What RICREA does

RICREA (legal name: Consorzio Nazionale Acciaio) is a non-profit consortium founded in 1997 and headquartered in Milan, Italy. It is the mandated national body responsible for coordinating the collection, recycling, and recovery of steel packaging waste in Italy, operating within the CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) Extended Producer Responsibility system. RICREA partners with all 7,894 Italian municipalities through the ANCI-CONAI framework, with 675 municipalities currently achieving waste-free status.

The consortium's operational scale is substantial: 538,776 tonnes of steel packaging placed on the Italian market annually, with 442,666 tonnes (82.2%) recycled, and a 2024 recycling rate of 86.4% that already exceeds the EU's 2030 target of 80%. Underlying capabilities include the ANCI-CONAI municipal agreement infrastructure, a network of selection platforms operated by partners (e.g., Ageco Sud, Tekra Servizi, Domus Recycle), industrial packaging coordination via the FIRI agreement, and joint multi-consortium initiatives with COREPLA and CIAL. RICREA runs several consumer-facing brands including Capitan Acciaio (educational mascot), Steelosa (recycled-steel bench installations), Cuore Mediterraneo (coastal awareness campaign), Green Steel Game (youth education program), and RICREA Edu (online educational platform).

RICREA's revenue model is structurally non-commercial: it is funded through consortium contributions flowing from the CONAI system, collected from companies that place packaged goods on the Italian market. The consortium reinvests these funds into municipal collection incentives, technical-normative support, recycling plant coordination, and communication/awareness campaigns. It maintains extensive partnerships with ANCI, FIRI, COREPLA, CIAL, Metal Packaging Europe, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Slow Food, Pubblicità Progresso, Legambiente, Eunomia, and the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo.

Name

RICREA

Legal name

Consorzio Nazionale Acciaio

Website

https://consorzioricrea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RICREA is a non-profit consortium coordinating the collection and recycling of steel packaging waste across Italy through the CONAI system, serving Italian municipalities, packaging producers, and citizens under the ANCI-CONAI agreement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel Packaging Recycling Services

akta.pro primary industry

Stainless Steel & Metal IBCs (IMALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reconditioned/Refurbished IBCs & Reverse Logistics (Collection, Washing) (IMALAGAG)

Keywords

• Steel packaging recycling
• Packaging waste management
• Circular economy services
• Producer responsibility compliance
• Municipal waste collection

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consortium contributions through CONAI: RICREA operates as a non-profit consortium funded through the CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) system, which collects contributions from companies that place packaged goods on the Italian market. The consortium uses these funds to manage the collection, recycling, and recovery of steel packaging waste.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RICREA (Consorzio Nazionale Acciaio) is a non-profit consortium that coordinates the collection, recycling, and recovery of steel packaging waste across Italy. Operating within the CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) system, it manages infrastructure partnerships with Italian municipalities through the ANCI-CONAI agreement framework and supports packaging producers in meeting extended producer responsibility obligations. The consortium also runs national awareness campaigns and educational programs to promote proper steel packaging recycling.

Product overview

RICREA is a non-profit consortium (Consorzio Nazionale Acciaio) that coordinates steel packaging collection and recycling in Italy as part of the CONAI system. Rather than a technology product company, RICREA operates awareness campaigns and educational initiatives including Capitan Acciaio (mascot), Steelosa (recycled steel bench installations), Cuore Mediterraneo (coastal touring campaign), Green Steel Game (educational program for children), and Il Pomodoro per la Ricerca (charitable tomato campaign). The consortium also maintains RICREA Edu as an educational platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Capitan Acciaio: The superhero mascot of RICREA who promotes awareness about steel packaging recycling through educational activities and campaigns.
• Steelosa
• Cuore Mediterraneo
• Green Steel Game
• RICREA Edu

Products and services

• RICREA Steel Packaging Recycling Consortium Service (Consorzio Nazionale Acciaio) National consortium service coordinating the collection, recycling, and recovery of steel packaging waste in Italy through the CONAI system. Manages ANCI-CONAI agreement relationships with Italian municipalities and supports packaging producers in fulfilling extended producer responsibility obligations.
• RICREA Edu Educational Platform Standalone educational platform dedicated to teaching steel packaging recycling and circular economy concepts to schools, students, and teachers across Italy. Provides structured learning resources and outreach material supporting the consortium's public awareness mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86.4% steel packaging recycling rate in 2024, exceeding EU 2030 target of 80%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• FIRI (Federazione Italiana Rigeneratori Imballaggi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021FIRI groups companies operating in industrial packaging collection and management. A specific agreement between RICREA and FIRI (2021-2024, renewed 2022-2025 with COREPLA and RILEGNO) aims to support activities including technical-normative support, promotion of regeneration and recycling studies, and organizational events. Additionally COREPLA and RICREA commit to support joint initiatives for multi-material cisterns, plastic drums, and steel drums regeneration.
• Pubblicità ProgressomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, RICREA is a supporting member of Pubblicità Progresso, supporting the 'Sostenibilità, Sobrietà, Solidarietà' social campaign ('Sustainability, Sobriety, Solidarity') with the claim 'Basta poco per far crescere il tuo futuro, un gesto dopo l'altro' (A little is enough to grow your future, one gesture at a time).
• EunomiamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015Since 2015, RICREA collaborates with Eunomia supporting the Eunomia Master course for young talents from business, public administration, local authorities, parties, universities, and unions. The partnership provides qualified training and networking opportunities with prominent Italian and European institutional, financial, cultural, and entrepreneurial figures.
• Slow FoodflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2008Since 2008, RICREA collaborates with Slow Food as Environmental Partner of Salone del Gusto (now Terra Madre, Slow Fish, and Cheese), managing differentiated collection activities and creating awareness events for steel packaging recycling. Also supports the Systemic Event Design SEeD project and was a Sustainable Partner for 'Orti in Africa' and 'Panettone Eccellente e Solidale' projects.
• Metal Recycles Forever (MPE - Metal Packaging Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRICREA collaborates with MPE and European metal packaging associations (including ANFIMA and CIAL) to support the Metal Recycles Forever brand, a sustainability mark symbolizing the infinite durability of metals. This initiative applies the environmental label to all metal packaging (steel and aluminum) to communicate to consumers their choice of perfectly coherent circular economy materials.
• Fondazione Umberto VeronesiflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerRICREA partners with Fondazione Umberto Veronesi in the 'Il Pomodoro per la Ricerca' project, distributing tomato products in steel cans to raise funds for pediatric oncology research. The 2026 edition collected over 700,000 euros for CAR-T cell therapy research. Additionally, a special steel panettone box supports research fundraising.
• Consiglio Nazionale della Green EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRICREA is one of 66 participating organizations in the National Council for Green Economy, promoting analysis and studies on green and circular economy applications in the steel sector, particularly regarding steel packaging supply chain perspectives in Italy within the European Circular Economy Package.
• Università degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche di PollenzomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRICREA is a member of the Friends of UNISG Association, interacting with students through university lectures, internships, and company visits to promote knowledge of the steel packaging cycle. In 2018, commissioned a study on environmental sustainability of steel used as food-packaging with experimental activities comparing preservation effectiveness of steel, colored glass, and colored PET on vegetable oils.
• Fondazione Carta Etica del PackagingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRICREA, first among CONAI consortia, joined the Fondazione Carta Etica del Packaging and obtained Ambassador qualification. The Foundation aims to train and update professionals in sustainable packaging, promoting research on environmental topics. The Foundation was established on May 29, 2020, based on the Packaging Ethics Charter created in 2015.
• COREPLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiatives with COREPLA (Consorzio Nazionale per la Raccolta, il Riciclo e il Recupero degli Imballaggi in Plastica) for the 'Un Sacco in Comune' project and shared support activities with FIRI for industrial packaging regeneration and recycling.
• CIAL (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi Alluminio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with CIAL in the 'Un Sacco in Comune' project promoting recycling challenges in Italian municipalities, along with participation in events like COMICON to promote joint recycling awareness.
• COMICON (Naples)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAs eco-partner of COMICON 2026 (International Pop Culture Festival), RICREA, CIAL, and COREPLA work together to animate the event with interactive installations, educational activities, and comic stories celebrating differentiated collection value. RICREA features Capitan Acciaio with dedicated area and creative workshops.
• ANCI (Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with ANCI for the Steelosa bench installation project, bringing recycled steel symbolism to Italian cities. ANCI-CONAI agreements form the foundation of RICREA's operations with Italian municipalities for differentiated waste collection.
• Eduiren (Gruppo Iren)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Eduiren for the Green Steel Game project, sharing sustainability content and implementing the educational initiative across Italian summer centers, reaching over 5,700 young people in 2025 through 92 centers.
• Croce Rossa ItalianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport partner for the Green Steel Game project, contributing to the diffusion and success of environmental education initiatives across Italy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• APEAL (Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging): European association of steel-for-packaging producers. Upstream counterpart to RICREA's downstream recycling mission; provides technical input on steel packaging design, end-of-life flows, and EU circular-economy policy advocacy.
• CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi): Umbrella coordinating body of the Italian EPR system for packaging; RICREA is one of seven member consortia under CONAI. Not a direct competitor but the regulator/funder-of-funds that allocates the EPR pool — strategic partner and structural counterparty for all member consortia.
• Metal Packaging Europe (MPE): European-level industry association coordinating the Metal Recycles Forever brand. Operates one tier up from RICREA — pan-European scope rather than national — providing RICREA with international positioning, lobbying, and harmonized sustainability messaging.

Regional players

• Citeo: French EPR producer-responsibility organization for household packaging (paper, plastic, metal, glass). Comparable non-profit PRO model in a different geography; useful proxy for cross-border benchmarking on EPR fee setting, recycling-rate accounting, and municipal collection frameworks.
• Fost Plus: Belgian packaging PRO covering household packaging recovery. Comparable mission and EPR-driven funding in a different EU member state; reference for neighboring-country EPR schemes that may converge with Italy's under EU PPWR.

Direct peers

• COREPLA: Italian CONAI consortium for plastic packaging collection and recycling. Direct peer under identical CONAI/EPR structure; co-markets with RICREA in joint initiatives ('Un Sacco in Comune', COMICON 2026 eco-partner activations). Competes for packaging share within the same CONAI fee pool.
• COMIECO: Italian CONAI consortium for paper and cellulose-based packaging recycling. Direct peer in CONAI system; comparable non-profit consortia model, consumer-facing campaigns, municipal collection infrastructure.
• Biorepack: Italian CONAI consortium for biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging (established 2018). Direct peer in CONAI system addressing newer substrate category; competes for the same producer-fee pool and municipal collection contracts.
• RILEGNO: Italian CONAI consortium for wooden packaging recycling. Direct peer under the same ANCI-CONAI agreement framework; shows up in same tier of EPR pool allocation and similar municipal-level operational structure.
• CIAL (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi Alluminio): Italian CONAI consortium for aluminum packaging recycling. Closest direct peer — identical EPR mandate, financing structure (CONAI fees), ANCI-CONAI municipal framework, and consumer-awareness focus (joint 'Un Sacco in Comune' campaign). Only substrate differs (aluminum vs steel).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RicreaAcciaio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxKFUrBKELBtGvNwD0rQAbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConsorzioRicreaAcciaio
• Instagraminstagram.com/consorzioricrea

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RICREA