“A journey towards a better present and future”, this is the philosophy behind the first Sustainability Report recently presented by Casa Optima, the Italian group, owner of eight of the most popular and appreciated brands in the artisanal gelato, high-quality patisserie and mixed beverages market.
A key document detailing achievements in the period between 2021 and 2023 and outlining the path that the group intends to follow in the coming years, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.
Casa Optima’s first Sustainability Report is the result of impressive teamwork that was made possible thanks to the contribution of various teams within the company, and the excellent coordination of the Group HSE & Engineering Manager, Alessio Broggi, and the Group Digital Marketing Manager, Valentina Porcile. The Group has in fact chosen not to make use of external partners, counting on the professionalism of its collaborators, each of whom was able to offer their own contribution for the relevant area of competence, towards a more sustainable and responsible future.
The document is designed to be easy to read and understand so that everyone can access the information clearly and immediately, it highlights the development of the path undertaken by the group’s companies in 2023, with a market of over 150 countries, five production plants (three in Italy, one in Brazil and one in France), and over 30 thousand customers served and 1000 collaborators.
Through an in-depth internal and external analysis aimed at mapping all major risks, transformative megatrends and reference scenarios, Casa Optima’s sustainability plan revolves around thematic areas that are important for corporate sustainability, with qualitative targets that the company has chosen to set for the near future.
ENVIRONMENT
During 2023, the emission of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere deriving from direct (SCOPE 1) and indirect (SCOPE 2) consumption, decreased by more than 45% compared to 2021.
Over the last three years, the BU R&D Managers, with their respective teams, have contributed significantly to the decision to go in a sustainable direction also on the final pack: buckets and containers are made of 100% recyclable PP packaging materials and the tins are in fully recyclable steel. In the pastry packaging 99% of plastic sponges have been eliminated.
Regarding the waste produced in the plants, in 2023 there was a 7% reduction in waste production normalised on the Kg’s produced compared to 2022 and 99% of the waste was destined for recovery.
Also, from an energy point of view, the Casa Optima Group achieved a significant reduction of 7% on normalised consumption per Kg produced over the last three years.
PRODUCTS
The Casa Optima Group guarantees the quality of its products by choosing fresh, high quality raw materials that are carefully grown and processed, distributed by trusted and certified suppliers and experts in the field. The raw material
suppliers are 98% located within the European Union and more than 2/3 are based in Italy. For a total of around 20.000 tonnes of raw materials purchased in 2023.
WELFARE
Training is a strategic investment that reflects the company’s long-term vision and its commitment to human capital. Various retention, personal, professional and organizational development initiatives are underway within the group:
in 2023, an average of 20.4 hours of training were dedicated per employee, the recruitment of 31 employees with permanent employment contracts took place, of which 9 were transformations from fixed-term contracts,
and 20 internships were introduced to the company of which 11 were hired.
The “Diversity & Inclusion Policy” promotes an inclusive corporate culture and values diversity in the workplace: 1,000 collaborators, of which 708 are employees, and 32% of the women in the organization are responsible for one or
more organizational units with respect to the total reference population.
ROAD MAP ESG 2030
Achieving carbon neutrality using renewable energy and through the progressive reduction of 5% per year in energy consumption. To achieve this, the company will increasingly invest in self-production energy in its plants, preferring
a direct and sustainable approach over alternative solutions, such as purchasing credits from third parties.
Corporate mobility has already incorporated a specific policy related to the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, with the aim of converting 75% of the fleet by 2030.
The creation of the “Casa Optima Forest”, with 5.500 trees planted by 2025, also testifies the commitment to counteracting emissions, with an estimated absorption of more than 1.500 tonnes of CO2 in ten years.
“Casa Optima’s sustainability policy is a naturally intrinsic element of our groups mission, and it reflects our daily commitment to creating values and results that all stakeholders can appreciate and share, from our employees and collaborators to communities in which we operate, to our customers all over the world, to institutions- says Francesco Fattori, CEO of the Casa Optima Group - We are convinced that each of our products, each of our activities or services, and each of us, can contribute to creating the conditions to improve and “coexist” in balance with everything that will come tomorrow. For me and my entire team, it is a great pride and pleasure to be able to share all this in our 1st Sustainability Report, an important document that summarises the path we have taken and gives concrete evidence of our commitment and the results we have achieved today and our future objectives”.