Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) accounts report on an economic sector that generates goods and services produced for environmental protection or the management of natural resources.
Products for environmental protection prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment. Examples are electric vehicles, catalysts and filters to decrease pollutant emissions, wastewater and waste treatment services, noise insulation works or restoration of degraded habitats.
Products for resource management safeguard the stock of natural resources against depletion. Examples are renewable energy production, energy-efficient and passive buildings, seawater desalinization or rainwater recovery, and materials recovery.
EGSS accounts provide data on output and export of environmental goods and services and on the value added of and employment in the environmental goods and services sector.
In addition, the data contain information on investments for climate change mitigation (CCM). Those investments aim at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases either by source or enhancing the removal from the atmosphere.
EGSS and CCM data are compiled following the statistical concepts and definitions set out in the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 – Central Framework.
3.2. Classification system
Data are reported cross-classified by 1) the type of environmental purpose and 2) economic activity. The environmental activities are classified by purpose according to the classification of environmental purposes (CEP). Economic activity is classified according to the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 (2008).
3.3. Coverage - sector
EGSS comprises a sector of the economy that produces goods and services aimed at environmental protection and resource management (see SEEA CF 2012 chapter 4). Environmental goods and services either reduce environmental pressures or help maintaining the stock of natural resources or they are designed to be cleaner and more resource efficient than conventional products. Environmental goods and services can be produced by corporations, households, governments and non-profit institutions. The list of environmental activities and products has been set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1769 of 26 June 2024 updating the indicative compendium of environmental goods and services and of economic activities
CCM investments comprise a sub-sector of the EGSS.Activities and products beyond the scope of the CEP are not covered in the Italian data reporting for 2025.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Environmental Goods and Service Sector:
EGSS has the same system boundaries as the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and consists of all environmental products within this production boundary. ESA defines production as the activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses input of labour, capital, goods and services to produce output of goods and services.
Only goods and services produced for environmental purposes are included in the scope of the environmental goods and services sector.
'Environmental purpose' means that a good or service helps either 1) preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment or 2) preserving and maintaining the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion.
The EGSS statistics aim at compiling data for the following economic variables:
Output: consists of products that become available for use outside of the producer unit, any goods and services produced for own final use and goods that remain in the inventories at the end of the period in which they are produced. Apart from market output, output for own final use and non-market output, EGSS statistics also include ancillary output, comprising output intended for use within an enterprise.
Market output is to be valued at basic prices, that is, the prices receivable by the producer from the purchaser minus taxes and plus subsidies on products. Output for own final use is to be valued at basic prices of similar products sold on the market or by the total costs of production. Non-market output is to be estimated by the total costs of production. Ancillary output is measured as a total of recurrent production costs (such as intermediate consumption, compensation of employees and consumption of fixed capital) incurred by enterprises to: 1) reduce environmental pressures arising from their production process or 2) produce environmental goods or services not intended for use outside the enterprise, but instead supporting other (non-environmental) activities undertaken within the enterprise (e.g. waste management services carried out in-house). For market producers, a mark-up for net operating surplus is added to the value of the EGSS ancillary output. Gross Value Added: represents the contribution made by the production of environmental goods and services to GDP. It is the difference between the value of the output and intermediate consumption.
Employment: is measured in full-time equivalent jobs engaged in the production of output of environmental goods and services. Full-time equivalent is defined as total hours worked divided by the average annual working hours in a full-time job.
Exports: consist of sales, barter, gifts, or grants, of environmental goods and services from residents to non-residents.
Investments for climate change mitigation:
The reporting covers the capital expenditure to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by source or enhance their removal from the atmosphere by sinks.
Capital expenditure includes:
For activities and products covered by the CEP:
Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF – ESA 2010 code: P51g) for climate change mitigation related characteristic activities (i.e. GFCF for the production of specific services related to climate change mitigation)
GFCF in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation, unless they are already included in GFCF by CCM (characteristic) activities
and final consumption (ESA 2010 code: P3) in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation.
For activities and products relevant for CCM but outside the scope of CEP (not included in the Italian 2025 data reporting):
GFCF for the production of nuclear energy and for R&D related to nuclear energy
GFCF for the transmission and distribution of energy, in particular electricity
GFCF for the production of low carbon transport activities
GFCF in transport infrastructure for low carbon transport activities.
Where:
GFCF for climate change mitigation characteristic activities is broken down by corporations, government and households together with non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH).
GFCF for specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods, mitigating climate change, is broken down by corporations, government and households together with NPISH.
final consumption of specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods, mitigating climate change, is broken down by government and households together with NPISH.
3.5. Statistical unit
Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community describes the different statistical units of the production system.
The recommended statistical unit for the data collection and compilation of private corporations is the establishment. For general government, households and NPISH, the recommendation is to use institutional units and groupings of units as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units.
3.7. Reference area
Italy
3.8. Coverage - Time
EGSS and CCM data are currently available for 2016-2023.
3.9. Base period
Not requested for this metadata collection.
Output, gross value added, exports and CCM investments are measured in million units of national currency. Employment is measured in full time equivalents (i.e., full time equivalent jobs).
The reference period for EGSS and CCM data is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
EGSS accounts and CCM investments are compiled and reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts (EEEA).
The EEEA follow internationally agreed concepts and definitions set out in the SEEA Central Framework (2012), the international statistical standard adopted by the UN Statistical Commission. They present data in a way that is compatible with National Accounts (ESA, 2010).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Information collected is subject to professional secrecy (Article 8 of Legislative Decree No. 322/1989) and statistical confidentiality (Article 9 of Legislative Decree No. 322/1989). With reference to the processing of personal data it is subject to:
Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council no. 679/2016, concerning the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC, in force since 25 May 2018;
Legislative Decree 196/2003 (Ethical code of conduct concerning the protection of personal data), as amended and supplemented by the Legislative Decree 10 August 2018 101 concerning the provisions for the adaptation of the national legislation to the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and rules to the free movement of such data (the so‐called ‘GDPR regulation’).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
There is no dataset-specific rule.
8.1. Release calendar
January 2026
8.2. Release calendar access
The national release calendar for EGSS and CCM data is not accessible to the public
8.3. Release policy - user access
Access to non disseminated EGSS and CCM data can be provided mainly for research purposes under request and is subject to case by case evaluation.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The release of EGSS and CCM data is announced on the main page of the Istat website (Italian section only) by means of a 'news' document. It includes information on the definition of environmental goods and services, climate change mitigation investments, reference period, main data sources.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
EGSS data are regularly published in the Istat data warehouse. CCM data will be published for the first time in January 2026.
A summary of main results of the 2014-2018 EGSS time series is available in the Scientific Poster prepared for the 14th national Conference of Statistics:
A detailed analysis of EGSS Italian data 2014-2018 including a comparison with Eu aggregates is available in Italian only in:
Battellini, F., Piscitelli, I., Tudini A. 2021. 'I beni e servizi ambientali',
Femia A., Tudini A. (editors). “Economia e ambiente. Una lettura integrata”.
No detailed description of the national methodology exists
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
National quality reports are not available
11.1. Quality assurance
Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS and CCM estimates with broader national accounts aggregates
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Procedures and processes are regularly updated.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not applicable
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable
12.3. Completeness
EGSS Italian data covers almost all indicative compendium products. Estimates do not cover yet the indicative compendium products listed below, entirely or partially (i.e. for some CEP items of the operational list).
Septic tanks Tubes and pipes for wastewater treatment plants as well as for water management
Further products resulting from the updating of the indicative compendium by Regulation (EU) 2015/2174, are not yet covered by EGSS Italian data, i.e:
Cleaner chemical products: lubricants, paints and varnishes, soil conditioners, detergents and soaps, fertilizers and insecticides, glues and other adhesives free of solvents, cosmetics
Electricity by Pumped-storage Hydropower plants, including equipment (and installation)
Equipment (and installation) of Combined Heat Plants
Energy recovery from waste incineration
Bicycle roads and lanes
Installation of catchment for pollutant run-offs and leaks
Anti-erosion walls
Dissemination and information services for the purpose of environmental protection and resource management: Organisation of congresses, seminars and other similar events
Software specifically developed for environmental protection or resource management
Engineering services for remediation activities
Engineering and architectural services for materials recovery projects
Technical inspection services for monitoring and prevention of pollution in all its forms: Analysis of gases emitted by domestic boilers
Technical inspection services for monitoring and prevention of pollution in all its forms: Monitory services for air quality and other
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
98% of total products of the operational list.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS and CCM estimates with broader national accounts aggregates, ensuring the overall quality of the data reported.
13.2. Sampling error
EGSS accounts and CCM investments are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3. Non-sampling error
EGSS accounts and CCM investments are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
14.1. Timeliness
First EGSS and CCM estimates are available 22 months after the reference period
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
First EGSS and CCM estimates are available 22 months after the reference period. The October 2025 data delivery covers EGSS estimates up to the year 2023.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Generally speaking final EGSS estimates are available 34 months after the reference period. However, changes can occur due to national accounts revisions, inclusion of additional IC products covered, methodological revisions.
14.2. Punctuality
The data were delivered to Eurostat on 31st October 2025.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Zero.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Very few products from the indicative compendium in Regulation (EU) 2015/2174 are not covered from the Italian EGSS account. See section 12.3.
No products or activities beyond those mentioned in the indicative compendium are included in the Italian EGSS account.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
EGSS Italian data covers almost all indicative compendium products. Estimates do not cover yet the indicative compendium products listed below, entirely or partially.
IC 14) Septic tanks IC 19) Tubes and pipes for wastewater treatment plants as well as for water management
Further products resulting from the updating of the indicative compendium by Regulation (EU) 2015/2174, are not yet covered by EGSS Italian data, i.e:
Cleaner chemical products: lubricants, paints and varnishes, soil conditioners, detergents and soaps, fertilizers and insecticides, glues and other adhesives free of solvents, cosmetics
Electricity by Pumped-storage Hydropower plants, including equipment (and installation)
Equipment (and installation) of Combined Heat Plants
Energy recovery from waste incineration
Bicycle roads and lanes
Installation of catchment for pollutant run-offs and leaks
Anti-erosion walls
Dissemination and information services for the purpose of environmental protection and resource management: Organisation of congresses, seminars and other similar events
Software specifically developed for environmental protection or resource management
Engineering services for remediation activities
Engineering and architectural services for materials recovery projects
Technical inspection services for monitoring and prevention of pollution in all its forms: Analysis of gases emitted by domestic boilers
Technical inspection services for monitoring and prevention of pollution in all its forms: Monitory services for air quality and other
See also section 12.3
15.1.3. Comparability - geographical - products not present in Indicative compendium - included
There are not products other than those indicated in the indicative compedium.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The calculation process does not cause break in time series.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
EGSS: The calculation process does not cause break in time series
CCM investments: The calculation process does not cause break in time series
15.2.2. Comparability - over time detailed
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
EGSS; please see following sub-chapters
CCM investments: please see following sub-chapters
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
EGSS account adn CCM investment data are consistent with national accounts (NA)
NA data are in many cases the main data source for the estimates; in all cases the NA reference data at the most detailed available level are part of the estimate procedure.
Use of the same data sources ensures consistency between EPEA and EGSS/CCM investments.
15.3.4. Coherence - other statistics
15.4. Coherence - internal
EGSS: Output estimates provide the basis for GVA, employment and export estimates
CCM investments: data are internally consistent
1.5 full time equivalent for this data delivery
16.1. Cost and Burden - other accounts
Yes, they are comparable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Procedures and processes are regularly updated; major revisions and updates occur during the national accounts general revisions. The revision policy for EGSS and CCM investment data is as follows: update of t-3 and t-2 data in every data transmission due to the ordinary revisions of NA data sources. In addition, the entire time series may be updated on the occasion of national accounts other than ordinary revisions and due to methodological improvements.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The main revisions concern:
methodological improvements in the integration process of Istat SBS surveys on economic accounts of enterprises (section on environmental protection expenditures), impacting both on market and ancillary production for the years 2016-2022
minor calculation adjustments
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
The magnitude of the revision for 2022 is around -1.6 %.
17.2.2. Status of data
Procedures and processes are regularly updated; major revisions and updates occur during the national accounts general revisions. The revision policy for EGSS/CCM investment data is as follows: update of t-3 and t-2 data in every data transmission due to the ordinary revisions of NA data sources. In addition, the entire time series may be updated on the occasion of national accounts other than ordinary revisions and due to methodological improvements.
See section 17.1
18.1. Source data
Main sources used for EGSS variable MARKET OUTPUT are:
National accounts - agriculture
National accounts - supply tables
National accounts - use tables
National accounts - gross fixed capital formation
Istat surveys on Economic and financial accounts of enterprises - current expenditure for environmental protection; sections other than environmental protection expenditure: investments, expenditure for repair and maintenance, other
PRODCOM Statistics
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA)
Vehicles inspection register
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register
Students enrolled in University courses
Individual companies' financial, economic and environmental accounts
Industrial Associations of producers of equipment for energy production from renewable sources - reports
Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) - Statistics
Census of Non profit institutions
Data on Nzeb built (ENEA)
National accounts - costs of construction of buildings
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement
Main sources used for EGSS variable OUTPUT (other than market) are:
General Government expenditure by function - detailed working level data; General Government accounts - detailed working level data (non market output);
Ad hoc survey on General Government vehicles inspection (non market output);
Financial and economic accounts of individual Institutes/Agencies;
Survey on Economic and financial accounts of large enterprises data and on Small and Medium Enterprises (ancillary environmental protection output);
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement (ancillary output)
Main sources used for EGSS variable of which EXPORTS are: national accounts export data by product
Main sources used for EGSS variable VALUE ADDED are: national accounts value added data by economic activity
Main sources used for EGSS variable EMPLOYMENT are: national accounts data on FTE
Main sources used for EGSS variable CCM INVESTMENTS are:
For activities and products covered by the CEP:
Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF – ESA 2010 code: P51g) for climate change mitigation related characteristic activities (i.e. GFCF for the production of specific services related to climate change mitigation): national accounts GFCF matrices
GFCF and final consumption (ESA 2010 code: P3) in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation:
Egss output and export data for individual CCM products together wih national accounts GFCF and households' consumption matrices.
specific data sources on investments in technologies for the production of renewable energy
Activities and products relevant for CCM but outside the scope of CEP are not included in the Italian data reporting in 2025.
18.1.1. Source data - detailed - environmental accounts
EGSS: Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA)
CCM investments: none
18.1.2. Source data - detailed - other statistics
EGSS: PRODCOM statistics
AGRICULTURE statistic.
RENEWABLE ENERGY STATISTICS.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY STATISTICS.
WATER STATISTICS.
CCM investments:
RENEWABLE ENERGY STATISTICS.
18.1.3. Source data - survey
EGSS: Istat does not run a dedicated survey for EGSS purposes. However, in the case of noise abatement and General Government vehicles inspection, Istat runs two specific annual data collections for EGSS purposes. Respondents for noise abatement are market and non market companies that manage roads and motorways in Italy. The Interior Ministry and the Carabinieri Corps are the respondents for General Government vehicles inspection.
CCM investments: no dedicated survey for CCM investments purposes
18.1.4. Source data - detailed - other macro economic data (trade, VAT etc.)
EGSS:
Vehicles inspection register.
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register.
List of Organic Certification Bodies provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
CCM investments: no other specific data sources
18.2. Frequency of data collection
National Accounts data: t+15 (preliminary) t+21 (final)
Istat surveys on Economic and financial accounts of enterprises: t+19
PRODCOM Statistics: t+16
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA): t+21
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register: t+15
Census of Non profit institutions: t+18 (preliminary) t+22 (final)
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement: t+12
General Government expenditure by function: t+21
18.3. Data collection
Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) - Statistics : web
Enterprises balance sheets and reports: web
ESCO reports: web
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement
Vehicles inspection register
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register
Students enrolled in University courses
Ad hoc survey on General Government vehicles inspection
18.4. Data validation
Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS/CCM investments estimates with broader national accounts aggregates.
18.5. Data compilation
See section below
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.5.2. Data compilation - by variable and type of output
EGSS
A combination of supply side and demand side estimation methods is used. The list below provides details grouping the indicative compendium (IC) products by main source used and explaining whether the source is used for supply or demand side estimates.
MARKET OUTPUT
National accounts (agriculture sector) combined with agriculture statistics --> supply side estimate for EGSS indicative compendium (IC) products: 1. Organic agricultural (plant and livestock) products and 2. Support services for crop production; Support services for animal production; 5 - Organic aquaculture products; 6 - Supporting services to organic aquaculture;
National accounts - supply tables (corporations) --> supply side estimate for EGSS IC products: 7 - Rehabilitation of mining sites services, 9 - Drainage water capturing services to prevent groundwater contamination; 50 - Sewerage services; 51 - Collection, treatment and disposal services for non-hazardous and hazardous waste, 52 - Nuclear waste treatment and disposal services, 53 - Materials recovery services (waste statistics are also used to split total supply by CEPA), 54 - Secondary raw materials, 55 - Remediation and clean-up services for soil and groundwater, 56 - Remediation and clean-up services for surface water, 57 - 'Remediation and clean-up services for air, 58 - Other remediation and specialised pollution and control services, 76, Public litter and collection of garbage from the street;
National accounts - supply tables (corporations) combined with water statistics --> supply side estimate for EGSS IC products:49 - Desalinated water and collection of rainwater; maintenance of water mains for reducing water losses
National accounts - use tables and supply tables --> demand side estimate for EGSS IC product 73 - Research and Development
NPISH Census (combined with National Accounts supply tables): 79 - Environmental services furnished by membership organisations; 80 - Nature reserve services including wildlife preservation
National accounts - gross fixed capital formation --> demand side estimate for EGSS IC products: 17 - Vehicles for wastewater treatment, vehicles for sewer cleaning, trucks for waste collection; 21 - Bins, boxes, containers and other receptables for storing and transporting waste; 23 - Incinerators and machinery for waste treatment (e.g. used at landfilling sites); 24 - Lead containers for radioactive waste (for CEPA3), 62 - Wastewater treatment plants and sewage systems; 63 - Waste treatment plants.
SBS - current expenditure for the purchase of external EP services --> demand side estimate for EGSS IC products: 47 - Maintenance, repair and installation services of environmental products (maintenance only), 69 - Architectural services for water, wastewater and waste management projects, 70 - Engineering services for water and wastewater management projects, 71 - Engineering services for waste management projects, 74 - Environmental consulting services, 78 - Training services in environmental protection and resource management (combined with data on students enrolled in University courses on EP or RM as well as national accounts supply table).
SBS - data for repair and maintenance of plants and equipment by enterprises --> demand side estimates for IC product 25 and 61 (CReMA 10)
SBS data on output of selected enterprises: 74) Environmental consulting services for CEPA4
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA quantities multiplied by a price estimated for EGSS purposes) --> supply side estimate for EGSS IC products 31 - Biofuels; 32 - Charcoal when complying with sustainability measures; 48 - Electricity, gas and heat from renewable sources.
PRODCOM Statistics (combined with national accounts supply tables and in many cases with specific indicators) --> supply side estimate for EGSS IC products:10 - Electric and more resource efficient transport equipment; 11. Exhaust pipes and their parts (also particles filters); 12 - Instruments, machinery and apparatus for analysis of pollutants; 13 - Instruments, machinery and apparatus for filtering or purifying gases and liquid;15 - Perforated buckets and similar articles used to filter water at the entrance to drains; 16 - Pumps for use in wastewater treatment; 20 - Sacks and bags for replacing plastic bags, 22 - Boards, blocks and similar articles of vegetable fibre, straw or wood waste, agglomerated with mineral binders; 27 - wood fired boilers; 29 - Specific equipment for the production of energy from renewable sources: hydraulic turbines and water wheels; 30 - Specific equipment for the production of energy from renewable sources: wind turbines; 33 - Goods for thermal and noise insulation mainly in buildings: cork products; 34 - Goods for thermal and noise insulation mainly in buildings: windows with three insulation layers; 35 - Goods for thermal and noise insulation mainly in buildings: insulation materials for facades, roofs, and other elements of buildings such as materials made of glass fibre, rock wool, cellulose, polymers and polyurethane and others; 36 - Reconditioned wooden containers; - 37 Specific equipment produced for environmental protection and resource management products: thermostats for heating and cooling regulation ; 38 - thermostatic valves; 40 - Specific equipment produced for environmental protection and resource management products: condensing boilers; 42 - Specific equipment produced for environmental protection and resource management products: other; 43 - Discharge lamps as low pressure lamps (e.g. compact fluorescent lamps) ; 44 - Reclaimed rubber in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip, 46 - Machinery for metal recovery (prodcom combined with national accounts investments);
Vehicles inspection register combined with general government technical inspection services: --> combined supply and demand side estimate for product 72 - Technical inspection services of road transport vehicles regarding air emissions
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register : --> 74 - Environmental consulting services (CEPA 7,8,9) (together with SBS current expenditure)
Industrial associations' data: --> supply side estimate for product 39 - Specific equipment produced for environmental protection and resource management products: heat pumps; 40 - Specific equipment produced for environmental protection and resource management products: condensing boilers (in combination with prodcom data on boilers); 41 - solar water heaters; 45 - Bio-plastic sacks and bags (in combination with Prodcom)
Renewable energy and energy efficiency statistics --> demand side estimate for products 28 - Specific equipment for the production of energy from renewable sources: solar panels and photovoltaic cells; 47 - Maintenance, repair and installation services of environmental products; 60 - Energetic refurbishment of existing buildings; 64 - Renewable energy power plants ; 65 - Installation of photovoltaic panels.
Companies' financial report or other direct information: 24 - Lead containers for radioactive waste; 66- Noise insulation works (ad hoc survey);
data on Nzeb provided by ENEA and National Accounts costs of construction of buildings: --> 59 Low energy consumption and passive buildings;
data on electric motorbikes provided by ANCMA --> 10 Electric and more resource efficient transport equipment.
NON MARKET OUTPUT
National accounts - General government accounts combined with General government expenditure by function --> supply side estimate for EGSS IC products:
3 - Other wood when complying with sustainability measures; 50 - Sewerage services; 53 - Materials recovery services; 58 - Remediation and clean-up services for soil and groundwater
73 - R&D services for environmental or resource management; 76 - Public litter and collection of garbage from the street; 77- Administration for environmental protection and resource management purposes
Vehicles inspection register combined with survey on general government technical inspection services: --> combined supply and demand side estimate for product 72 - Technical inspection services of road transport vehicles regarding air emissions
General government output in National accounts and statistics on Students enrolled in University courses: --> supply side estimate for EP and RM training services
ANCILLARY OUTPUT
SBS - total expenditure minus expenditure for the purchase of external EP services --> demand side estimate for ancillary output of : 47 - Maintenance, repair and installation services of environmental products; 50 - Sewerage services; 51 - Collection, treatment and disposal services for non-hazardous and hazardous waste; 55 - Remediation and clean-up services for soil and groundwater, 56 - Remediation and clean-up services for surface water, 57 - 'Remediation and clean-up services for air, 58 - Other remediation and specialised pollution and control service; 66- Noise insulation works; 78 - Training services in environmental protection and resource management
use table --> demand side estimate for 53 - Materials recovery services
OWN ACCOUNT OUTPUT
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA): --> supply side estimate for renewable energy
National accounts - agriculture : --> supply side estimate for organic agriculture
EXPORT
For IC products that are 100% within the EGSS scope and are estimated using PRODCOM as data source (see above) exports are calculated by applying the ratio (Combined Nomenclature 8-digit product)/(national accounts product classification) to national accounts exports. For other IC products, exports estimates by NACE industry and CEPA are obtained by multiplying the EGSS output by CEPA and product by the ratio of exports to output in national accounts. The distribution by NACE is the same as that of EGSS output in the same product and CEPA/CREMA.
VALUE ADDED
Value added estimates by NACE industry and CEPA/CReMA are obtained by multiplying the EGSS output cross classified by NACE and CEPA/CReMA by the NACE-specific ratio of gross value added to output derived from National Accounts.
EMPLOYMENT
FTE estimates by NACE industry and CEPA are obtained by multiplying the EGSS output by NACE and CEPA by the NACE-specific ratio of FTE to output derived from National Accounts.
CCM investments
For CCM investments covering CEP see section 18.1 . Out of CEP scope data are not included in the 2025 data delivered by Italy
18.5.3. Data compilation - by NACE
For EGSS the breakdown by NACE is based on the classification of the producer of EGSS goods and activities.
FOR CCM investments the breakdown between private corporations (and by NACE within corporations), General Government, Households and NPISH is based in most cases on shares calculated from the corresponding products of NA use tables.
18.5.4. Data compilation – CReMA 13B memo item
The estimate of the extracost of Nearly zero energy buildings is included in the questionnaire. This item has been estimated using two different sources of information:
the cost of construction of buildings provided by CRESME, a research institute investigating the construction sector.
the extracost of Nearly zero energy buildings estimated by ENEA, the research institute entitled of registering data on Nzeb. This estimate is reported in the National Plan for Nzeb included in the national law (decreto interministeriale) "Piano per l'incremento degli edifizi a energia quasi zero" (Plan for increasing NZEBs) dated 19 june 2017.
The ratio between the two provides the percentage of extracost reported in the questionnaire. It is estimated 8.4%.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested for this metadata collection.
The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) accounts report on an economic sector that generates goods and services produced for environmental protection or the management of natural resources.
Products for environmental protection prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment. Examples are electric vehicles, catalysts and filters to decrease pollutant emissions, wastewater and waste treatment services, noise insulation works or restoration of degraded habitats.
Products for resource management safeguard the stock of natural resources against depletion. Examples are renewable energy production, energy-efficient and passive buildings, seawater desalinization or rainwater recovery, and materials recovery.
EGSS accounts provide data on output and export of environmental goods and services and on the value added of and employment in the environmental goods and services sector.
In addition, the data contain information on investments for climate change mitigation (CCM). Those investments aim at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases either by source or enhancing the removal from the atmosphere.
EGSS and CCM data are compiled following the statistical concepts and definitions set out in the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 – Central Framework.
31 October 2025
Environmental Goods and Service Sector:
EGSS has the same system boundaries as the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and consists of all environmental products within this production boundary. ESA defines production as the activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses input of labour, capital, goods and services to produce output of goods and services.
Only goods and services produced for environmental purposes are included in the scope of the environmental goods and services sector.
'Environmental purpose' means that a good or service helps either 1) preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment or 2) preserving and maintaining the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion.
The EGSS statistics aim at compiling data for the following economic variables:
Output: consists of products that become available for use outside of the producer unit, any goods and services produced for own final use and goods that remain in the inventories at the end of the period in which they are produced. Apart from market output, output for own final use and non-market output, EGSS statistics also include ancillary output, comprising output intended for use within an enterprise.
Market output is to be valued at basic prices, that is, the prices receivable by the producer from the purchaser minus taxes and plus subsidies on products. Output for own final use is to be valued at basic prices of similar products sold on the market or by the total costs of production. Non-market output is to be estimated by the total costs of production. Ancillary output is measured as a total of recurrent production costs (such as intermediate consumption, compensation of employees and consumption of fixed capital) incurred by enterprises to: 1) reduce environmental pressures arising from their production process or 2) produce environmental goods or services not intended for use outside the enterprise, but instead supporting other (non-environmental) activities undertaken within the enterprise (e.g. waste management services carried out in-house). For market producers, a mark-up for net operating surplus is added to the value of the EGSS ancillary output. Gross Value Added: represents the contribution made by the production of environmental goods and services to GDP. It is the difference between the value of the output and intermediate consumption.
Employment: is measured in full-time equivalent jobs engaged in the production of output of environmental goods and services. Full-time equivalent is defined as total hours worked divided by the average annual working hours in a full-time job.
Exports: consist of sales, barter, gifts, or grants, of environmental goods and services from residents to non-residents.
Investments for climate change mitigation:
The reporting covers the capital expenditure to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by source or enhance their removal from the atmosphere by sinks.
Capital expenditure includes:
For activities and products covered by the CEP:
Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF – ESA 2010 code: P51g) for climate change mitigation related characteristic activities (i.e. GFCF for the production of specific services related to climate change mitigation)
GFCF in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation, unless they are already included in GFCF by CCM (characteristic) activities
and final consumption (ESA 2010 code: P3) in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation.
For activities and products relevant for CCM but outside the scope of CEP (not included in the Italian 2025 data reporting):
GFCF for the production of nuclear energy and for R&D related to nuclear energy
GFCF for the transmission and distribution of energy, in particular electricity
GFCF for the production of low carbon transport activities
GFCF in transport infrastructure for low carbon transport activities.
Where:
GFCF for climate change mitigation characteristic activities is broken down by corporations, government and households together with non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH).
GFCF for specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods, mitigating climate change, is broken down by corporations, government and households together with NPISH.
final consumption of specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods, mitigating climate change, is broken down by government and households together with NPISH.
Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community describes the different statistical units of the production system.
The recommended statistical unit for the data collection and compilation of private corporations is the establishment. For general government, households and NPISH, the recommendation is to use institutional units and groupings of units as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units.
Italy
The reference period for EGSS and CCM data is the calendar year.
Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS and CCM estimates with broader national accounts aggregates, ensuring the overall quality of the data reported.
Output, gross value added, exports and CCM investments are measured in million units of national currency. Employment is measured in full time equivalents (i.e., full time equivalent jobs).
See section below
Main sources used for EGSS variable MARKET OUTPUT are:
National accounts - agriculture
National accounts - supply tables
National accounts - use tables
National accounts - gross fixed capital formation
Istat surveys on Economic and financial accounts of enterprises - current expenditure for environmental protection; sections other than environmental protection expenditure: investments, expenditure for repair and maintenance, other
PRODCOM Statistics
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA)
Vehicles inspection register
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register
Students enrolled in University courses
Individual companies' financial, economic and environmental accounts
Industrial Associations of producers of equipment for energy production from renewable sources - reports
Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) - Statistics
Census of Non profit institutions
Data on Nzeb built (ENEA)
National accounts - costs of construction of buildings
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement
Main sources used for EGSS variable OUTPUT (other than market) are:
General Government expenditure by function - detailed working level data; General Government accounts - detailed working level data (non market output);
Ad hoc survey on General Government vehicles inspection (non market output);
Financial and economic accounts of individual Institutes/Agencies;
Survey on Economic and financial accounts of large enterprises data and on Small and Medium Enterprises (ancillary environmental protection output);
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement (ancillary output)
Main sources used for EGSS variable of which EXPORTS are: national accounts export data by product
Main sources used for EGSS variable VALUE ADDED are: national accounts value added data by economic activity
Main sources used for EGSS variable EMPLOYMENT are: national accounts data on FTE
Main sources used for EGSS variable CCM INVESTMENTS are:
For activities and products covered by the CEP:
Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF – ESA 2010 code: P51g) for climate change mitigation related characteristic activities (i.e. GFCF for the production of specific services related to climate change mitigation): national accounts GFCF matrices
GFCF and final consumption (ESA 2010 code: P3) in specific and cleaner and resource efficient goods related to climate change mitigation:
Egss output and export data for individual CCM products together wih national accounts GFCF and households' consumption matrices.
specific data sources on investments in technologies for the production of renewable energy
Activities and products relevant for CCM but outside the scope of CEP are not included in the Italian data reporting in 2025.
Annual
First EGSS and CCM estimates are available 22 months after the reference period
Very few products from the indicative compendium in Regulation (EU) 2015/2174 are not covered from the Italian EGSS account. See section 12.3.
No products or activities beyond those mentioned in the indicative compendium are included in the Italian EGSS account.
The calculation process does not cause break in time series.
