Responsible Ecosystems and Strategic Partnerships

Major international organizations recognize collaboration among diverse actors as an essential condition for addressing complex environmental and social challenges. The guidelines developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)^[1] and by United Nations agencies^[2] emphasize that responsible management of business activities requires forms of cooperation along supply chains and among economic and social actors, especially when the problems to be addressed transcend organizational and sectoral boundaries. Significantly, the final goal of the 2030 Agenda (Goal 17) calls for “Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development”^[3] .

Looking at our continent, the European regulatory framework has increased the focus on corporate responsibilities along the value chain. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)^[4] introduces an obligation for large companies (with 5,000 employees and €1.5 billion in net turnover) to identify, prevent, mitigate, and report on negative impacts on human rights and the environment not only in their own operations but also throughout their upstream and downstream business relationships. In this sense, the CSDDD can be seen as the translation into a binding legal instrument of principles that the OECD has also been promoting for years^[5] . By presenting the European Green Deal and the Taxonomy of eco-compatible economic activities, European institutions emphasize how public-private partnerships are essential, respectively, for accelerating the ecological transition and directing financial flows toward sustainable activities^[6] .

In Europe, alongside the CSDDD, other instruments help redefine the concept of responsibility across production ecosystems. For example, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which imposes stringent traceability requirements for specific raw materials and products often linked to deforestation and forest degradation. Or the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which provides for the application of a tax on emissions linked to the production of goods in countries where environmental regulations are less stringent than those in Europe.

In Italy, the integration of environmental criteria into procurement decisions is mandatory for the public sector, which is required to comply with the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM). For private companies, however, sustainable procurement is not mandated by a single standard but is guided by voluntary international benchmarks, such as the aforementioned OECD guidelines, which are the focus of attention for ESG rating agencies. In fact, in this regard, companies that demonstrate they are adopting sustainable procurement strategies or improving the sustainability performance of their supply chain are rewarded by rating agencies and often recognized as exemplary by their stakeholders.

Responsible Ecosystems form one of the pillars of Angelini Industries’ 2024–2026 ESG Plan. In this area, the Group aims to strengthen strategic partnerships with suppliers, companies, and universities to drive systemic change on key sustainability issues.

With regard to the supply chain, several initiatives have already been implemented, such as: the establishment of a Supplier Code of Conduct that incorporates ESG aspects, to which more than 90% of strategic suppliers will be subject by 2026; the selection of suppliers through a careful analysis of qualitative and quantitative parameters and accredited ESG platforms; risk management systems to prevent the occurrence of risks that could potentially impact the supply chain; and annual training on sustainable procurement provided to buyers.

For Angelini Industries, the concept of “Responsible Ecosystems” also encompasses collaborative projects with universities aimed at developing skills and sharing knowledge. In this endeavor, Angelini Academy plays a central role by coordinating structured partnerships with Italian and international universities and business schools. Through training, research, and experimental initiatives open to the educational community and local territories, the Group invests in dialogue between different worlds and in engaging younger generations: from high school programs to hackathons and partnerships with the academic and scientific communities, including at the European level.

The Group is also a member of major international organizations, such as the UNGC (United Nations Global Compact), committing to uphold its 10 core principles regarding human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption. At the national level, among its various active partnerships, the collaboration between Angelini Pharma and Valore D stands out. Valore D is widely recognized in Italy for promoting gender equality within organizations, which has enabled the Group company to build a network for exchange and growth with other companies, sharing best practices and training opportunities.

Building long-term relationships with strategic partners, aimed at improving the sustainability of the entire supply chain, also represents an important lever for addressing environmental impacts linked to climate change, starting with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.