In Modena, there is a young business that turns recycled matter into advanced industrial solutions. Between systems, laboratory and materials engineering, it proves that circular economy can become scalable. A story of solid industry, people and vision. For FARE INSIEME, Giampaolo Colletti interviewed Pierrick Cassin, co-founder and CEO of Circular Identity
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
In Modena, there is a futuristic company that shies away from slogans and becomes an industry. It is neither an experimental laboratory nor a start-up. It is a space made up of systems, extrusion lines, laboratories and people who work on matter every day turning it into value. We find ourselves in the heart of one of the most dynamic manufacturing districts in Europe. This is where Circular Identity is located, a young yet already sound company that perfectly illustrates how Emilia is capable of turning complex visions into concrete projects. A productive ecosystem where the culture of doing things together intertwines with the ability to innovate. Here, Circular Identity has carved out a precise role for itself, i.e. turning recycled materials into reliable technical industrial solutions.
Company profile. There are currently around 30 people working here, for a production capacity that exceeds 5 thousand tons a year. In 2025, Circular Identity reached a turnover of €10 million and continues growing even in 2026 by also integrating a complementary company, later strengthened thanks to investments, automation and process development. The markets it reaches are among the most demanding: automotive, electronics, sports and advanced industrial applications. These are sectors where sustainability is not enough, as the materials need to function, be stable and integrate in the production processes of clients. “Today, Circular Identity is a company that is constantly growing and is built around people, systems, laboratories and processes. Our vision is very clear: to work on matter in order to turn it into actual industrial value,” illustrates Pierrick Cassin, co-founder and CEO of Circular Identity. And matter is precisely the starting point of this story. Not matter as waste, but matter that becomes technical opportunity, as the company focuses on the engineering of recycled materials: a process that starts from the end application and not simply with the availability of the raw material. “To us, the key passage is not simply to use recycled material, but to turn it into an actual technical solution. When matter becomes stable, repeatable and suitable for industrial processes, then it acquires real value,” says Cassin. It is a very Emilian approach - pragmatic, industrial, tangible. Because in this area, sustainability always passes through the ability to produce. Circular Identity has chosen to build an actual industrial structure right from the start, with its own systems, R&D laboratory and extrusion lines. It was a considerable investment for such a young company, yet necessary to control the quality of the materials and processes. “We are industrial entrepreneurs and we like to build things starting with something tangible. We are interested in matter, we are interested in processes and we are interested in turning ideas into actual projects,” stresses Cassin.
The strength of matter. “In these markets, circularity alone is not enough. Material must first of all work. The real challenge is to prove that circular matter can also be credible on an industrial level. And circular matter generates actual value only when it is also traceable. That is why we combine matter engineering with solid digitisation, Digital Product Passports and batch certification to offer clients increased transparency, trust and control.” In under three years, Circular Identity has built an industrial structure, developed new skills and integrated important parts of the chain. “While maintaining deep roots in Emilia-Romagna, Circular Identity operates on an international level, serving markets such as the automotive sector and collaborating with clients in various parts of the world.” This is made possible by also belonging to an international industrial group that provides vision and investment capacity. “Being part of a structured industrial group enables us to accelerate certain choices and industrialise more quickly. At the same time, we maintain a clear identity that focuses on matter and circular economy applied in a tangible manner.” And maybe this is precisely the distinctive trait of this story - the idea that sustainability and industry can grow together. Because here in the productive heart of Emilia, sustainability also passes through hands, skills and the ability to turn matter into value.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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