What was once a carpentry is now an 800 million euro colossus. However, the magic of the Saviola Group lies not in the numbers, but in the ideas.
When it comes to industrial excellence and sustainability in Italy, the name Saviola stands out prominently. It is not only one of the most brilliant Made in Italy entrepreneurial stories, but also one of the most coherent, innovative, and visionary. A story that began in Viadana, in the province of Mantua, in 1963, in a family carpentry workshop. It was founded by Mauro Saviola, the son of carpenters, who looked at wood waste with new eyes. Instead of considering them as waste, he saw them as a resource. And from that intuition, which seemed almost crazy at the time, came the idea of transforming processing residues into particleboard panels.
From small company to world leader in wood recycling
It was from there that a long industrial evolution began, marked by investment, research, and great courage. Year after year, plant after plant, that small company becomes the world’s largest wood recycler. Today, the Saviola Group gives new life to over 1.5 million tonnes of post-consumer wood each year. Nothing is cut down, everything is regenerated.
An industrial ecosystem combining technology and environment
The real strength of the group lies in its integrated structure, an industrial ecosystem capable of combining respect for the environment with a high degree of technological specialisation. The heart of the production remains wood: 100% ecological particleboard, made exclusively from recycled wood.
Around this core also revolves the chemical soul of the group, which develops glues, resins, and low-impact solutions, as well as a business dedicated to furniture, with ready-to-assemble furniture exported worldwide. A comprehensive supply chain that begins with waste and culminates in design.
A philosophy that focuses on nature
The model is circular, from wood collection to the finished product, and is based on a precise philosophy: “Nature gives us wood, we give it back”. It is much more than a slogan: it is a daily commitment involving 140 collection centres and a network of partnerships with public entities, companies and local communities.
Virtually every piece of discarded furniture can become a new piece of furniture. Every scrap is an opportunity. Every end, a new beginning. A complete supply chain that starts from waste and arrives at design, fully embodying the values of Made in Italy: quality, beauty and environmental responsibility.
Behind every panel, a story of sustainability
Today, the Saviola Group is led by Alessandro Saviola, the founder’s son, who has successfully renewed the company while preserving its original values. Sustainability is not a fad, but an industrial principle.
And it is precisely this consistency that makes the difference: the panels produced by Saviola can be found in millions of homes around the world, often without the purchaser knowing their origin. But behind every shelf, bookcase or cupboard, there is a virtuous cycle that has rescued a piece of wood from the landfill and put it back into circulation.
Continuous growth without giving up values
Today, the Group has a turnover of over € 800 million, employs more than 4,000 people in Italy and abroad, and continues to invest in innovation, design, and new materials. The vision remains the same as it was 60 years ago: to create an industry that is useful, respectful, and intelligent. A company that proves, day after day, that doing business and doing good for the planet can coincide. An example of how Made in Italy knows how to combine artisan roots and global industrial leadership, focusing on sustainability and innovation.
In a world looking for sustainable models, Saviola is already a step ahead. And it reminds us that even a carpentry workshop can change the world.
Learn about other Made in Italy excellence in the world of design and furniture.