“Italy in 10 Selfies” every year tells about some of the country's records, often little-known or underestimated ones, that determine the features of an economy that is more human-oriented and, therefore, more promising for the future.

The work provides data that highlights how, thanks to the process of qualitative transformation of the national production system that is fueled by ties with communities and territories, innovation, sustainability, and beauty, the value of our productions and their competitiveness in exports has increased.

LEADER IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Italy is the European country with the highest recycling rate for total special and urban waste produced (91.6%), a figure above the European average (57.9%) and higher than that of Germany (75.3%), France (79.9%), and Spain (73.4%). Italy ranks first in the Eco-Innovation Index for resource efficiency (along with Luxembourg) with a score of 274, compared to the EU average of 147. In this regard, Italy leads France, Germany, and Spain both in raw material usage productivity (GDP/consumption of raw materials) and in energy consumption productivity (GDP/gross energy consumption), while it ranks second for greenhouse gas emissions productivity (GDP/CO2eq). Italy remains a European leader in the collection and regeneration of used mineral oils, with a rate of 98%, compared to 61% in Europe. By using secondary materials, Italy avoids 16.4 million tonnes of oil equivalents and 55 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents every year.

ITALY IS THE LARGEST RENEWABLES OPERATOR IN THE WORLD AMONG LISTED UTILITIES

Enel, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power, is the world’s largest private operator in the renewable energy sector, with 63.3 GW of Gross Installed Capacity in 2023 (including energy storage systems) from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric plants located across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Enel is building Europe’s largest high-performance bifacial solar cell and module production plant in Catania, which will have a production capacity of 3 GW per year once fully operational at the end of 2025. In 2023, Italy entered the top 10 of the world’s best photovoltaic markets, installing 5.2 GW of new solar plants.

WE ARE FIRST AMONG G7 COUNTRIES FOR GREEN STEEL PRODUCTION

Italy’s steel industry is a leader in the decarbonization process. It is first among G7 countries in terms of steel produced using electric arc furnace processes, with an estimated 86%, followed by the United States (68%) and Canada (42%) in 2023. It is also a leader in energy efficiency, with consumption per unit of product well below the European average and the major EU countries, thanks to an increasing share of renewable energy in the energy mix. Moreover, about 76% of inputs are composed of recycled steel (+17% in six years). Italy is home to the world’s first Net Zero Emissions certified steel plant, meaning it has zero net carbon dioxide emissions. This positioning makes the sector—second in the EU for production after Germany—more competitive in both European and international markets.

ITALY IS NUMBER ONE IN EUROPE FOR QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE

Italy leads Europe in the number of organic farming companies, with 82,627 operators. Italy is also number one in Europe for registered and protected agri-food and wine products, with 856 denominations: 584 PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), 268 PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), and 4 TSG (Traditional Specialities Guaranteed). Italy has a rate of food products with chemical residues exceeding legal limits of 0.98% of the total, making it second in Europe and first among the large countries of the continent (2022). Over the past 20 years, Italian agriculture has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by a higher percentage than other large EU countriesand the EU-27 average (2021).

ITALIAN AMUSEMENT RIDES, THE MOST SOLD IN THE WORLD, THANKS TO BEAUTY, SAFETY, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The quality of Italian amusement rides is recognized worldwide. Exceptional craftsmanship, energy efficiency, safety, and reliability have convinced the world’s most important amusement parks: from Coney Island to Disneyland, from Singapore to the United Arab Emirates. Italy, with $282.3 million, is the leader in exports of amusement rides and equipment for theme parks. 60.9% of sales are absorbed by non-EU markets. The Italian amusement ride sector includes 137 companies, with 67.2% operating in the Veneto-Emilia Romagna-Lombardy triangle (2023).

FURNITURE, THIRD IN THE WORLD FOR TRADE BALANCE, FIRST IN EUROPE FOR 100% RECYCLED PANELS PRODUCTION

With $10.9 billion, Italy is third in the world for the trade balance in furniture. It also ranks third for export value with $15.8 billion in 2023. Italy is first in the EU for revenue, with €27.2 billion in 2022, By the end of 2023, the entire wood-furniture supply chain in Italy employed 216,000 people and 54,000 registered companies, with 57% working in the furniture sector. About 93% of particle boards produced in Italy are made from 100% recycled wood, while 60% of companies in the supply chain source energy from renewable sources.

CONFERENCE TOURISM, ITALY SECOND IN THE WORLD, FIRST IN EUROPE

Italy ranks first in Europe and second in the world for conference tourism, hosting 553 conferences in 2023, only behind the United States (690). In 5 years, the country has moved from sixth place to first in Europe, registering the only increase among the top-ranking countries in the number of conferences hosted between 2022 and 2023. Many Italian cities rank among the top 100 global conference destinations: Rome (7th), Milan (29th), Bologna (47th), Florence (60th), Naples (66th), Turin (78th), and Venice (84th). Italy is also the leading country in Europe for the number of operators in accommodation and food services, with about 320,000 businesses.

WORLD CHAMPIONS IN PASTA PRODUCTION

Italy is number one in the world for pasta production, with nearly 4 million tons (3.67 million tons), followed by the United States (2 million tons), generating a turnover of nearly €7 billion (2022). Over 60% of pasta produced in Italy is destined for export markets, with over 2.2 million tons in 2023 (1.5 million tons of which go to the EU). Italy is the world leader in pasta exports of all types and preparations - raw, cooked, filled - with a value of $4.4 billion in 2023. The sector invests around 10% of its revenue in research and development, and since 2013, water consumption has been reduced by 20%, CO2 emissions by 21%, and about 95% of waste is recovered.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, ITALY IS NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD FOR EXPORT GROWTH

Italy is the world leader in the growth of pharmaceutical industry exports between 2021 and 2023, with a leap of $13.6 billion, followed by the United States (+$12.3 billion). Italy ranks second in Europe (+35%) for the growth of pharmaceutical patent applications (five-year period 2019-2023 vs. 2014-2018). In Life Sciences, Italy is second in Europe for the number of publications (57,000), fourth for the number of patents granted in the field at the EPO (European Patent Office), and third for exports of the entire sector (2023). The pharmaceutical sector has reduced its energy consumption by 32% in ten years (-19% in manufacturing as a whole) and quintupled its use of renewable energy (2011-2021).

WORLD LEADERS IN UNESCO SITES AND EUROPEAN DESIGN LEADERS

Italy has the world’s highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Of the 1,223 sites recognized by UNESCO in 168 countries worldwide, 60 are in Italy, followed by China (59). Culture and creativity generate an added value of €104.3 billion for Italy (2023), and in sectors such as Design, Italy ranks first in Europe for revenue and employees, with a revenue growth of +27