It is estimated that, between 2025 and 2033, the global market for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) services will grow at a rate of 4.35 per cent per year. In such a context, MRO distributors will play an increasingly central role in optimising supply chains at an international level, evolving from simple product suppliers into strategic partners for businesses. This was the picture that emerged on 3 December 2025 in Milan, on the occasion of the presentation of RS Italia's 2024/2025 sustainability report, moderated by LifeGate editor-in-chief Roberto Sposini. A leader in the distribution of industrial solutions and electronic components, RS operates in 36 countries, including Italy, where it has been active since 1992 with more than two hundred employees and 47,000 active customers.

RS Italia and MRO distributors as enablers of the ecological transition

"The MRO market is a particularly complex world, in which companies must access a very wide variety of products belonging to many different categories. The role of an MRO distributor like RS must therefore be to become a point of reference for its customers, so as to rationalise and reduce product movements and optimise the supply chain, also thanks to artificial intelligence," said Massimiliano Rottoli, managing director of RS Italia.

It is precisely in order to further streamline processes that the company — which currently manages a stock of 75,000 products at its distribution centre in Vimodrone — is building a new warehouse in Pozzuolo Martesana, also in the province of Milan. "It will be a far more innovative and automated facility, developing vertically up to twelve metres in height, which will allow us to get closer to our customers, serving them more quickly and reducing the environmental impact of transportation. In addition to holding Leed Gold certification, it will be equipped with a rooftop photovoltaic system capable of supplying the energy needed for an entire working day," Rottoli explained.

Sustainability as a business opportunity

RS Italia's strategy is built on four pillars, the first of which is promoting sustainability: all materials used for packaging are composed of at least 50 per cent recyclable substances, while the low-environmental-impact products in the Better World range — currently numbering around 30,000 — will rise to 100,000 by 2030. The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the same year, before extending the net-zero emissions target to the entire value chain by 2050. The other pillars consist of empowering people by investing in employee training, diversity and inclusion; supporting young people and local communities; and conducting business in a responsible manner.

Sustainability in the management of indirect procurement has become a strategic lever for Italian industries, as emerged during the event: joining forces with the various players in the supply chain before reaching the end customer, collaborating within a virtuous ecosystem, is the key to strengthening the competitiveness of the entire industrial apparatus.

The importance of a collaborative and globalised approach

"Our solutions are instrumental in supporting companies' decarbonisation. We believe in sustainability as a business opportunity, and we believe in the power of working within an ecosystem: the ability of a distributor like RS to support customers in making more responsible choices is fundamental to accelerating the decarbonisation of Italian industry. It is also essential for achieving net-zero emissions across the entire value chain," said Giancarlo Terzi, vice president, power products, home and distribution at Schneider Electric, a provider of services for electrification, digitalisation and automation.

"We believe in the importance of integrating ESG factors into our business strategy, aiming to guarantee a high quality of offering and responsible supply chain management, while valuing employees and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, it is essential that our suppliers share our same values, given that customers entrust us not only with their products, but also with their brand," commented Armando Pedoto, SVP Italy at Adare Pharma Solutions, a specialist in the production of solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.

In summary, it is clear that, in an increasingly complex and interconnected market, the true lever of change lies in a collaborative and globalised approach on the part of businesses. Companies that join forces along the value chain and share sustainable practices, responding to the needs of customers and citizens, can truly lead the transition towards more efficient and less impactful production models. Even in the face of slowdowns or indecision on the political front, it is people and communities — through informed choices and responsible behaviour — that are driving the industrial sector towards a more sustainable and resilient future.