Our Environmental Commitment
At Fila Group Australia, we believe that respect for the environment is more than a policy — it is a responsibility we owe to the creative communities we serve and to the generations who will inherit the world we help shape. As the Australian subsidiary of the F.I.L.A. Group (Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini), we are guided by a global commitment to sustainable development that has been embedded in our parent company's operations, supply chain, and product design for over a century.
This page sets out what we are doing, what our brands are doing, and where we are heading. We have written it in line with the ACCC's eight principles for making environmental claims — which means every statement below is based on verifiable actions, not aspirations alone.
Our Guiding Framework
The F.I.L.A. Group's environmental strategy is governed by its Ethics Code and the 2021–2025 Sustainability Plan, which forms part of the Group's broader Strategic Plan. These commitments are inspired by the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The Group's formal Environmental Policy applies to all subsidiaries — including Fila Group Australia — and to the facilities, partners, and suppliers we work with.
The policy is built on seven principles: a preventive approach to environmental impact, measurable reduction of emissions and waste, the assessment and substitution of hazardous substances, continuous improvement through short-, medium-, and long-term targets, compliance with environmental law, responsible supply chain management, and raising environmental awareness among our people at every level.
Responsible Manufacturing
The products we distribute in Australia are manufactured at F.I.L.A. Group facilities around the world. These facilities operate under the following environmental practices:
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Area
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What We Do
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Site selection
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Factories are located away from protected areas and sites with high levels of biodiversity
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Energy
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Plants use electric energy, steam, and natural gas; one third of factory energy currently comes from biomass
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Water
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Automated monitoring systems are in place to limit water consumption to the minimum required for production
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Emissions
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The Group monitors and works to reduce emissions to air, water, and soil across all manufacturing sites
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Waste
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Waste is managed with a focus on correct disposal, re-use, and recycling before final disposal
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These are ongoing operational practices, not future targets. The Group continues to invest in reducing its environmental footprint across all manufacturing sites.
Sustainable Materials
Wood and Forestry
Wood is a core raw material for pencils, coloured pencils, and canvas frames. The F.I.L.A. Group uses wood and fibres sourced from responsibly and sustainably managed forests, with full traceability through FSC-certified supply chains at every stage — from the forest to the finished product.
To reduce waste, F.I.L.A. plants have implemented systems for the recovery and reuse of wood scraps generated during pencil and canvas production. In line with circular economy principles, some pencil ranges and canvas frames are now produced using recovered wood waste processed through industrial reuse systems.
Paper
Our Canson paper mills — founded in 1557 and now part of the F.I.L.A. Group — use the pure waters of the Ardèche basin in France, rated Category 1 ("excellent quality") by the French water authority, the Agence de l'Eau. Canson has committed to preserving forests, reducing CO2 emissions, banning toxic substances from its products, preserving water resources, and reducing waste.
Specific practices at the Canson mills include the use of water-based inks for printing folders and drawing paper, neutral glue for collated blocks, and FSC-certified fibres combined with starch (a biomaterial) for paper production. Waste is minimised at the source through optimised production runs, reduced kerfs, and improved equipment reliability.
Plastics
Plastic remains essential for the functionality, safety, and durability of many art supply products. The F.I.L.A. Group is actively working to replace fossil-fuel-based plastics with more sustainable alternatives where technically feasible:
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Initiative
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Details
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Bio-based plastics
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Since 2023, the Lyra Graduate ART-TIP marker — the first bio-based plastic marker made in Italy — is manufactured using a minimum of 64% bio-based plastic (green polyethylene derived from sugarcane) for the barrel, plug, and cap
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Regenerated plastics
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Tratto1 ballpoint pens and Giotto Decor markers use regenerated plastics sourced from end-of-life waste recovery and industrial by-products
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Packaging and accessories
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Regenerated plastics are also used in the production of school packs, play jars, buckets, and children's tools
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Transparency
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The percentage of regenerated plastic used in each product is clearly indicated on the packaging or accompanying materials
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We want to be clear: not all of our products use bio-based or regenerated plastics today. This is an area of active research and development, and we are progressively expanding the range of products that incorporate these materials as the technology and supply chains mature.
Product Longevity and Waste Reduction
One of the most effective ways to reduce environmental impact is to make products that last longer and perform better, so less material ends up in landfill. This philosophy is embedded in F.I.L.A.'s product development:
Felt-tip pens are designed with fibre tips that retain their shape and allow the ink reservoir to be used completely. The inks are formulated not to dry out even if the cap is left off for several days. Pencils and coloured pencils use highly pigmented cores that deliver rich colour while wearing down slowly. Poster paints are concentrated so that a small quantity delivers excellent coverage. These are not marketing claims — they are engineering decisions made at the product design stage to extend useful life and reduce waste.
Packaging
The Group is continuously working to reduce the environmental impact of packaging:
Giotto tempera paint bottles (250 ml, 500 ml, and 1,000 ml sizes) are made with at least 30% recycled plastic. A rationalisation of modelling clay packaging — including the well-known Giotto Patplume range — has eliminated 4.7 tonnes of cardboard per year. The removal of plastic from Giotto Decor marker packaging has avoided the use of 300,000 plastic trays.
These are specific, measurable reductions that have already been implemented — not future commitments.
What This Means for Our Australian Customers
As a distributor, Fila Group Australia does not operate manufacturing facilities in Australia. Our environmental impact is primarily in logistics, warehousing, and the products we bring to market. We are committed to:
Distributing products that reflect the F.I.L.A. Group's environmental standards. The sustainability initiatives described on this page are built into the products we supply to Australian retailers, schools, and art communities.
Being transparent about what we can and cannot claim. We do not manufacture these products locally, so we are careful to attribute environmental achievements to the specific brands and facilities where they occur, rather than making broad claims about our own operations.
Supporting our customers with accurate product information. Where a product carries an FSC certification, uses bio-based or regenerated plastics, or incorporates recycled content, we ensure this information is available and clearly communicated.
Reducing waste in our own operations. At our Seven Hills warehouse, we work to minimise packaging waste, consolidate shipments where possible, and manage our logistics efficiently.
A Note on How We Communicate
The ACCC's guidance on environmental claims is clear: businesses must be truthful, specific, and able to substantiate what they say. We have written this page with that guidance in mind. Where we describe an achievement, it is something that has already been implemented. Where we describe an ongoing effort, we say so. We have avoided broad, unqualified language like "eco-friendly" or "green" without context, because we believe our customers and partners deserve specifics, not slogans.
If you have questions about the environmental credentials of any product we distribute, please contact us at sales@filagroup.com.au or call (02) 8825 5300. We are happy to provide further detail or direct you to the relevant brand's sustainability resources.
Further Reading
For more detailed information about the F.I.L.A. Group's environmental initiatives, the following resources are available:
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Resource
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Link
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F.I.L.A. Group Environmental Policy
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F.I.L.A. Green Project (brand-level initiatives)
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Canson Sustainability
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F.I.L.A. Group Sustainability Report
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Fila Group Australia Pty Ltd | 6/30 Foundry Rd, Seven Hills NSW 2147 | (02) 8825 5300 | sales@filagroup.com.au