"Conserving the future by reclaiming the past”

LAMACART based in Villafranca di Verona and owned by the Verona-based Nicolis entrepreneurial family, has received the most prestigious international award in the paper recycling sector.

The recognition, which for the first time in the history of the B.I.R. – Bureau of International Recycling (an association bringing together the most important international companies operating in the recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, paper, textiles, plastics and rubber) was awarded to an Italian company, highlighting Lamacart’s contribution in terms of technological innovation, quality of products and services, responsible commitment to the environment, and business conduct based on ethics and transparency.
The “Papyrus Award 2012” was presented to Thomas Nicolis, CEO of Lamacart Group, by B.I.R. President Ranjit Singh Baxi during a ceremony held in Rome, attended by 1,200 delegates from 70 countries.
The Nicolis Group has been operating in the paper recycling sector for over 80 years. What was once simply referred to as “waste paper” is now recognized in modern industry as an important recyclable secondary raw material that can be effectively reintroduced into the production cycle. The organizational and production development of the company, together with the introduction of complex collection and processing activities that brought Lamacart to international prominence and made it a preferred partner for numerous public authorities and institutions across Italy, was driven by Thomas Nicolis and his father Luciano. A well-known Verona entrepreneur, Luciano combined his industrial career with a passion for collecting classic cars and promoting culture through Museo Nicolis, which he founded in 2000.
The family company’s “passion for recycling” enabled Lamacart to become one of the leading players in the market, sending more than one million tonnes of paper for recycling each year, equal to around 20% of the total recovered paper handled by companies in the sector. It is ultimately the same passion that has driven the success of Museo Nicolis, today one of the most important private museums of its kind, housing seven collections that include classic cars, motorcycles, vintage bicycles, musical instruments, cameras, typewriters and unique examples of human ingenuity.
The same “passion for recycling”, shared by Luciano Nicolis, his wife Renate and their children Silvia and Thomas, also shaped the development of the Museum. Where others saw vehicles destined for scrap, they recognized mechanical treasures that could be preserved, restored and returned to their original splendour. In this way, an important heritage of history and culture — particularly in the field of classic cars — has been preserved for Italy, rather than being irretrievably lost.
Vision has always been a defining characteristic of this industrial family, from its founders to today’s entrepreneurs, and the achievements of the Nicolis Group companies bear witness to this. This vision was also highlighted in the motivation for the 2012 Papyrus Award.Lamacart,” said B.I.R. President Ranjit Singh Baxi – , “provides tangible evidence of the values of a solid and innovative company, deeply rooted in its local production system and territory, yet internationally oriented and committed to building a better future without losing sight of the values of the past.”

"Conserving the future by reclaiming the past" was the message accompanying the prestigious award presented to Lamacart and Thomas Nicolis, recognizing Italian excellence in an advanced, highly competitive and increasingly global market.

Rome, June 2012