(Finance) – The last stage of Budget Oscar Roadshow 2024held in Naples, saw the announcement of the launch of the Academy on the Sustainable Reportingan innovative project aimed at supporting companies in the challenge of transparent and responsible reporting. The announcement was made Daniela Bianchi, general secretary of Ferpiwho declared: “From this final stage of the Roadshow, we want to extend the pace and combine the testimony with concrete support for companies, creating an Academy that offers training and advanced skills on the subject of sustainability and responsible communication”.
The project, which will come to life in 2025, will be enriched by in-depth technical sessionsinvolving the main reference figures on the subject.
“In companies – he argued Eraldo Turi, president of the Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Naples – we are increasingly seeing a growing body of work that combines environmental and social sustainability with economic sustainability. Not only an ethical choice, but also a strategic choice that allows companies to optimize operating costs and strengthen their competitiveness on the market. This is the right way to relaunch the country’s economy.”
Also presented on this occasion was the first Commission on Sustainability of the Order of Journalists of Campania, chaired by Vanni Fondi who commented as follows: “I am very proud of the work of the commission which is at the service of all colleagues so that they can know the value of this concept at 360 degrees. A service commission therefore, for better information that looks to the future” .
And from Elena Salzano, Ferpi National Councilor, comes the proposal for a memorandum of understanding with the Order of Journalists “to establish a recognition for those newspapers that make the sustainability of language a founding value. The synergy between companies, which are committed to investing only where it is deserved, and the fundamental role of readers, free to dedicate their time to ethical publications, can guarantee a virtuous circuit of responsible information. Just like the Budget Oscar, this approach will stimulate people to do and communicate better, ensuring quality for the profession”.
The day entitled “The value of reporting – Transparency in the times of CSRD” was animated by three round tablesmoderated by Assia Viola, Ferpi Campania delegate And communication director of SMA Road Safety, which saw the involvement of experts and leaders in the sector, committed to examining crucial issues for the future of businesses and communities.
During the first round table, “Training for Sustainability”, it emerged how essential training is to face the challenges of the sustainable transition, providing practical and multidisciplinary skills. Antonella La PortaCouncilor delegated for sustainability at Odcec Napoli, underlined “the crucial role of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European regulation that redefines companies’ reporting obligations in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) fields. The CSRD will involve a much larger number of companies than the previous Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), increasing from approximately 11,700 to 49,000 across Europe professionals capable of managing these new challenges”.
The President of the Degree Course in Economics, Management and Sustainability Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Domenico Salvatorehighlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach, which integrates specialist skills and the ability to take an overall view, to address the complexity of sustainability and underlined the importance of a narrative which, while recognizing the difficulty of the problems, is able to motivate and inspire to concrete action.
As part of the discussion, the need to fill the skills gap in SMEs and to integrate innovative communication tools to effectively spread the culture of sustainability was then reiterated.
During the round table “Finance and Sustainable Development: drivers of growth for the territory” it was highlighted how finance can be a fundamental lever for promoting sustainable economic growth, capable of generating positive impacts for the territory. Amedeo Manzo, President of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Napleshe underlined “We are certainly at the side of those who work with the aim of a development that fully involves the realities that surround us. Cooperative Credit is the protagonist of this path, putting the person at the center of its actions and accounting of its activity to the communities of reference. Ours it is a community bank which collects resources and reinvests them locally. We are the only bank with the name of Naples in its name, a tangible sign of a value that commits us to investing in projects useful to those who live and work here”.
The debate also highlighted the need for financial models that combine profitability and social and environmental impacts, involving all stakeholders to encourage a paradigm shift towards a truly sustainable economy.
“The professionals – he remarked Marilena Nasti, managing director of the ODCEC of Naples – they care not only about the financial issues of companies, we know how important it is to also talk about reporting. Companies that invest in social responsibility and sustainability will be rewarded in the medium and long term. It is necessary that companies learn to communicate their projections, their investments in sustainable themes that can be monitored according to a control system”.
The latest discussion on “Innovation and Sustainability” had a particular focus on sustainable mobility. It emerged that innovation and sustainability are key elements for the development of infrastructure and services. Francesco Favo, General Director of ANM Napoli, underlined the role of innovation not only as a tool for improving sustainable business models, but also as a lever to promote cultural innovation that transforms the relationship between companies and the territory. Arnaldo Musto, CFO of Tangenziale di Napoli, shared the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability: “By managing an infrastructure that crosses the city from east to west, with its 14 junctions which for more than 20 km are inserted into the urban fabric, we are carrying forward digitalisation and technology projects for mobility that responds in a concrete way to the sustainability and safety needs of one of the busiest hubs in the country”.
Both underlined the responsibility of mobility companies in leading the transition towards a more efficient and sustainable urban system.
The discussion highlighted how the integration between innovation and sustainability is now essential to address global and local challenges, with concrete projects that not only improve efficiency, but promote respect for the environment and the well-being of communities. These are intermodal mobility systems that allow the reduction of polluting emissions, as raised by Eliseo Cuccaro, CEO of Ailauroand integrated systems for technology in people’s lives, such as those presented by Andrea Carlo Razeto, Coordinator of the Financial Statement Oscar and Director of CSR and Sustainability of Hitachi Rail Group. And he also spoke on the topic Davide Tassi, Head of Sustainability of ENAV Group, underlining how ENAV has been able to develop highly innovative projects that are allowing a significant reduction in air transport emissions. Tassi also represented “the importance of making the concepts of sustainability understandable to all generations and the need to establish a transparent and constructive dialogue with younger people; the Unsustainable Stories podcast and the Generational Budget developed by ENAV go precisely in this direction “.
“The Oscar Roadshow that crossed the country, and which saw its final stage in the stimulating debate that emerged in Naples, returned an increasingly active and interested participation of the territories between local institutions and companies, and the testimony of a growing awareness of the value of reporting for building confident and solid relationships” he commented Filippo Nani, President of Ferpi.
The conference highlighted the crucial role of sustainability and innovation as a growth driver for Italian companies.
Raffaella Papa (president Spazio alla Responsabilità/Intramedia) underlined the importance of training to accompany SMEs towards an entrepreneurial culture oriented towards digital, green and just transition. Mara De Donato (communication manager and CSR Gori) highlighted the need for specific training courses to address the complexity introduced by the new European CSRD directive, focusing on communication that creates activism and transforms sustainability into a competitive advantage. Livio Livi (co-founder Sostenibile Oggi) illustrated the use of digital tools to improve corporate communication on sustainability, promoting a widespread culture. Alessandro Di Ruocco (CEO Rdr benefit company) spoke about benefit companies as a model that combines profit and positive impact on society and the environment. Maria De Lillo (Dielle CEO) described Dielle’s sustainable strategies, which include targeted hiring and participation in tenders for tax breaks.
Eliseo Cuccaro (CEO Alilauro) presented the Giove Jet catamaran by Alilauro, which reduces emissions by 75%, promoting sustainable and intermodal transport. Francesco Favo (general director of Anm Napoli) reiterated that innovation and sustainability are crucial for territorial and corporate development, with Anm aiming for sustainable business models. Andrea Carlo Razeto (Oscar Budget coordinator and CSR and Sustainability director Hitachi Rail Group) highlighted Hitachi Rail’s commitment to sustainable mobility, integrating innovative technologies for the benefit of communities.
The Roadshow thus delivered an important opportunity for reflection on the challenges and opportunities of sustainability for the business world, institutions and citizens. The final ceremony will be held on December 13th at the Milan Stock Exchange, where companies that have been able to stand out for their ethical and responsible reporting will be rewarded.