Circular economy: Intesa Sanpaolo presents its position paper

Intesa Sanpaolo has published a position paper on the circular economy, outlining global challenges, environmental and economic benefits, and the Group’s vision of circularity as a strategic lever to enhance competitiveness, resilience, and territorial autonomy

A transition that can no longer be postponed

Intesa Sanpaolo presents its position paper on the circular economy, a document that examines the role of circularity as a strategic lever to address global economic, environmental, and social challenges.

The paper reinforces Intesa Sanpaolo’s position in the circular economy and reaffirms the strategic commitment outlined in the 2026–2029 Business Plan, in which the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center - the Group’s center of expertise for innovation and the circular economy - plays a central role.  The paper aims to stimulate the market and the ecosystems necessary to accelerate the circular transition on a large scale.

The document highlights how the linear economic model—based on “extract, produce, dispose”—is showing increasingly evident structural limitations, further exacerbated by recent crises such as geopolitical instability, energy shocks, and disruptions in value chains.

In this context, the circular economy is identified as an alternative paradigm capable of strengthening resilience, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.

What is the circular economy: from a linear to a regenerative model

The circular economy represents a systemic shift from the traditional “extract-produce-dispose” model. It goes beyond recycling or waste management, introducing a regenerative approach aimed at preserving the value of products and materials over time.
This approach makes it possible to decouple economic growth from the consumption of finite resources, contributing to overall sustainability.

Impact of the circular economy: environmental, economic, and social benefits

The position paper emphasizes how the circular transition generates benefits on multiple levels.

Environmental and climate impact

The adoption of circular strategies in key sectors could significantly reduce emissions, making a major contribution to the fight against climate change. In particular, the circular economy complements the energy transition by addressing emissions linked to the production and consumption of materials.

Economic benefits

From an economic perspective, circularity represents a driver of competitiveness and innovation. The document highlights significant opportunities across various industrial sectors, with potential economic gains and new sources of value. Moreover, companies adopting circular models demonstrate greater resilience, lower exposure to market risks, and improved performance.

Social impact

The circular economy also generates positive social effects, fostering job creation, strengthening local economies, and promoting greater inclusion.
At the same time, models based on reuse and repair can make goods and services more accessible to lower-income groups.

The European context and the role of public policies

At the European level, the circular economy is becoming increasingly central to industrial competitiveness and sustainability strategies.

The position paper refers to the European Union’s ongoing efforts to embed circularity into industrial policies and regulatory frameworks, including initiatives such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. These initiatives aim to create favorable conditions for the development of circular models, reducing regulatory fragmentation and enabling the scalability of solutions.

The strategic role of finance

A key focus of the position paper concerns the role of financial institutions, which are called upon to support and accelerate the transition.
The circular economy represents:

• a new frontier for sustainable investments;
• a tool to improve risk assessment;
• a lever for creating new markets and financial assets.

At the same time, the transition requires an evolution of traditional financial models to support initiatives characterized by longer time horizons and innovative business models.

Intesa Sanpaolo and the circular economy: an integrated strategy

For over ten years, Intesa Sanpaolo has been a leading international player in promoting the circular economy. Thanks in part to the role of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center—the Group’s center of expertise on this topic—the Group has established a distinctive position based on:

• partnerships with key international stakeholders;
• significant volumes of dedicated financing and innovative financial instruments;
• support for systemic innovation through initiatives such as the Circular Economy Lab, developed with Cariplo Factory;
• advocacy efforts and contributions to the regulatory debate at major national and international forums;
• leadership in applied research and the generation of knowledge on circular models.

The position paper reaffirms the Group’s commitment to playing a leading role in the transition to a circular economy, emphasizing that accelerating circular finance requires strong collaboration among institutions, companies, and regulatory authorities.