Stoneware means quality, aesthetics, design, durability and an eco-friendly product. Our original formula results in a special bond between the clay and the glazed surface, making our products more durable. With a longer lifespan than other fragile ceramics, it avoids replacement and therefore minimizes resource consumption.
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At COSTA NOVA Industria Group, we utilize 1180 kW of solar panels to harness the energy of the sun. At day light times, our latest factory – Ecogres - Cerâmica Ecológica – can even operate entirely on our self-generated solar power, while the remaining three factories are powered by a combination of our solar panels and green energy sources, which are derived from renewable sources of energy.
We reuse heat from our kilns in a closed circuit, enhancing the efficiency of the equipment and making them 15% more efficient than the most energy-efficient kilns in the market. Additionally, we utilize the heat generated from our kilns for our drying processes, minimizing the need for additional energy consumption.
Our single-fired production process is the most energy efficient process in tableware ceramics. By requiring significantly less energy than the standard double-firing system used in other stoneware or porcelain production processes, therefore minimizing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
In addition to our reducing consumption practices, 100% of our water is carefully treated and reused for internal cleaning processes or reintroduced in our production process. Each one of our four factories is equipped with an industrial wastewater treatment plant, complying with EU standards.
We recycle all of our factory's excess clay into brand new dinnerware, therefore limiting transport emissions.
All waste we generate is mindfully managed according to EU environmental standards and requirements. 99% of our waste is sent for recycling or valorization processes, becoming by-products incorporated into other industries.
In addition to our reducing consumption practices, 100% of our water is carefully treated and reused for internal cleaning processes or reintroduced in our production process. Each one of our four factories is equipped with an industrial wastewater treatment plant, complying with EU standards.
We recycle all of our factory's excess clay into brand new dinnerware, therefore limiting transport emissions.
All waste we generate is mindfully managed according to EU environmental standards and requirements. 99% of our waste is sent for recycling or valorization processes, becoming by-products incorporated into other industries.
Everything we use to pack our products is recycled and recyclable. Our packaging is 100% plastic-free and dyed with nonhazardous dyes.
In our journey to find new and sustainable alternatives to plastic filling we developed a new subproduct, called Ecocard. Ecocard is made of crushed internal cardboard waste, and it is used to fill our boxes. Alternatively, we use 100% certified compostable, plant-based, and pet safe starch peanuts. In addition, all our boxes are FCS certified (75% recycled cardboard), sealed with recycled paper tape and are reusable and recyclable.
As we pack our items or handle both B2B and B2C orders, we consistently strive to optimize, reducing both weight and space in transportation.
All our boxes are FSC-certified (75% recycled cardboard). We actively contribute to local, national, and international societies, partnering with organizations like Sociedade Ponto Verde, with the goal of minimizing our carbon footprint.
We are committed to maintaining high ethical standards in our business operations, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations in alignment with EU standards. Our practices undergo regular audits conducted by both official regulators and independent auditors. Regarding wages, we affirm that all our employees receive compensation exceeding the mandated minimum wage.
We strive for gender equality. Women make up 70% of our staff. They are present at all levels of our company.
We employ a workforce of over 1,000 individuals from 17 nationalities across our four factories.
Gender representation on the Board of Directors
For the COSTA NOVA Industria Group, balance and equitable gender representation are of utmost importance, whether in recruitment, the assignment of roles and responsibilities, remuneration, or opportunities for training and professional growth.
Gender representation on the Board of Directors is no exception. Accordingly, there is a distribution of 33% versus 67% (figures rounded to whole numbers) between women and men, with one woman and two men.
Anti-corruption/bribery and unfair competition/lobbying
The Group has a zero-tolerance policy toward any practices involving corruption or bribery.
In pursuit of this objective, and in compliance with Law No. 93/2021 of 20 December, the Group has established an internal whistleblowing channel for reporting infractions, available on its website. This channel encourages anyone who becomes aware of irregularities in the context of their professional relationship with any Group company to report such situations, which might otherwise go undetected.
Relationship with suppliers
The relationship with suppliers is of utmost importance to the Group. Building strong and long-lasting partnerships is what sustains the Group’s cohesion. In 2023, the number of suppliers remained unchanged compared to the previous year, with no new suppliers engaging in commercial relationships with the Group.
In order to maintain a healthy relationship with our suppliers, we follow good payment practices. As a result, there are no legal proceedings, administrative offenses, or fines related to this matter.
We actively engage with and support local institutions, contributing to social progress. We annually donate products to nearly 100 associations for fundraising and promote internal solidarity campaigns.
Our company established a partnership with the University of Aveiro, more than a decade ago. During this time, we have developed many projects together – some of them resulting in innovation processes and products and involving millions of euros in investment, like the Ecogres, the DigiGRÉS, and Inducer.
Over the past decade, we have welcomed 28 interns from local universities and subsequently hired 22 of them for permanent positions.
We have facilitated and collaborated on 23 master's and doctoral theses and dissertations. Notably, we have subsequently hired 8 out of the 23 students engaged in these academic projects.
Our R&D department collaborators have authored 10 articles in scientific journals.
