JACOPO LASCHETTI - IR & SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
Sustainability as a value of progressive growth
“Sustainability represent the commitment to integrate and conciliate social, environmental and economic aspects in company policies.”
I’m Jacopo, Sustainability Officer of Sesa Group, I’ll tell you about the integration path of ESG criteria into Sesa’s DNA, implementing an environmental sustainability strategy focused on achieving carbon neutrality, in line with the UN Agenda 2030.
Sustainability is a value for Sesa and, at the same time, a strategic driver. A value, above all, because, based on the principles of corporate social responsibility, the company intends to contribute to environmental protection and social progress. But also, a strategic choice, because innovating business models, improving efficiency in the use of resources, reducing environmental impacts is crucial from the point of view of economic competitiveness and productivity.
Sesa has progressively concentrated energies and commitment to improve its own sustainability profile.
Through a process of continuous and proactive involvement of management, employees, Sustainability Team, but also analysts and institutional stakeholders, Sesa has investigated ESG issues and identified priorities for the coming years.
The enhancement of human capital, inclusion, well-being and the involvement of our human resources are essential elements to create sustainable value. Being at the side of people, businesses and communities, sharing growth opportunities with them, is an aspiration that has guided the Group since its establishment and that guides future choices.
In the last period, between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, we have multiplied our efforts and redefined our strategy, our commitment and the focus on sustainability and ESG issues, creating a new ESG plan which develops at 360 degrees around the relevant topics to Sesa’s activity.
Aware that innovative and effective ideas can be developed only through shared and planned work, we decided to immediately involve all company functions and a good number of stakeholders, setting up a Corporate Sustainability Operating Committee.
Our approach
In a first phase, with the collaboration of our top management, we identified and defined the key themes of our ESG strategy. Subsequently, with a relevant team effort, we have declined these themes in a sustainable development plan divided into targets and objectives. With a focus on the desire to eliminate the distances between people and the commitment to contribute to a more sustainable future in all three ESG areas (Environment, Community and Governance). The result was a concrete, measurable and totally integrated program in the Group’s business.
E- Environment
We promote policies that aim to reduce the environmental impact, favoring partners who adopt high environmental and ethical standards, choosing innovative and sustainable transport, reducing waste of resources. “Green” innovations have been introduced to encourage the reduction in the use of plastic and recycling, and a digitisation of document and operational processes to reduce the use of paper. The Group has also undertaken energy saving and sustainability promotion policies with interventions of green buildings renovation. We have also defined a program that aims to enhance our capacity of electricity self-production from renewable sources which, together with procurement from 100% green sources, aims at zeroing our CO2 emissions by 2030.
S- Social
We promote initiatives for gender equality and against all types of discrimination, in order to create a fair and inclusive work environment in which people are able to follow their attitudes and demonstrate their abilities. We are committed to attracting the best talents and enabling them to develop their potential, as well as creating conditions that respect the standards of personal dignity, human rights and equal opportunities, avoiding all kinds of favoritism and concessions. Training and skills enhancement programs are important. We are committed to ensuring the well-being of workers and to preserving the work-life balance thanks to a concrete and extensive welfare program.
G - Governance
Given the desire to operate in an increasingly responsible manner and to integrate sustainability in its business, Sesa has implemented a governance system dedicated to the supervision and management of ESG issues at Group level. In my role as Sustainability Officer, I am responsible for proposing, coordinating and launching ESG projects and initiatives, monitoring the action plans of the various SBUs, also in the light of external best practices, examining information and requests from stakeholders on sustainability issues and coordinate the preparation of the Group’s Annual Integrated Report. A Sustainability Committee was also appointed, composed by Independent Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of Sesa, who is directly involved in sustainability issues. The Committee, with the support of the Sustainability Officer, assists the Board of Directors in the assessments and decisions relating to sustainability issues and its interaction with all stakeholders, examining the scenarios for the preparation of the strategic plan. Aware of the importance of having a pro-active role in the management of ESG issues concerning the three dimensions of sustainable development (People, Environment and Community), Sesa promotes the integration of ESG principles in its everyday choices, business practices, investments and in the relationships with all of stakeholders.
HUMAN RESOURCES
How we train our human resources
The Group’s ability to attract talented people is also reflected in the growth of the workforce recorded during the last fiscal year, with a positive balance of 607 new hires.
D&I
Diversity and inclusion
We believe the protection of diversity is fundamental and we are committed to offering equal opportunities of development and growth to our human capital starting from the personnel selection phase.
