The goal of climate neutrality by 2050 set by the European Union also poses the business world to rethink the economic and cultural paradigms adopted so far. A transition that, beyond regulations, represents an imperative and an opportunity. Imperative because in the coming months and years all companies will be called upon to address the issue of climate neutrality, opportunity because the investment in sustainability will have an important implication in economic terms: according to the Drawdown study, the return from a complete decarbonization of the Earth will be 74 trillion dollars: for every trillion invested, over three will be returned.
For these reasons, five SMEs in Emilia-Romagna have chosen to embark on a path towards decarbonization through DECARB, the project promoted by Piccola Industria di Confindustria Emilia-Romagna, which aims to contribute to the goal of zero emissions included by the region in the Labour and Climate Pact.
In this path of emissions reduction, companies are guided by Nativa, chosen as Sustainability Advisor of the project. The framework of reference is the Climate Neutrality Program, created by Nativa to support companies in the path towards decarbonization and based on three key actions: the dissemination of basic skills on issues of climate neutrality, the analysis of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and the identification of the improvement plan to achieve the reduction targets.
The five companies are also working together to address both common aspects on the issue and those relevant to their respective sectors, in order to join efforts through a sharing of ideas and solutions. An interesting meeting of experiences, witnessed by the heterogeneity of the sectors they belong to: After Glass S.p.A. of Parma, deals with glass decoration in particular in the perfumery and cosmetics sectors; Carlo Riccò F.lli S.p.A. of Correggio (Reggio Emilia) is a chemical company that produces unsaturated polyester resins; Delicius Rizzoli S. p.A. of San Polo di Torrile (Parma) produces and markets preserved fish products, in particular sardines; F.A.M.A.R. S.r.l. of Ferrara, is specialized in the design and production of luxury clothing; MEBA Sas of Podenzano (Piacenza) produces and develops raw materials for buttons and accessories for high fashion.
A way of working in line with what is required by the international objectives to achieve a close collaboration between the different actors of the supply chain is required in order to accelerate as much as possible the transformation towards the common goal of neutrality.
The initiative is realized in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo.
All companies are called upon to assume a role of environmental responsibility and become protagonists of the ecological transition. It is a challenge but also an opportunity: companies that have already made strong sustainable investments have a competitive advantage towards the market, towards the financial world and in general towards clients, suppliers and society in general. For this reason, in Emilia-Romagna we have launched the experimental project DECARB, which concretely helps SMEs to understand their impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and to develop strategies to reduce them. Collaboration between companies is essential to spread the green culture, increasingly appreciated by consumers and business partners, and to plan new investments in this direction.Giovanni Baroni, President Piccola Industria di Confindustria Emilia-Romagna
Environmental sustainability and ecological transition are imperative aspects, not only from an ethical point of view, but also for the growth and competitiveness of companies. With this project, the SME system of Emilia-Romagna demonstrates its sensitivity and responsiveness in this phase of profound and rapid transformation. Intesa Sanpaolo could not but once again stand by local businesses, in line with the sustainability strategy pursued by the Group to support the ecological transition of the production system with targeted resources and services.Stefania Bergamaschi, Business Director Emilia-Romagna and Marche of Intesa Sanpaolo