.

67 94 142

Increase

from 2017 to 2023 264%

from 2022 al 2023 32%

123 185 244

EMPLOYEE AGE & CONTRACT

FRAMEWORK

Echo Labs applies the National Collective Labour Agreement

(CCNL) for employees of Associations and other Third Sector

Organizations.

The total labour cost in 2024 was €92,248.

As of 31 December 2024, the ratio between the highest and lowest

gross annual salary was 1.17.

The social enterprise benefits from the fundamental support of

FERCAM and DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, who provide:

the company’s headquarters and related utility costs

full-time secondment of a Project Manager to coordinate operations

staffing services in the areas of communication, administration,

HR, training, health & safety, CSR, and environment, all provided

by in-house personnel from the partner companies.

<30

>30

2017

2018 2019 2020/21 2022 2023

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT

F2 - WINNING COMPANIES BY SIZE

Small and medium-sized ventures assert their key role in creating opportunities for inclusion in the italian

labor market for people forced to flee. The constant participation of large companies in the program is also

confirmed, which in 2023 represents 34%, a figure that continues from the previous edition of the award.

All employees have completed mandatory training courses on health and safety, as required by law.

There were no workplace accidents recorded in 2024.

Training 2024

Trained people (employees and interns) 5

22%

MICRO

VENTURES

EQUAL TO 49 VENTURES

27%

SMALL

VENTURES


16%

MEDIUM

VENTURES


34%

MACRO

VENTURES


% of people trained out of total 100%

Training initiatives implemented

Professional training

Accident prevention and occupational hygiene

Total training hours 7 362

Source: Focus 2023 UNHCR

Total expense 3.300 €

Since 2023, Echo Labs has also joined WelcomeNet, a network made up of over one hundred civil

society organizations that manage reception projects and public and private employment services.

WelcomeNet is a qualified network that fosters relationships among multidisciplinary stakeholders,

in order to increase the effectiveness of inclusion measures, expand access to the labour market,

and recognize the value of local proximity partners working in their respective territories.

Per capita spending 825 €

7.10 hours of training (new hires - general HSE for office risk) were paid for by FERCAM.

28 29

GOALS, ACTIVITIES, AND

IMPACTS GENERATED

30 31

UPCYCLING

FURNITURE

FERCAM Exhibition Stands

Roses Wenzer Hotel

PROLOGIS Bologna Interporto

UPCYCLING

PROLOGIS Piacenza Sports Center

FERCAM Fiumicino Canteen

DAIMLER TRUCK FINANCIAL SERVICES ITALIA SpA Meeting Room

32

Italian Geographic Society

33

UPCYCLING

FERCAM EXHIBITION STANDS

A new way of interpreting trade show spaces:

sustainable, circular, responsible

Beneficiaries

• Potential clients

• Institutions

• Marketing FERCAM

If it is true that every trade show booth is created to tell

the story of what is displayed inside, the new upcycled

booth commissioned by FERCAM Spa to Echo Labs

for the Green Logistics Expo in Padua tells how strong

FERCAM’s awareness is on the themes of reuse and

recovery of materials usually considered at the end of

their life, demonstrating a real commitment to two major

issues: environmental and social.

Imagining attending Italy’s leading logistics and transport

trade fair—a huge platform for visitors and exhibitors from

all over the world—inside a booth made entirely from

its own waste materials, creatively transformed by ecodesigners,

is a completely new way to interpret a trade

show booth. Usually, booths commissioned for fairs

represent a product to be disposed of after the event.

Relying on companies with a new, more environmentally

and socially respectful vision, which reuse waste by

transforming it into new raw materials, aiming at an

innovative and virtuous model

Relying on companies with a new, more environmentally

and socially respectful vision, which reuse waste by

transforming it into new raw materials, aiming at an

innovative and virtuous circular economy model means

trusting those who save resources and trees within a finite

ecosystem, while also caring about people.

Echo Labs studied tailor-made solutions for the client,

creating them in modular eco-design, also conceived

to convey value. Because the message conveyed by

an eco-designed booth is not just about aesthetics or

functionality: it communicates values, choices, positioning.

The customized modular solutions, committed to ecosustainability

and a longer lifespan of the products over

time, are designed to be 100% reusable in the future,

adding further ideas and solutions. Reclaimed wood

is waste to most, but Echo Labs transforms it into new

environmental and social value.

Partners

• FERCAM Spa


394 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

407 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

203 hrs

of professional

internship

Next steps

Expand by increasingly enhancing the original core of the setups through the integration of

new furniture elements, always custom-designed to precisely meet the client’s exhibition and

communication needs within the trade show context.

34 35

UPCYCLING

“The collaboration with Echo Labs is of fundamental importance to us, and we are pleased to

give it visibility through the setups of the trade fairs we participate in, as in the case of the Green

Expo Logistic in Padova. Furnishing a booth with reclaimed materials perfectly reflects FERCAM’s

commitment to growing sustainably by reducing all forms of waste.

We will definitely continue to invest in this project and are grateful to the carpenters and colleagues

at Echo Labs for the dedication and professionalism with which they are carrying it forward.”

Hannes Baumgartner,

Managing Director of FERCAM SPA

36 37

UPCYCLING

Hotel Roses Wenzer BOLZANO

A small upcycled object becomes a perfect

opportunity to tell a story of values and

preservation in the South Tyrol region.

In the picturesque South Tyrolean spa town of Fiè

allo Sciliar, at the foot of the Sciliar mountain, a

symbol of the Dolomites, the traditional Hotel Rose

Wenzer has been offering relaxing holidays to its

guests for five generations, pampering them in cozy

accommodations that are renovated and furnished

in a traditional style with great attention to detail and

the environment.

From this particular attention comes the idea to

commission Echo Labs to create a daily-use item

indispensable in a hospitality setting: the keychain

for the room key.

It is a small object, but like all our handcrafted

products, it tells a great story.

52 keychains, each unique, made from wood sourced

from pallets that have reached the end of their life.

The processing of this type of wood involves several

steps: first, the wood is selected based on its color,

then trimmed to have straight edges, and further

sanded to clean the piece before being sent for laser

printing. Each piece is hand-sanded by Sebastien,

Ali, or Fanto, our young African carpenters. Designed

in several versions, it met the client’s taste in a

rectangular shape with rounded corners.

This object is meant to stay with the guest during

their holiday, a tangible sign halfway between a

memory and a symbol of commitment.

It is essential to preserve the unspoiled beauty of the

largest plateau in Europe, with a respect for nature

that we at Echo Labs cherish: a natural, warm,

sustainable hospitality.

Beneficiaries

• Hotel’s clients

Partners

• Hotel Rose Wenzer


9 kg

of reclaimed wooden

planks

52

handcrafted

keychains

10 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

Next steps

Since these objects, made from natural and upcycled materials, tell a story of care, respect, and

attention that goes beyond the stay, our hope is to add new items, such as a soap dish for the

bathroom.

38 39

UPCYCLING

Prologis Interporto BOLOGNA

A true oasis for employees on breaks and a

guarantee of comfort and sustainability.

Beneficiaries

• Industrial area workers

• Community

The Prologis real estate fund was the first company

to believe in the Echo Labs project, and for three

years the collaboration has continued to strengthen

within the Parklife® initiative.

Logistics hubs like the Bologna interport are ideal

workplaces for companies, where many large

warehouses and various facilities offer innovative,

global logistics with high added value.

From Prologis’s desire to make these spaces more

comfortable for those who work there, the idea arose

to equip them with structures and social areas where

workers can take a refreshing break from work, go for

a walk or do sports, and enjoy their meals in shaded

areas rich in biodiversity.

At the Bologna Interport, the new relaxation area we

created is truly an oasis for employees: pathways

through green areas with trees and flowers, and long

benches designed to foster social interaction.

This latest project is innovative: naturally, the benches

are sustainable and made from reused wood, but

they rest on bases made of gabions filled with

stones and rocks, generating a powerful aesthetic

and sensory effect thanks to the complementarity of

these two natural materials.

The garden concept was expertly designed by Echo

Labs’ first partner, architect Michela Pasquali of the

cultural association Linaria.

Made with over 400 kg of wood recovered from

the logistics supply chain, every piece of furniture

is designed to guarantee comfort and sustainability,

always highlighting our commitment to the circular

economy.

Every Park Life project reflects care for the

environment and attention to people’s well-being.

The collaboration between Prologis and Echo Labs

represents a winning synergy, where creativity and

responsibility come together to transform workplaces

into spaces that inspire and improve workers’ quality

of life.

Partners

• Prologis


• Linaria

463 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

240 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

120 hrs

of professional

internship

Next steps

Continue the collaboration with Prologis by pursuing the shared goal of creating the best conditions

to promote well-being for workers in logistics parks, adding new furniture and elements that

emphasize sustainability.

40 41

UPCYCLING

Prologis Sports Center PIACENZA

Putting at the center not only our clients but

also those who work, promoting sport and good

environmental sustainability practices.

At the Piacenza logistics hub, Prologis inaugurated a

sports center with a relaxation area for the benefit of

employees and truck drivers in the park; we at Echo

Labs once again supported Prologis by providing

designer furniture made through upcycling from our

woodworking workshop.

The space, the second sports center built within a

logistics park in Italy, open to around one thousand

workers in the logistics area, includes two padel

courts and one basketball court, as well as a food

area furnished with tables and benches, double

relaxation seats with planters on the sides, bins

for mixed waste collection, small movable tables,

and a mini relaxation oasis with benches, planters,

and a library for free book exchange—all designed

according to Prologis’s needs but always made

from our retired materials: pallets and other shipping

packaging that reached the end of their life.

The area was inaugurated with a small padel

tournament in which workers from various companies

competed in friendly matches, attended by local

institutional representatives, sports champions, and

Prologis management, who once again demonstrated

their commitment to this project of sport and wellbeing.

We are naturally happy that our creations can live

within Prologis sites, bearing witness to a shared

commitment to caring for the workplace and

safeguarding the environment and people.

Beneficiaries

• Industrial area workers

• Community

Partners

• Prologis


1.054 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

240 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

“With the EchoLabs by FERCAM & DACHSER team, we share a vision: to transform logistics spaces

into lively, welcoming places designed for people. From this comes a collaboration that fully embraces

Prologis’s PARKlife philosophy, focused on worker well-being and community integration.

In four of our parks, furnishings such as benches, picnic tables, relaxation seats, planters, and

“book share” stations make outdoor spaces more accessible and well-maintained. Designed

with passion and attention to detail, they are much more than functional elements: they become

concrete symbols of inclusion and care for people.

The synergy is further strengthened by our joint journey within the SOSC Monitor of SDA

Bocconi, where, despite our different roles in the logistics chain, we contribute to research and

training for increasingly sustainable logistics connected to the social fabric.”

Margaryta Hnatenko,

Real Estate & Customer Experience Manager

120 hrs

of professional

internship

Next steps

Continue the collaboration with Prologis by pursuing the shared goal of creating the best conditions

to enhance the well-being of workers in logistics parks, adding new furniture and elements that

highlight sustainability.

42 43

UPCYCLING

FERCAM Camteen FIUMICINO

A newly renovated area where staff can have

lunch and reconnect.

A more humane, welcoming, and regenerative work

environment: this is the goal we achieved with

the creation of the beautiful new cafeteria for the

FERCAM branch in Rome Fiumicino.

The project stems from listening to people’s needs

and has resulted in a space designed for daily wellbeing,

where people can take a break, share an

informal moment, or even simply catch their breath

in a thoughtful and thoroughly pleasant environment.

In line with our mission, we have restored value to

discarded materials from the same logistics chain:

103 kg of reclaimed wood from pallet boards and

crate tops used to transport artworks have been

transformed into functional furnishings, helping to

reduce environmental impact and extend the life

cycle of resources.

We created a table with reinforced sides for increased

stability, along with matching benches, waste bins,

a large sideboard, and a shelf. The result is an

environment that combines aesthetics, comfort,

and circularity, offering a concrete example of how

sustainability can be harmoniously integrated into

production spaces.

This space is also ideal for celebrating promotional

events, birthdays, and retirements, and the

colleagues were delighted.

Beneficiaries

• 11 employees

Partners

• FERCAM SpA


103 kg

of reclaimed wood

88 hrs

of professional

internship

176 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

Next steps

Reach an ever-increasing number of FERCAM and DACHSER & FERCAM branches to offer

colleagues more comfortable spaces in which to spend lunch or pleasant moments of socialization.

44 45

UPCYCLING

Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia SpA

Meeting Room, Rome

A cutting-edge design project, but also one of

corporate social responsibility.

Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia wanted to

renovate its meeting room and turned to Echo Labs

for a customized yet eco-friendly solution.

The centerpiece of this project is two tables

featuring the company’s new distinctive logo. These

tables, in addition to their distinctive design, were

designed with additional features that enhance

their functionality and practicality. Equipped with

retractable wheels and integrated organizers, they

offer flexibility and versatility, allowing for dynamic

and adaptable use of the meeting space.

The wood, as always, comes from pallets and crates

from our partners (DAIMLER & FERCAM ITALIA

and FERCAM), thus helping to reduce resource

consumption and minimize the disposal of singleuse

materials.

We are proud to have contributed to creating a space

that reflects the values and objectives of Daimler

Truck, demonstrating that it is possible to implement

business solutions with a positive impact on the

environment and society as a whole. This project is

indeed an example of innovation and cutting-edge

design, as well as corporate social responsibility.

At Echo Labs, we’re happy to stand alongside those

who share our values.

Beneficiaries

• Employees

Partners

• Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia


71

reclaimed wood

planks

174 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

“The collaboration with Echo Labs began by chance, with a photo showing a recreational area

built entirely from recycled materials and featuring an attractive design. Coincidentally, we needed

to furnish our meeting room, and from there, we discovered a world where sustainability, human

rights, and social inclusion are lived every day with passion and responsibility. The contribution

that Echo Labs makes to society, leaving “positive footprints in its wake,” is an ambitious goal,

but one that every company should strive for. For a company like ours, which strongly believes

in the need for change, Echo Labs is certainly an inspiring model. It was a privilege for us to

include this project in our ESG plan, making a small contribution to the circular economy through

a solution with a positive impact on the environment and society. Above all, it strengthens,

through an educational collaboration that will continue into 2025, the culture of sustainability that

represents the only path to the now urgent need for environmental and social transformation.”

Monica Pastore,

CEO Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia SpA

87 hrs

of professional

internship

Next steps

Strengthen this new partnership through joint initiatives aimed at engaging and raising awareness

among staff, including an Echo Labs initiative for Daimler Truck Financial Services Italia staff on the

topic of sustainability. This project is an example of innovation and cutting-edge design, as well as

corporate social responsibility.

46 47

UPCYCLING

Italian Geographical Society

Villa Celimontana ROME

The culture of upcycling starts from the house of

culture.

The Italian Geographical Society, founded in Florence

in 1867 and later moved to Rome, now headquartered

in the Palazzetto Mattei at Villa Celimontana, is a

cultural and environmental association that promotes

the study and dissemination of scientific geography,

supporting its application to environmental, political,

and social issues.

The request from this historic cultural and research

institute to create easels and lecterns to support

important and ancient texts made us quite proud.

The extensive library where important texts are

preserved is a place of culture; it reflects the value

of the past but must also embody the values of the

future. Commissioning new lecterns from Echo Labs

using upcycled materials sends a strong message.

It is a tangible example of a forward-looking vision,

attentive to the environment and social benefit,

realized by raising public awareness through the

educational value of the library itself.

The new supports were treated, like all our products,

with boron salts for protective action: since boron salts

are natural insecticides, they protect against attacks

by woodworms, termites, and other cellulose-eating

insects; they have a fungicidal effect because boron

modifies the pH, creating an environment hostile to

microbial proliferation. Additionally, very importantly,

they are non-toxic to humans and do not alter the

color.

The expertise of our eco-designers regarding

materials suitable for places where people stay for

long periods is essential in this case. We are grateful

to have contributed to the culture of upcycling starting

from the cultural home of the Italian Geographical

Society.

Beneficiaries

• Visitors

Partners

• Società Geografica italiana


23 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

96 hrs

of carpentry

workshop

48 hrs

of professional

internship

48 49

Blue Planet Economy

The Blue World for students: promoting

environmental sustainability through the responsible

use of marine and coastal resources.

The Blue Planet Economy Expoforum is an annual

event dedicated to the Blue Economy, a sector that

promotes the sustainable use of marine and coastal

resources. Held at Fiera Roma, the event brings together

a wide range of stakeholders, including institutions,

businesses, research institutions, universities, and

industry associations.

Divided into six key sectors, each exploring innovative

and sustainable solutions to address environmental

challenges and promote development in coastal regions,

its strength lies in engaging younger generations through

the Business to Students program. This networking

program between students and companies facilitates

their entry into the Blue Economy.

Echo Labs participates free of charge in each event

aimed at raising awareness among students by

showcasing its corporate experience in upcycling.

However, in this case, we are responsible for the set-up

of the conference spaces, as well as producing the Blue

Ambassador award plaques. The event also features

the Blue Ambassador Award ceremony, a recognition of

excellence that was also awarded to Dino Menichetti in

2022, one year after the founding of Echo Labs.

Beneficiaries

• Students

• Visitors

Partners

• FERCAM SpA

• Fiera di Roma

UPCYCLING

SUSTAINABLE SETUPS

Blue Planet Economy

Festival dei Due Mondi Spoleto – Bosco di San Gregorio

Festival des Cabanes

Next steps

Jazz Festival

Renew our commitment to participating in events and conferences dedicated to schools to

Milan Fuori Salone

facilitate dialogue between students and the world of work, raising awareness among young

Green Expo Logistics

people about sustainability and the fight against waste.

50 Vinaltum

51

UPCYCLING

Festival dei Due Mondi SPOLETO – Bosco di San

Gregorio

An urban reforestation project to raise awareness

of the importance of green spaces in cities to

improve the local microclimate.

Participating in the Festival dei Due Mondi has

always been a special opportunity for us to unite art,

sustainability, and community—a way to raise public

awareness through our presence, inspiring concrete

actions for an inclusive and sustainable future.

Our stimulating presence in the city perhaps sparked

last year the initiative of the Bosco di San Gregorio,

an experimental environmental sustainability project

born from the collaboration between the Municipal

Administration and the Festival dei Due Mondi

Foundation, both attentive to the ESG themes of the

2030 Agenda.

The project, supervised by the renowned scientist

Stefano Mancuso, full professor at the Department of

Agricultural Sciences and Technologies of the University

of Florence, focused on urban reforestation.

The Bosco di San Gregorio, located in Piazza Garibaldi,

right in front of the Cathedral of San Gregorio, was

transformed from a parking lot into an Italian-style

garden thanks to the commitment of Echo Labs,

which as Sustainability Partner of the event created the

containment boxes for the native plants planned in the

project: cypress trees, boxwood hedges, mulberry trees.

Planting trees in parking areas aims to simulate an urban

forest to concretely observe how vegetation presence

reduces summer temperatures, improving the local

microclimate.

The goal of our installations and workshops held in the

square, aimed at strengthening the bond between citizens

and the square’s redevelopment process, promoted

the use of sustainable materials and highlighted the

importance of environmental sustainability.

For us at Echo Labs, it was a true honor and pleasure

to collaborate with Professor Mancuso and have

the opportunity to interview him, contributing to the

dissemination of his important environmental theories.

Beneficiaries

• Guests

• Visitors

Partners

• Comune di Spoleto

• Fondazione Festival dei Due Mondi


• Pnat (Project Nature)

Scientific contributions

• Prof. Stefano Mancuso

6437 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

Next steps

Participation in new green projects to promote outreach initiatives that raise awareness of

environmental protection and conservation.

52 53

UPCYCLING

Festival des Cabanes – Villa Medici ROME

A commitment to providing concrete answers

to fundamental questions in non-invasive and

sustainable architecture, in harmony with nature.

Every summer, the Festival des Cabanes at Villa Medici

transforms the historic gardens of the Académie de

France in Rome into a laboratory for architectural

experimentation and practice.

Now in its third edition, it offered us an exciting partnership

opportunity by supplying the raw wood material needed

for the construction of micro-architectures and protohabitations,

each based on original architectural designs

from six different teams with diverse backgrounds from

across Europe.

The idea of the hut, which gives the festival its name,

is the starting point for a dialogue among architects,

artists, designers, and craftsmen on key environmental

questions: how to propose non-invasive architectural

forms? What sustainable housing solutions for the

future? These are some of the questions Echo Labs

strives to answer through its work, presence, and

commitment!

The huts are placed within the squares of the historic

garden—grassy rectangles dotted with centuries-old

pines and bordered by hedges of laurel, boxwood, holm

oak, and myrtle—built using reclaimed wood and other

types of materials. Walking the path from one hut to

another offers a new experience of the natural space

and invites visitors to enjoy breathtaking panoramic

views of Rome.

Using pallet wood retired from the DACHSER & FERCAM

Italy logistics chain, the Collective Studiolo was created

by CAMPO & Diploma 20 of the Architectural Association

in London, whom we thank for involving us.

The construction phase took place through a workshop

involving English students and skilled carpenters

from the social carpentry workshop K\_Alma, with

whom we have long shared commitment and several

collaborations.

Beneficiaries

• Students workshop

• Visitors

Partners

• Acadèmie de France

• Villa Medici

• Falegnameria Sociale K Alma

• Campo Space

• Diploma 20

• Architectural Association London

“The collaboration between Echo Labs, CAMPO, and the students of the Diploma 20 course at the

Architectural Association in London for the 2024 Festival des Cabanes at Villa Medici demonstrates

how sustainability, education, and architectural experimentation can intertwine in a creative process.

The creation of a wooden structure, collectively designed and built in the gardens of the Académie

de France in Rome, represented not only a virtuous example of participatory design but also

a tangible gesture of attention to material reuse, spatial quality, and the inclusion of diverse

knowledge and practices.”

Gianfranco Bombaci,

Founder member CAMPO e Unit Master AA Diploma 20

Next steps

Continue the partnership by supplying raw wood, proposing to also include other types of end-oflife

materials we have available.

54 55

UPCYCLING

Fuorisalone of Milan

Projects of gathering and connection among

individuals who share time together discussing

sustainable design topics.

Every April, Milan hosts Fuorisalone, a week-long event

dedicated to design, innovation, and sustainability.

In the area adjacent to the Stecca3 sociocultural center

in the Design District, near the central Isola neighborhood

and just steps from the iconic Piazza Gae Aulenti, Echo

Labs, in collaboration with students from Accademia

Italiana, IAAD, and SAE Institute, set up a space featuring

their eco-designed furnishings and wooden prototypes

designed and made by the Roman students of Accademia

Italiana.

This area, dedicated to upcycling and sustainability,

included a workspace that hosted students from all over

Italy for a thematic workshop.

In agreement with the organizers and hosts, the setup was

developed around two focal points: the lounge area and

the BRAVERY BAR, which was very popular throughout

the event.

BRAVERY BAR was conceived by IAAD, Accademia

Italiana, and SAE Institute as a project of gathering and

connection among individuals who cultivate shared

time for discussion, exchange, and dialogue. It is a

refreshment point with a long counter and a circular side

island, enhanced by our iconic brochette woodworking

technique—a true wooden skewer designed by Echo

Labs to highlight the aesthetics of the furnishings.

During the event, several speaker panels were held, with

our President participating and sharing a testimony.

Listening to different experiences in eco-design and

relaxing surrounded by sustainable furnishings made

from materials from the logistics supply chain, which

characterize our circular design approach, was an

unforgettable experience that captured the attention of

many visitors.

The day ended with a generous aperitif offered by

FERCAM, representing a moment of sharing and exchange

among industry professionals, colleagues, clients, and

representatives from academia and institutions.

Beneficiaries

• Italian and non visitors

• Students

• Clients

• Representatives of the

academic world

Partners

• FERCAM SpA

• IAAD


• SAE Institute

• Gruppo AD Education

173 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

9

participating

companies

120

students

Next steps

Continue collaboration with design schools through participation in other cultural initiatives aimed at

promoting conscious consumption and promoting reuse practices.

56 57

UPCYCLING

Green Logistics Expo PADOVA – Stand FERCAM

Sustainable exhibition stands are the future of the

trade fair sector, given the ever-increasing focus

on sustainability within trade fair organizations.

In October, the Padua Fair Center hosted Green

Logistics Expo 2024, the only Italian B2B trade fair

dedicated to sustainable logistics.

This third edition saw increased participation

compared to previous years, confirming the

importance of the event, thanks also to the presence

of authoritative institutional representatives,

including the Minister of Infrastructure and

Sustainable Mobility, Enrico Giovannini, along with

representatives of regional and national authorities.

On this occasion, the FERCAM SpA stand hosted an

exhibition stand created entirely by Echo Labs using

upcycled materials such as recycled cardboard

and recycled pallet wood. The stand also featured

biodiversity green spaces featuring aromatic plants,

herbs, and flowers, which, at the end of the fair, were

planted in the biodiversity areas hosted by FERCAM

branches.

Sustainable exhibition stands are the future of

trade fairs, given the ever-increasing focus on

sustainability, which has become a cross-cutting

priority in the trade fair industry for environmental,

economic, and image reasons.

Echo Labs is delighted.

Data source:

trade fair website (https:greenlogisticsexpo.it)

Beneficiaries

• 9.000 Visitors

• Students

• FERCAM SpA

Partners

• FERCAM SpA

200

exhibitors

40

Events

181

Speakers

Next steps

Continuously develop new exhibition stand concepts to raise awareness of responsible consumption

and encourage reuse.

58 59

UPCYCLING

Vinaltum – Castello Freudenstein APPIANO (BZ)

Wineries are often allies of sustainability: we took

the opportunity to demonstrate that wood is a

living material just like wine.

The South Tyrolean event dedicated to wine

excellence, under the slogan “Wine connects people,”

is designed to foster direct communication between

wine, sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts.

For Echo Labs, it was a new and valuable showcase

that allowed us to present our eco-sustainable furniture

to over 120 Italian and international exhibitors.

Our furniture is special because it is crafted with the

same care and attention as winemaking: wood, a

natural and living material, just like wine, breathes and

transforms over time.

Wineries often represent an alliance with sustainability,

and since wine has always encouraged gathering

and sharing, we created a lounge area dedicated to

“Vinaltum” — from the Latin vinum altum, meaning

“elevated wine.”

The lounge area, set up for FERCAM Logistics

& Transport in the stunning setting of Schloss

Freudenstein, one of Appiano’s castles dating back

to the 13th century and transformed over time into

an elegant noble residence, was furnished with

chaise longues and footrests, planters, and round

tables featuring our signature brochette woodwork,

surrounded by trees and shrubs from the courtyard.

It is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the unique

atmosphere created by the Italian Sommelier

Foundation.

On this occasion, Echo Labs aimed to show how

our commitment is realized in the solutions we offer:

an approach that safeguards biodiversity, highlights

the beauty of design objects, and ensures comfort

and sustainability of the furnishings, all within a truly

extraordinary setting.

We hope our elegant furniture pieces will continue to

enrich other prestigious events.

Beneficiaries

• Visitors

• Sommeliers

• Restaurateurs

• Wine enthusiasts

Partners

• FERCAM SpA

120

wineries

Next steps

To reintroduce collaboration with this and other food and wine initiatives, with a view to raising

awareness among a new audience.

60 61

UPCYCLING

Anzio Summer’s Jazz Time – Anzio (Roma)

A weekend of jazz music, in a shared space

dedicated to the community.

Beneficiaries

• Citizens

• Vacationers

Anzio’s Summer Jazz Time is an annual jazz festival held

in Anzio, a seaside town located along the Lazio coast,

south of Rome. The most anticipated event on the Roman

coastline takes place in the evocative courtyard of Villa

Corsini Sarsina, a historic venue offering an intimate and

refined atmosphere for lovers of music and culture.

The second edition of the festival, dedicated to Frida Kahlo

on the 70th anniversary of her passing, featured not only

jazz concerts but also a rich cultural program including

art exhibitions, theatrical readings, poetry, dance, and

multisensory experiences with Bach Flowers. Each evening

integrated jazz music with other artistic forms, creating a

complete and engaging cultural experience.

On this occasion, Echo Labs provided eco-design

furnishings free of charge for the audience reception area

and for a dedicated space to listen to rare jazz vinyl records

— often authentic hard-to-find gems — featuring tracks

from great jazz legends that accompanied the audience in

the prelude to the main concert, which included famous

names from the Italian and European jazz scene.

FERCAM generously provided two of its large branded

gazebos: the first, located next to the stage, was set up as

a convivial space exclusively for artists, with a refreshment

area to chat and enjoy a spritz or a glass of wine both before

and after the show; the second, placed in front of the main

entrance, hosted one of the other artistic experiences, with

20 seats dedicated to the multisensory experience. Brand

visibility during the event was the festival organization’s way

of thanking FERCAM for its contribution and participation

in the musical initiative.

The festival was produced by the Hangar Cultural

Association with support from the Municipality of Anzio,

under the artistic direction of Francesco Bruno. The

event represents an important annual cultural promotion

opportunity for the city, attracting music and art enthusiasts

from across the region.

Partners

• HANGAR Concerts

• Municipality of Anzio


Workshops at the Festival dei Due Mondi

Workshops at Milan Fuorisalone

Workshops at Villaggio Rom_E

Workshops at Roma Fun Run

Workshops at Villaggio Incantato

Echo School – Patrizia Badiali Primary School

62 63


Workshop Festival dei Due Mondi

Partners with the Festival dei Due Mondi

Foundation for a sustainability project

Beneficiaries

• Festival visitors

• Students

• Citizens

Echo Labs took part in the 67th edition of the Festival

dei Due Mondi as a Sustainability Partner, not only

through the urban reforestation project, but also with its

well-established Niente di Nuovo upcycling workshops.

These workshops are now eagerly awaited by students

of all ages and by local citizens who want to explore the

art of woodworking.

It was a joy to reconnect with Fattoria Sociale (Il Cerchio

cooperative), an association committed to promoting the

social and professional integration of young people with

Down syndrome through agriculture and food service.

Dinner after dinner, what began as a collaboration has

grown into a true friendship.

This year again, the young men and women of Fattoria

Sociale participated in one of our workshops. Dressed

as real eco-carpenters, they screwed and assembled

pieces to build a beautiful bench—something to

remember the day we spent together.

Without going into detail about every single activity

during our three weeks in Spoleto, we can say that we

met hundreds of people, including students, teachers,

associations, casual passersby, and festival visitors. This

year, we also managed to organize two team-building

sessions—one with our colleagues from the nearby

Perugia branch, and the other with local city council

members, who chose to spend a morning working with

us in the square instead of at City Hall!

At the end of the event, the urban furniture created during

the workshops was donated to schools and reception

centers, enriching those spaces with both utility and

meaning.

By strengthening existing networks and forming new

ones, we also had the chance to attend some of the

amazing performances on the festival program.

We returned home full of new inspiration and fond

memories.

Thank you to the city of Spoleto for welcoming us.

Partners

• Fondazione Festival dei Due Mondi


• Municipality of Spoleto

• Il Cerchio Cooperative

• 13 schools in Spoleto

128

laboratory hours

641 kg

of reclaimed

wood planks

237

participants

100 adults

137 children

Next steps

Expand Echo Labs’ presence at other Italian cultural events to showcase best practices for sustainable

living to students and citizens.

64 65


Workshop Fuori Salone of Milan

At Milan Design Week to present our

interpretation of eco-design.

At the Fuorisalone in Milan, in the splendid setting of Isola

Design, Echo Labs, in collaboration with Accademia

Italiana, offered a workshop on ecodesign. Young

designers from the SAE, IAAD, and Accademia Italiana

participated in the workshop.

The workshop, titled “Modeling Connections: Circular

Design to Foster Interaction in Social Spaces,” offered

students from academies across Italy the opportunity

to experiment with sustainable design and the art of

carpentry to create seating of all kinds that facilitate

dialogue.

Led by Professor Christian Ludovici of Accademia

Italiana and Professor Luigi Cuppone, a partner of Echo

Labs since its inception, the students learned how the

ecodesign approach overturns the traditional design

process: creating a product begins not with creativity but

with the materials available, with the aim of minimizing

the use of resources, polluting emissions, and waste,

reconsidering the entire production chain from this

perspective.

Teaching, ingenuity, design, and then a lot of hard work

to reach the ultimate goal: creating the best projects,

with the support of Echo Labs carpenters and materials

recovered from FERCAM logistics packaging.

The resulting furnishings demonstrated how sustainable

design can be environmentally friendly, yet functional

and beautiful, highlighting the value of teamwork and

artisanal ingenuity.

Beneficiaries

• Students

• Visitors

• Clients

• Representatives of the academic and

institutional world

Partners



• IAAD

• SAE Institute

Next steps

Ensure Echo Labs’ presence at design events with projects aimed at stimulating students and

professionals in eco-sustainable solutions.

66 67


FERCAM Rom-E Village Workshops

Create a space for sharing and training in manual

activities, dedicated to the community

In 2024, Echo Labs participated in the Rom-E event

in Rome’s Villa Borghese Park, setting up its open-air

carpentry workshop and engaging students, children,

and adults in carpentry and biodiversity workshops

over the weekend. With the help of our artisan

carpenters and tutors, participants discovered the

secrets of salvaged and transformed wood to create

unique objects.

The stand, entirely outfitted with upcycled wooden

furnishings, as always piqued the curiosity of guests

and participants, who relaxed in our designer lounges

made from discarded pallets while waiting for their

children’s activities to finish.

For three editions, Echo Labs has brought ideas and

creativity to ROM-E, transforming Villa Borghese

Park into a meeting place to raise awareness of

sustainability. A three-year journey that combined

education, design, and concrete action, engaging

children, students, and even adults in creative

activities.

The 2024 edition focused on the future, addressing

topics such as design and urban regeneration.

Participants were invited to imagine sustainable

solutions that combine creativity and respect for the

environment.

Sustainability takes shape with Echo Labs.

Beneficiaries

• Secondary school students

• Children

• Citizens

Partners


• FERCAM SpA

• Linaria

58 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

30.000

visitors

16 hrs

of workshop

Next steps

Continue awareness-raising efforts through a systematic offering of educational content and

workshops, in collaboration with academies and non-profit organizations.

68 69


Roma Fun Run Workshops

Echo Labs in the solidarity village together with

other non-profits

In March, the world-famous ACEA Run Rome The

Marathon takes place in Rome, attracting participants

from all over the world.

At our stand in the Solidarity Village at the Circus

Maximus, we welcomed hundreds of visitors with

interactive activities, artisan workshops, and open

discussions on sustainability topics.

It was a journey through reclaimed materials and new

perspectives!

Together with Luigi Cuppone from Laboratorio Linfa

and his team, we once again gave new life to discarded

pallets from the logistics sector through eco-carpentry

workshops, showing how reuse can become a tool for

design and everyday utility.

With Yogis4Nature, we organized a sewing workshop

using real sewing machines to transform old FERCAM

uniforms into unique bags and shoppers — combining

style with positive impact.

Thanks to the collaboration with Linaria, our long-time

partner, visitors were able to create seed bombs, bee

bars, and mini-herbariums using recycled cardboard,

exploring the connection between biodiversity and

urban regeneration.

The day also offered an opportunity for students from

Accademia Italiana – Art, Fashion & Design to work

on prototypes developed in collaboration with us, in

preparation for their presentation at the Fuorisalone di

Milano 2024, highlighting creativity and innovation.

The event also served as a chance to record a series

of interviews for Echo Vibes, the content platform we

created in partnership with Voice Book Radio, the

student-run web radio of Italy.

Beneficiaries

• Children

• Secondary school students

• Academy students

• Citizens

Partners

• FERCAM


• Linaria

• Voice Book Radio

• Yogis 4 Nature

40.000

visitors

230 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

8 hrs

of workshop

Next steps

Continuing to participate in the Roma Fun Run village for awareness-raising activities through

new proposals for educational workshops, in collaboration with academies and other non-profit

organisations, appears to be a winning proposal every year.

70 71


Santa’s Enchanted Village Workshops - Trento

But would you hang a pallet on the Christmas

tree?

On December 14 and 15, 2024, Echo Labs participated

in Santa’s Enchanted Village in Trento, helping to

create a unique and magical experience for visitors

of all ages.

This event allowed us to bring our creative touch to

the heart of the city, where the magic of Christmas

came to life amidst twinkling lights and the enveloping

warmth of the holidays.

Among the many activities offered by the Village, our

stand hosted carpentry workshops for children and

adults. During these workshops, participants built

small Christmas masterpieces from discarded pallet

wood from the logistics chain: wooden decorations

and handcrafted toys! With a chisel, a file, a pyrography

pen, and a touch of color, each personalized and

painted creation became an original keepsake to take

home, using the very same used material that others

would have thought to throw away.

In addition to our workshops, where both adults and

children rolled up their sleeves to create something

unique, many visitors had the opportunity to immerse

themselves in the enchantment of the Village, exploring

the Christmas markets, savoring sweet treats with

friends and family, and relaxing in the areas decorated

with wooden furnishings and a Christmas tree from

our carpentry shop.

Participating in events like Santa’s Village allows us

to fully express our values: creativity, connection, and

innovation.

Beneficiaries

• Children

• Citizens

Partners


• FERCAM SpA

• Elf Camp

• Pro Loco Trento

231 kg

of upcycled wooden

planks

16 hrs

of workshop

Next steps

Follow up the awareness-raising activity through a systematic proposal of informative content and

educational workshops in ever new contexts.

72 73


Patrizia Badiali School Garden in Beroide (Spoleto)

Guide young participants on a journey through the

world of DIY, eco-design, and agriculture.

Echo Labs, as in the previous year, took part in the

renowned Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto — an

international event — with two initiatives that celebrate

innovation and sustainability.

Echo Labs helped create the Bosco di San Gregorio,

a project by Professor Stefano Mancuso from the

University of Florence, one of the world’s leading

contemporary botanists, member of the Accademia

dei Georgofili and director of the International

Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology.

In that very location — Piazza Garibaldi in Spoleto —

Echo Labs offered daily outdoor carpentry workshops

throughout the three weeks of the Festival.

Each day, children and adults alike enjoyed and

learned from hands-on eco-design workshops. Kids

crafted their own eco-avatars and large decorative

letters using reclaimed wood.

Teachers from Patrizia Badiali Primary School asked

us to dedicate the workshop to a new project for the

school garden, where Echo Labs had already built an

outdoor classroom the year before.

With the support of our skilled carpenters, teachers

and children helped build a large planter, now used as

a vegetable garden. Since July, it has stood proudly

in the schoolyard, offering educational opportunities

for teachers and a hands-on care experience for the

children.

These workshops guided participants on a journey

through the worlds of DIY, eco-design, and urban

agriculture. For the children, planting lettuce, fava

beans, peas, and spinach in their new school garden

— and watching them grow — was a truly unique and

shared experience.

Beneficiaries

• Primary school students

• Teachers

Partners


30 kg

of reclaimed wood

planks

“We teachers of the Primo Circolo Didattico of Spoleto have been collaborating with Echo

Labs for three years with the common objective of educating children about environmental

sustainability and the recovery of the values of our traditions. Every year we participate in the

workshops offered during the Due Mondi festival to introduce them to manual skills and the art

of recovery. This year the Echo Labs carpenters helped us create a large educational vegetable

garden for the school garden, in which there already exists a large outdoor classroom created for

them last year. This flowerbed fits well into our educational program: letting children experience

the importance of taking care of the garden through sowing and growing seedlings to arrive at the

joy and satisfaction of harvesting the fruits of their labor.”

Teachers of the Patrizia Badiali Primary School in Beroide

Director of Education, 1st District, Spoleto

Next steps

Expand the initial planter unit with a themed workshop on organic waste recycling. Collecting edible

products creates a portion of waste that can be placed in an Echo Labs composter, ultimately

producing compost, a highly fertilizing natural material.

74 75

RESEARCH

COLLABORATION WITH THE ITALIAN ACADEMY

Experiment with techniques and methods for reusing waste materials

from the logistics supply chain in a sustainable design context

In 2024, we continued the project launched last year

with students from Accademia Italiana.

In the case of Echo Labs, design principles are often reversed, starting

from available materials to arrive at the product, respecting the philosophy

of the circular economy. To explore Echo Labs’ approach in greater depth, the process began with a day

in the classroom where our consultant Luigi Cuppone addressed the topic of sustainable design and

the focus on reducing impacts throughout the production process. The students were then involved in a

challenging project aimed at designing eco-design elements using the materials available.

The final phase involved participation in a series of workshops during which, assisted by Echo Labs

carpenters, they were able to give shape to their ideas.

RESEARCH

Next steps

Continue disseminating the circular economy model and develop collaboration with other academic

institutions to jointly experiment with new green design paradigms.

76 77

RESEARCH

“The collaboration with Echo Labs was a unique opportunity for the students of the two-year

design specialization program at Accademia Italiana. The Ecodesign students had the opportunity

to design modular street furniture elements and also create prototypes in the Echo Labs carpentry

workshop, collaborating with the entire staff, testing their ideas firsthand, and above all, creating a

special synergy with the entire team! A wonderful experience that we hope to repeat soon.”

Livia Di Nardo,

Campus Manager - Accademia Italiana Rome

COLLABORATION WITH SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS AND

SUPPLY CHAIN (SOSC) MONITOR SDA BOCCONI

Promote the development of research projects with high

environmental and social impact

The collaboration with Pietro De Giovanni, Professor of Sustainability and Operations Management

and Director of the Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain (SOSC), continues.

During 2024, the collaboration focused on analyzing the contribution Echo Labs offers to its

members in developing effective social sustainability initiatives.

The analysis of the social enterprise’s operating methods and objectives led to the production of an

academic paper entitled “Resilience Strategies in Operation Management.”

The research provided a rich overview of the current critical issues in the logistics sector and the

contribution Echo Labs has been able to offer its two members (DACHSER & FERCAM ITALIA and

FERCAM) in terms of innovation, corporate visibility, and attracting new resources.

78 79

COMMUNICATION

INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION

In 2024, Echo Labs strengthened its institutional communication as a strategic lever to raise awareness

of the social value of its projects and to consolidate dialogue with public and private stakeholders. The

activities focused on transparent, accessible, and consistent storytelling aligned with the core values of the

social enterprise, highlighting the results achieved through digital channels, traditional media, and public

engagements.

The collaboration with FERCAM’s marketing team continued, ensuring professional content management

and effective dissemination of initiatives, particularly in the fields of sustainable logistics and workforce

inclusion. Communication efforts included active presence on social media channels, regular sharing of

updates on ongoing projects, and qualified participation in industry events and working groups.

The objective was to promote a credible social enterprise model, rooted in the local community and resultoriented,

capable of activating networks and generating shared value through authentic and inclusive

communication.

Among the most notable media visibility actions, Echo Labs was featured in a televised segment aired on

Uno Mattina, a program on Rai 1. The segment, produced by the RAI editorial team, showcased the work

carried out in our social carpentry workshop, emphasizing the educational value and employment impact of

the project.

The carpentry workshop is one of the most significant aspects of Echo Labs’ approach to the circular

economy and social inclusion: a productive workshop where individuals with vulnerable backgrounds or

disadvantaged conditions find pathways to employment through concrete and professionalizing activities.

The visibility offered by a national platform like Uno Mattina provided an opportunity to amplify the social

message of the project, raising awareness among a broad and diverse audience about the transformative

potential of ethical logistics and intelligent resource reuse.

INSTITUTIONAL

COMMUNICATION

80 81

COMMUNICATION

WEBSITE, PRESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

OUTREACH EVENTS

In 2024, Echo Labs participated in numerous outreach events, including:

• Blue Planet Economy Expoforum Rome

• Fuorisalone Milan

• LUISS Executive Course: Third Sector and Sustainability Objectives

• SOSC Monitor

PARTICIPATION IN EVENTS AS SUSTAINABILITY PARTNER

• Blue Planet Economy - Fiera di Roma

• Festival dei Due Mondi Spoleto - Bosco di San Gregorio

• Festival des Cabanes - Villa Medici

• Fuori Salone di Milano

• Green Expo Logistics - Padova

• Rom-E

• ACEA Run Rome the Marathon

• Villaggio Incantato

• Vinaltum

7.567

3.047

86

views and 1,192

unique visitors to the website

followers on LinkedIn

press coverage =

AVE: €443 million

OTS: €2.36 million

Learn more:

OTS (Opportunity to See): represents the news’s visibility potential, quantifying the media exposure in terms

of readership.

AEV (Advertising Value Equivalent): represents the value of advertising in traditional media equivalent to the

exposure obtained.

www.echolabs.it

82 83

COMMUNICATION

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Roma Best Practices Award - MAMMA ROMA E I SUOI FIGLI MIGLIORI 2024

UNHCR

For its commitment to migrants, Echo Labs has received the “Welcome. Working for Refugee

Integration” logo. This recognition is just one of the ways in which UNHCR Italy, the UN Refugee

Agency, promotes the integration of refugees into the labor market by fostering collaboration between

companies, institutions, and civil society organizations.

Since 2017, the Roma BPA Mamma Roma e i suoi figli Migliori cultural association has organized

the Roma Best Practices Award, which has attracted the participation of over 450 Roman

organizations, from the suburbs to the city center. This competition recognizes the best ideas,

projects, and solutions for the recovery of the city’s common goods, culture, integration, solidarity,

training, corporate social responsibility, good neighborliness, innovation, and communication.

“We chose to award the Roma Best Practices Award - Mamma Roma e i suoi figli migliori, Roma

Lavora Bene section, to Echo Labs because we believe it has best interpreted its entrepreneurial role

in support of the community, combining environmental concerns (recycling end-of-life materials) with

social concerns (training, integration, employment, and solidarity with immigrant communities).

A unique best practice that enriches and enhances the Roman and national community.”

Paolo Masini,

President and Founder of the Roma Best Practices Award

Mamma Roma and her best children.

84 85

FUTURE PROSPECTS

FUTURE PROSPECTS

The entry of a 50% shareholder like DACHSER&FERCAM Italia into Echo Labs opens up exciting

new international prospects, and the social enterprise is ready to seize this new opportunity.

The partnership with founding partner FERCAM remains solid, with a clear and increasingly

focused commitment. The activities and relationships built in these early years with the corporate,

institutional, and academic worlds have made it appropriate to launch new investments to

consolidate growth. The workforce has been enriched with new specialized resources, and the

search for larger premises has begun, allowing for greater operational efficiency while respecting

the company’s usual high safety standards and artisanal identity.

In this positive climate of trust, many projects are underway, some strategic, others more operational:

• Consolidate and develop relationships with local authorities, institutions, and associations to

initiate joint urban regeneration projects aimed at improving citizens’ quality of life;

• Actively participate in the “Welcome. Working for Refugee Integration” program promoted

by UNHCR to fully seize its opportunities and establish tangible collaborations with the national

network of companies, third sector organizations, and institutions involved;

• Strengthen alliances with industry operators (companies and real estate funds) to identify synergies

and launch new projects on industrial sites, especially logistics hubs, aimed at enhancing

workers’ quality of life;

• Continue building relationships with educational institutions to demonstrate to students and their

families an educational model based on respect (for resources, the environment, and diversity);

• Raise awareness among workers and citizens about caring for shared spaces through

initiatives that encourage active participation (team building, participatory design, and volunteer days);

• Expand partnerships with academies and universities and jointly develop research projects

in eco-design and social innovation;

• Increase collaborations aimed at reducing waste risk (e.g., renting eco-sustainable setups);

• Initiate projects in partnership with other Third Sector organizations to work together for the

common good;

• Ensure Echo Labs’ presence at events and conferences to reach new audiences, promote the

operational model and social objectives of the project, and share goals and best practices;

• Guarantee the efficiency of the new Echo Labs Carpentry Workshop while preserving the

synergistic relationship with the logistics supply chain of the members.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

86 87

MICRO BALANCE SHEET

SITUAZIONE ECONOMICO-FINANZIARIA

31/12/2024 31/12/2023

Active

B) Fixed assets

I - Intangible assets 2.858 5.081

II - Tangible assets 12.362 6.459

Total fixed assets (B) 15.220 11.540

C) Current assets

II - Receivables 37.140 74.243

due within the next financial year 30.856 74.243

Deferred tax assets 6.284 -

IV - Cash and cash equivalents 461 2.867

Total current assets (C) 37.601 77.110

D) Accrued income and deferred income 246 -

Total assets 53.067 88.650

Liabilities

A) Shareholders' equity

I - Capital 10.000 10.000

IV - Legal reserve 2.000 2.000

VI - Other reserves 30.806 35.896

IX - Profit (loss) for the year (25.373) (5.089)

Total shareholders' equity 17.433 42.807

C) Employee severance pay 2.727 2.733

D) Payables 32.907 43.110

due within the next financial year 32.907 43.110

ECONOMIC AND

FINANCIAL SITUATION

Total liabilities 53.067 88.650

88 89

MICRO INCOME STATEMENT

The 2024 financial year closed with a negative operating result of €25,373.

Revenues are generated by product sales and participation in trade shows and events, including

workshops and installations.

Specifically, the following activities were carried out for members:

• development of staff engagement projects, such as corporate volunteering,

• development of projects aimed at reducing wasteful materials and enhancing measures already adopted,

• development of communication plans and initiatives for ESG projects,

• design, implementation, and measurement of the positive ESG impacts of sustainability strategies

and projects, and diversity and inclusion training.

Expenses include the purchase of materials for the production of goods, administrative and

consulting services, and research, education, and training activities carried out during the year.

Personnel expenses amounted to approximately €92,000.

In 2024, Echo Labs did not receive any public funding and did not engage in any fundraising

activities.

Revenues from sales and services

26.204

113.340

Sale of finished products

Service performance

Production costs

7.852

10.200

60.901

92.248

Raw materials, auxiliary, of consumption and goods Services Staff Other

91

92

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