Among the most significant initiatives, “Open Paper Mills” returned once again, giving students and citizens the opportunity to visit the facilities and discover first-hand how the recycling cycle actually works — a well-established highlight of Paper Week.
For the 2026 edition, RDM Group’s paper mills in Santa Giustina, Ovaro and Villa Santa Lucia welcomed school groups from local institutions (250 students took part), as well as citizens, families and associations with an interest in sustainability.
During the guided tours, participants were able to observe the reprocessing stages of separately collected paper, as well as the machinery and technologies that transform waste into new raw material. It was a concrete way to highlight both the workings of a supply chain that maximizes the use of existing fibres and the essential role citizens play in ensuring quality recycling through correct everyday habits.
For RDM Group, opening its paper mills was not just a gesture of transparency, but a concrete commitment to environmental awareness. Seeing first-hand how waste is reprocessed — and understanding the value of the daily work of household waste sorting — proved essential in showing how much each individual can contribute to the recycling cycle.
Showing how paper collected by citizens was transformed back into a resource made the result of their efforts tangible and strengthened trust in the recycling supply chain. Bringing young people and adults closer to a more conscious environmental culture brought us closer to our ultimate goal: demonstrating that the circular economy is not an abstract concept, but a real industrial process with a significant social impact.
The 2026 edition confirmed Italy’s role as a European leader in the recycling of cellulose-based materials, with an efficient and widespread supply chain that represents a model of circular economy recognised across Europe.