Letter to stakeholders
Sustainability and the pathway to responsible development are compelling topics that – also in relation to the times in which we are living – lie at the center of public debate.
Driven by international organizations and a shared sentiment, nations, people and companies have set ambitious targets, which require serious collaboration and the ability to look toward and build a shared future.
It is not an easy task to connect individuals and the community with a common thread that transforms the commitment of each into everyone’s success, while exposing each entity to the risk that others do not follow the targets pinpointed by sustainability.
This also applies to the companies that work in integrated supply chains. When we talk about sustainability, especially (but not only) environmental sustainability, each entity must do its part well and with the utmost responsibility. Regarding this, I cannot overlook the aspects that refer to responsible drinking, namely the crucial role played by all companies that produce, sell, market and serve wine in terms of educating the consumer about moderate and responsible consumption. In our sector, sustainability also involves the ability of consumers to reconcile the consumption of wine, an alcoholic drink, with a healthy and balanced lifestyle, just as the Mediterranean diet teaches us, in which wine has already featured in moderate quantities. We cannot idly sit by, thinking that the role as educator is someone else’s responsibility and keeping a hypocritical profile as a bystander.
Moreover, our Group has been active in supporting environmental and social sustainability across our entire supply chain for some time now. Since 2019, our mission has allowed us to embark on a growth plan with our grape suppliers to achieve 100% organic production by 2025.
The latest legislative changes confirm that the direction we have taken in the past embraces and responds to the evolution of our policies and company strategies. We can do none other than applaud the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, which in March 2022 approved the national sustainability certification for the wine sector. Notwithstanding this push, firstly by us and now also by the institutions, we are fully aware that not all entities in the supply chain are ready in the same way or have the same sensitivity. Some, often the smallest companies, do not have the means in terms of skills or in financial terms to be able to meet a sufficiently ambitious standard of sustainability. In our opinion, however, this cannot and must not be an excuse to justify the fact of focusing on us alone.
We must act as the driving force that pushes the industry to which we belong, that spurs on and convinces it to align with a new standard of work. To do this, however, we must consider and convince ourselves to support our partners so that they can drive forward their alignment. We know that we could make the journey on our own and perhaps accomplish these targets more quickly, efficiency and effectively, but in doing so we would lose the broader objective. We all need to pass the finish line and make this journey together. Our partners and us.
That is why one of our short-term strategic targets is to have 100% organic certification for our grape-growing supply. This obliges and spurs us on to work side by side with all the grape growing partners who wish to join us in this challenge to help each other to reach our end goal together. For us, reaching the finish line cannot be considered as a victory. Either we get there altogether – companies, institutions and citizens – or we will never truly be a sustainable community.
Sandro Sartor
CEO