Case study · Industry

From pilot project to global programme of biodiversity monitoring

Starting from the Ceriano Laghetto site, Bracco developed a biodiversity monitoring model now active across eight global facilities. The programme combines satellite analyses and local actions, operating according to the PDCA cycle and the principles of the mitigation hierarchy to ensure continuous improvement.

Client: Bracco
Sector: Industry

Pharmaceuticals depend on nature, but impact its ecosystem services

The pharmaceutical sector impacts biodiversity primarily through the extraction and use of raw materials, water management and the modification of surrounding environments. The loss of pollinators, soil degradation and alteration of microclimates reduce the availability of natural resources essential for production and product quality. The sector depends on stable ecosystems for raw material supply, climate regulation, water filtration and quality, which ensure the continuity and sustainability of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The challenge

Building a data-driven global biodiversity strategy

Bracco had a robust ESG framework but lacked a structured biodiversity monitoring system at site level. Objective ecosystem data was needed to assess impacts. A CSRD, TNFD and GBF-compliant approach was required, with MSA indicators and a scalable methodology replicable across all group facilities.

What we did

From the Ceriano Laghetto pilot to the global network

XNatura responded with a three-year programme: satellite assessment, IoT field monitoring and data integration into a single platform.

In the field

How we did it

From pilot site to global strategy

A three-year programme combining satellite assessment, IoT sensors and an integrated platform to build a biodiversity monitoring network at international scale.

01Evaluation of the Ceriano Laghetto pilot siteThe project started in 2024 with a satellite assessment via Remote Sensing at the Ceriano Laghetto facility in Lombardy. Satellite images, processed with artificial intelligence algorithms, provided a comprehensive overview of biodiversity status across 45.5 hectares: land cover classification, MSA index calculation and identification of priority areas for field monitoring interventions.
02Installation of 14 IoT sensors at Ceriano LaghettoBased on the assessment results, 9 Spectrum bioacoustic sensors were installed for continuous pollinator census and 5 PollyX devices for environmental monitoring. The sensors detect bees, bumblebees and hoverflies by analysing sound waves, building a quantitative baseline on the abundance and diversity of species present in the green areas surrounding the facility.
03Field interventions and data integrationIn 2025 the pilot site is deepened with continuous monitoring, the development of a strategic Action Plan and the implementation of concrete interventions: educational trails, 5 pollinator shelters and informational panels for employee engagement. All data flows into the XNatura Environmental Platform with biodiversity, microclimate and environmental risk KPIs.
04From 1 to 8 sites across 2 continentsThe methodology developed at Ceriano Laghetto is being replicated across 7 new sites: Milan HQ, Colleretto Giacosa, Torviscosa, Geneva, Singen, Heerlen and Montreal. The goal is to build an integrated biodiversity protection strategy at global scale, with satellite assessment and a centralised platform for all Bracco Group facilities.

What the data says

From monitoring to global strategy

49 floristic species were surveyed and 25 at-risk species identified in the monitored area, providing a solid quantitative baseline for defining priority interventions. The collected data is compliant with TNFD and CSRD frameworks and supports Bracco Imaging's ESG reporting, which achieved the EcoVadis platinum medal with an environmental score of 91/100. The Ceriano Laghetto methodology is now being replicated across the other 7 Group sites on 2 continents.

Monitoring in action

Key sections of the XNatura Environmental Platform dedicated to Bracco sites.

Site visualizationInteractive map of 49 global sites with environmental indicators, MSA index and biodiversity status for each location.

Temperature and risksLand surface temperature, aridity, hydrogeological risk and microclimatic parameters of the Ceriano Laghetto site and surrounding areas.

Hydrogeological RiskHydrogeological risk analysis of the area: landslides, erosion, floods and site vulnerability assessment.

Spectrum CensusData from Spectrum bioacoustic sensors: census of Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, with abundance and diversity analysis over time.

The platform

Access the XNatura Environmental Platform

The platform with which Bracco monitors biodiversity, microclimate and environmental risks across 8 production sites on 2 continents.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What was the environmental challenge at Bracco?

Pharmaceuticals depend on nature, but impact its ecosystem services. The pharmaceutical sector impacts biodiversity primarily through the extraction and use of raw materials, water management and the modification of surrounding environments. The loss of pollinators, soil degradation and alteration of microclimates reduce the availability of natural resources essential for production and product quality. The sector depends on stable ecosystems for raw material supply, climate regulation, water filtration and quality, which ensure the continuity and sustainability of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

What method did XNatura use at Bracco?

A three-year programme combining satellite assessment, IoT sensors and an integrated platform to build a biodiversity monitoring network at international scale.

What data came out of the Bracco project?

What access does Bracco have to the XNatura platform now?

The platform with which Bracco monitors biodiversity, microclimate and environmental risks across 8 production sites on 2 continents.

Want to monitor biodiversity at your industrial sites?

XNatura supports industrial companies in monitoring biodiversity at global scale, with satellite assessment, IoT sensors and a platform compliant with major reporting standards, from CSRD to TNFD.

Want to monitor biodiversity at your industrial sites?

XNatura supports industrial companies in monitoring biodiversity at global scale, with satellite assessment, IoT sensors and a platform compliant with major reporting standards, from CSRD to TNFD.

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