The Industrial Production Index (IPI) describes the trend of industrial activity (in the strict sense) in Italy through the monthly survey of actual production volumes. The level of industrial production is a key factor closely related to environmental pressures. After diverging during the 2010–2013 period, industrial production trends in Italy have aligned with those of the main European industrial countries and the euro area average (while remaining higher). In 2020, the index hit the historical minimum (93.3) due to COVID-19 containment measures, which led to the closure or strong restriction of production activities. The industrial production rebound in 2021 (104.7) was stronger than in France and Germany but was outpaced by the euro area average. After stagnating between 2021 and 2022 (105.1), the index declined again in 2023 (102.5). The medium- to long-term trend remains positive: in 2023, the index gained 2.5 percentage points compared to the base year 2015. The “capital goods” group showed the highest year-over-year increase (15.5 percentage points), while mining activities experienced a sharp decline (-31.6 p.p.). Nearly all variability in industrial production over time is explained by changes in manufacturing activity volumes.

The efficiency indicator, calculated for the years from 1990 to 2020, represents carbon dioxide emissions per unit of value added in the manufacturing and construction sectors in Italy. The substantial reduction in emission intensity over the years (-48% between 1990 and 2020) indicates an improvement in the level of efficiency achieved by the Italian manufacturing and construction industry.

The indicator quantifies the number of active industrial enterprises, the related local productive units present in the territory, and the number of employees. In 2021, at the national level, the number of active enterprises in the narrow sense of industry was 390,507, showing a slight decrease (-0.3%) compared to the previous year. At the regional level, very small decreases are recorded, in line with the national trend. The number of employees in 2021 stands at 4,032,028, an increase of 1.3% compared to the previous year, but regional trends are highly variable, ranging from a 4.3% increase (Sicily) to a 4.8% decrease (Liguria). In ten years (2012-2021), industrial enterprises decreased by 10.8% (-11.6% for local units), and employees by 1.6%.

The EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register developed by the EU under Regulation (EC) No 166/2006, with the aim of making publicly available information on environmental impacts from industrial facilities that meet the criteria established in the legislation. This indicator represents the total air emissions from industrial facilities that have reported such emissions to the national PRTR register. The air emissions declared for 2020 refer to 34 substances (non-zero values). Comparing 2020 data with 2007, it is observed that for 25 substances, total national atmospheric emissions have decreased (for 23 of these, reductions exceed 40%), while for 8 substances, overall emissions have increased (including: hydrogen cyanide +356% from 2007, hydrofluorocarbons +19%, and ammonia +109%).

The indicator relates the total emissions into the atmosphere generated by production processes in the chemical and petrochemical sectors to the total quantity produced, in order to evaluate the specific emissions generated by the production of a single unit of product. In 2020, compared to 2019, the specific emissions of NOx decreased by 16%, SOx emissions increased by 58%, while specific emissions of NMVOCs and CO showed reductions of 3% and 8% respectively.

The indicator relates the total atmospheric emissions generated by the production and processing of non-ferrous metals to the total quantities produced, in order to assess the specific emissions per unit of product. Between 1990 and 2020, data analysis shows a significant reduction in specific emissions for all substances, with the exception of NMVOCs, which increased. This macrotrend is reflected in the year-over-year change: in 2020 compared to 2019, while the specific emissions of CO, NOx and SOx decreased, those of NMVOCs slightly increased.

The indicator relates the total atmospheric emissions generated by the production processes of the non-metallic mineral industry sector to the total quantities produced, in order to assess the specific emissions associated with the production of one unit of product. In 2020, compared to 2019, the specific emissions of all substances considered decreased, except for NMVOCs, which showed a slight increase.

The indicator relates the main overall atmospheric emissions generated by production processes in the paper industry to the total amount of paper produced, in order to assess the specific emissions generated. Compared to the previous year, the specific emissions of all pollutants remained stable in 2020, with the exception of sulphur oxides emissions, which increased by 6.2%. Compared to 1990, however, there was a decrease of 98.8% in sulphur oxides, 99.8% in NMVOCs, and more moderate decreases in nitrogen oxides (-2.6%) and PM10 (-8.5%).

The indicator relates the total atmospheric emissions generated by production processes in the steel sector to the total amount of steel produced, in order to assess the specific emissions generated per unit of steel production. Between 2019 and 2020, all considered substances show a slight decrease. The magnitude of fluctuations in recent years, starting from 2012–2013, is modest.