After the declines that had continued since 2017, in 2021, fixed capital investments (technologies) for environmental protection made by industrial enterprises recorded a significant increase of 81.0%, rising from €806 million to €1,454 million, marking a new local maximum. This increase was mainly driven by the electricity and gas supply industry (+135.5%) and the manufacturing industry (+103.9%). Companies continue to prefer end-of-pipe technologies over integrated ones, with a ratio of approximately 60:40. However, the latter recorded the largest increase, both compared to the previous year (+104.3%) and to 2016 (+21.0%).

Examining the period 2016–2021, it is noted that the environmental expenditure classes in which industrial enterprises invested the most cumulatively are "CEPA2: Wastewater management" (€2,140 million); "CEPA1: Air and climate protection" (€1,763 million); and "CEPA6: Protection of biodiversity and landscape" (€1,334 million). In the same period, the overall sectoral trend variation is +8.8%, with wide divergences, both positive and negative, among the sub-sectoral sections.

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 carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the Italian chemical industry is analysed in relation to the sector's value added. In 2020, the indicator increased by 1.7% compared to 2019, although it decreased by 61.5% relative to 1990. The data, covering the period 1990–2020, are reported annually to the European Commission as part of the greenhouse gas emission monitoring mechanism and in implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the non-metallic mineral processing industry in Italy is presented here, analyzed with reference both to the sector’s value added and to cement production. CO₂ emissions from energy processes in this industry decreased in absolute terms by 50.8% from 1990 to 2020. Over the same period, emission intensity per million euros of value added fell by 27.5%. These indicators, developed for the 1990–2020 period, are reported annually to the European Commission as part of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions monitoring mechanism and for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol during commitment periods.

This section presents the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the paper and printing industry in Italy, analyzed both in relation to value added and to production volume. In 2020, compared to the previous year, emission intensity per unit of production decreased by 2.2%, while intensity per unit of value added increased by 2.7%. In terms of long-term trends since 1990, the indicator—calculated both by value added and production—shows a general increase. This indicator, covering the period 1990–2020, is reported annually to the European Commission as part of the EU greenhouse gas emissions monitoring mechanism and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

This section presents the carbon dioxide emission intensity in the steel industry in Italy, analyzed with respect to both the sector's value added and steel production. Over the period from 1990 to 2020, a decrease of 74.3% in value added and 60.4% in steel production is recorded. These indicators, developed for the period 1990-2020, are communicated annually to the European Commission as part of the Community's greenhouse gas monitoring mechanism and for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol during the commitment periods. CO2 emissions from the steel industry decreased by 68.3% from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, emissions decreased by 18.55% compared to the previous year.

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 European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (EPRTR) is the integrated register established by the EU, based on Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, with the aim of making available to the public information on the environmental impacts caused by industrial establishments that meet the criteria specified by the regulation. In 2020, the industrial sources responsible for most emissions to air and water were 4,127, of which 3,148 are located in the North, 523 in the Centre, 450 in the South and Islands, and 6 in the sea. The number of declared PRTR activities is 5,086. Generally, the total number of declared PRTR activities is always greater than the number of declarations received, as one establishment can carry out one or more PRTR activities.

EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register established by the EU pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, aimed at making available to the public information regarding environmental pressures from industrial facilities falling within the scope of the regulation.
This indicator represents the quantities of hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by industrial facilities that have reported such data to the national PRTR register.

Regarding "industry" data on hazardous waste, in 2020, the PRTR groups that transferred the largest amounts of hazardous waste across borders were the metal industry, the chemical industry, and energy-related activities. The total amount of hazardous waste exported by the industrial sector in 2020 accounted for 1.7% of all hazardous waste transferred by “industry”.
Facilities categorized under “Waste and wastewater management” also exported hazardous waste in 2020: about 24.65% of the hazardous waste declared by this group was sent abroad.

The EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register established by the EU based on Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, aimed at making publicly available information on environmental impacts caused by industrial facilities falling under the criteria set out in the regulation.

This indicator represents total emissions into surface waters and pollutant transfers in wastewater from industrial facilities that reported such data to the national PRTR register. For the year 2020, 60 substances were reported as present in emissions into surface water bodies, while 49 substances were declared in pollutant transfers via wastewater conveyed through pipelines to external treatment facilities.

The PRTR activity groups that contribute the highest percentages of reported pollutant emissions into both wastewater and surface waters are generally those related to "Waste and Wastewater Management" and "Chemical Industry".

After the decline recorded between 2019 and 2020, due to the contraction in economic activity caused by the pandemic, in 2021 intramural Research & Development (R&D) spending by industrial enterprises began to grow again, rising from €10.7 to €11.1 billion (+3.3%), although it did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Nearly all of the expenditure (98.2%) is borne by manufacturing companies. Looking at the ten-year trend from 2012 to 2021, total spending increased by 32.5%. The share of business R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP stood at 0.86% in 2021 and 0.78% in 2022 (provisional data). Among European industrialized countries, Italy is the one whose companies spend the least on R&D in proportion to GDP, remaining below the euro area average (1.5%). However, between 2012 and 2021, Italian companies increased their R&D spending relative to GDP by 26.5%. The main source of funding is the companies themselves.

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.