Sammontana becomes a B Corp - Interview with Chiara Di Cesare

After a three-year evolution process, Sammontana has become a B Corp with a score of 94.1 points. We interviewed Chiara Di Cesare, Head of Sustainability and Impact at Sammontana, to find out what this achievement means for the company and its evolution.

Hi Chiara! The process of becoming a B Corp required commitment and long-term vision. Why did you choose to undertake it? What challenges did you encounter? Did it help accelerate your evolution? How?

The journey to becoming a B Corp is the result of the long-term vision inherent in a family business. The Bagnoli family created Sammontana to give their children a future, and today Sammontana wants to continue to guarantee a future not only for its own children, but for all present and future generations. A vision of this kind is not based solely on economic results, but must and wants to improve the local area, the environment, and society, without which the future is not possible. The decision to amend the articles of association and become a Benefit Corporation last year was a first and natural step in realizing this commitment. Starting the B Corp journey is a further consolidation of this commitment.

The challenges we encountered along the way were many and complex. The pandemic and the war in Ukraine, for example, have had a significant impact on our operations, leading to logistical difficulties and increased costs, but we did not want to slow down a process that was now decided and shared throughout the company.

Ultimately, this process has accelerated our evolution, not only from an operational point of view, but also culturally, strengthening our commitment to people, the environment, and future generations.

One of the milestones on your sustainability journey, as we have already mentioned, was the transformation into a Benefit Corporation. How has your sustainability governance changed since then? How does it contribute to spreading a new culture within the company? Can you give us some examples?

The transformation into a Benefit Corporation has led to a significant evolution in our sustainability governance. We have structured governance in such a way that sustainability permeates every area of the company, involving not only top management but also all organizational levels. Managers play a crucial role, as they are the main actors in driving the integration of sustainability principles into daily decisions and business processes. However, alongside them, another key element is represented by the “Ambassadors of Smiles.” These are employees from all areas of the company, chosen for their attitude towards the common good and service, who are committed to positively influencing the environment in which they operate.

Their task is to spread and bring to life the values of sustainability in every interaction and project, helping to build a corporate culture that is not limited to being “sustainable” in the traditional sense of the term, but makes sustainability an integral part of every process. For example, ambassadors promote initiatives aimed at raising awareness among colleagues on environmental or social issues and encourage the integration of responsible behavior in all operational phases. In this way, sustainability becomes a daily reality, not just a goal to be achieved, but a shared culture that guides the company into the future.

B Corp is not a goal: it means always looking ahead. What aspects do you want to improve in the coming years? And now that the group has been enriched by the integration of Investindustrial and FDA Group, how will you align sustainability strategies in the new Sammontana Italia structure?

As mentioned, for Sammontana, ensuring a sustainable future is a prerequisite for the company's very existence. Our gaze is always projected forward. In the coming years, we want this “regenerative cell” within the company to continue to produce a natural, pervasive cultural contamination, further integrating sustainability into every business process and consolidating our commitment to the common good.

To this end, we have structured a governance system that works like a finely meshed network. The B Corp Steering Committee, which will have primary responsibility for guiding this process, will report periodically to the Board of Directors of the new organization and to the Operating Board. Investindustrial, already B Corp certified and part of our Board of Directors, will bring its experience and commitment to promoting the alignment of sustainability strategies. We have planned regular meetings to constantly monitor progress and ensure that all initiatives are geared towards achieving common goals.

At the same time, the Technical Committees will be involved in more operational decisions, while the objectives of the Benefit Corporations will be monitored by working groups composed of Smile Ambassadors, who will continue to play a key role in spreading a culture of sustainability within the company. In addition, the integration of new Ambassadors from the FDA Group will help consolidate an increasingly broad network aligned towards a single major goal: B Corp certification for the entire group by 2027. With this strengthened governance and shared commitment, we are confident that we can accelerate our journey towards a more sustainable future for all.

Photo credits: Sammontana