Environmental projects and innovations
Protection of Green Areas and Environmental Quality
Interporto Bologna S.p.A., long committed to maintaining a balance between built‑up areas and green spaces, has developed 46 hectares of woodland buffer zones along the eastern and northern boundaries of the infrastructure, which were subsequently transferred to the Municipality of Bentivoglio. These are complemented by an additional 45 hectares of internal green areas, contributing significantly to the enhancement of the site’s overall environmental quality.
Development of Intermodal Transport and Emission Reduction
The development of intermodal transport and rail freight services follows the same strategic direction. Promoting rail transport—an objective set out in the Company’s Bylaws—means reducing the number of trucks on the road, with tangible benefits in terms of lower CO₂ emissions, reduced traffic congestion and improved road safety. On average, a freight train operating within the freight village can replace approximately 35 semi‑trailers or 50–60 mixed 20‑ and 40‑foot containers. According to EcoTransIT software, road transport generates around three times more CO₂ per tonne‑kilometre than rail transport (Source: Fercargo).
At the same time, Interporto Bologna carries out periodic surveys aimed at developing the Home‑to‑Work Travel Plan for employees working within the area. This initiative makes it possible to optimise public transport services, including the bus connections linking Bologna with the Interporto infrastructure.
The creation of a Collective Self‑Consumption Group within the freight village area, enabling shared energy production and consumption among on‑site users.
The establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (REC), extending participation to the surrounding local area and fostering energy sharing and territorial integration.
Electric Charging Infrastructure
The installation of 50 charging stations for electric vehicles, complemented by two fast‑charging units and six charging stations dedicated to refrigerated heavy vehicles, represents a further step in reducing the overall carbon footprint of the infrastructure.
The Role of the InTerLab Project
Finally, a significant contribution has been made by the InTerLab Project, funded by the Emilia‑Romagna Region and the Metropolitan City of Bologna.
Thanks to simulations conducted using a digital twin of the freight village, the project demonstrated that the opening of the northern access, launched in July 2025, led to improved internal traffic flow and reduced emissions by lowering the number of kilometres travelled by vehicles approaching from northern areas.
Urban Beekeeping and Biomonitoring
Interporto Bologna, in partnership with Apicoltura Urbana, has launched an urban beekeeping project involving the installation of two beehives within the logistics area, with the aim of promoting biodiversity and actively engaging the companies operating on site. The initiative combines sustainability and innovation, contributing to ecosystem protection while raising environmental awareness among those who live and work within the freight village.
Bees, widely recognised as true environmental sentinels, carry out thousands of micro‑samplings of air, water and soil every day within an approximate 3‑kilometre radius from the hive. All substances they come into contact with leave traces on their bodies, which are then transported back to the hive. Through the analysis of honey and pollen, or by using non‑invasive monitoring techniques, it is possible to collect valuable data on air quality, environmental conditions, biodiversity and the area’s floral richness.
A dedicated digital platform also enables real‑time monitoring of bees, pollen, invasive species, pathogens, environmental toxicity and food availability, providing daily reports and analyses on the effects of climate change and territorial transformations on pollinators.