Growens releases the sixth edition of its Sustainability Report

For the sixth consecutive year, Growens published its annual Sustainability Report. The 2024 edition comes at the end of a particularly transformative year for the Group and introduces several key developments, including an updated materiality analysis and new people-focused policies.

“Following last year’s significant divestments, 2024 marked a turning point for Growens — transforming change into opportunity. This evolution extended beyond the business itself to include the people within it, who were called to reinterpret roles, processes, and objectives in a renewed context increasingly geared towards international growth.”

“Looking ahead, Growens is entering a phase of acceleration and strengthening, aiming to expand its presence in international markets while continuing to invest in innovation, talent, and sustainability. Our commitment remains unchanged: to operate responsibly and create a positive and lasting impact.”

These are the words of Nazzareno Gorni and Matteo Monfredini, CEO and Chairman respectively, reflecting on the past year in the Letter to Stakeholders that opens the Sustainability Report.

Materiality analysis 

As in previous editions, a structured process was launched to identify the main actual or potential impacts generated by the Group’s activities within the ESG framework. This process helped define the reference context in detail—both inside and outside the organization—while also adopting a double materiality perspective, i.e., the impacts of the company’s activities on stakeholders and the environment (inside-out) and vice versa (outside-in).

The process began with a benchmarking analysis of a group of competitors, peers, and comparables, followed by a review of internal documentation, including the strategic plan and corporate policies.

The impacts were then grouped by similarity, resulting in a list of ESG topics that were evaluated by top management and representatives from the Group’s key stakeholder categories. These topics were organized into five thematic areas and submitted to the company’s main stakeholder groups via an online questionnaire (in Italian or English, depending on the recipient).

After this process, 17 material topics were identified and prioritized for the Group. Compared to the 2023 edition, the following topics emerged as relevant and material in 2024:

• Governance
  – Supplier relationship management
  
  
• Social
  – Job creation and retention
  – Respect for human rights
  – Social dialogue
  – Access to quality information
  

• Environment
  – Climate change mitigation

Key activities in 2024 

The sustainability report is structured around three macro-areas, corresponding to the components of the ESG acronym: Governance, Environment, and Social. Below are the main updates and achievements in each section.

• Governance
  – Female representation on the board: Women make up 40% of the Board of Directors of Growens S.p.A., double the legal requirement.
  – ESG guidelines: Growens includes explicit ESG guidelines among the strategic directions provided to its Business Units.
  – Zero corruption cases: Since its founding, Growens has reported zero cases of corruption — active or passive.
  – Focus on technology and innovation: Continuous investments in processes and new technologies are at the core of every product.
  

• Environment
  – CO₂ offsetting: Growens offsets the carbon emissions of all its business units by supporting forest conservation projects, particularly through the Growens Forest.
  – Consumption reduction: In 2024, the expansion of the photovoltaic plant in Cremona and the full-remote policy of Agile Telecom contributed to a roughly 40% reduction in total consumption compared to the previous year.
  – Company garden: For the second year, Growens has invested in zero-mile agriculture with the “Growers @ Growens” project—an urban garden on the terraces of its Cremona offices, available to all employees.
  – Sustainable mobility: In addition to offering hybrid vehicles and wall-mounted charging stations as incentives for green mobility, a home-to-work travel plan was implemented to optimize commuting.
  

• Social
  – Well-being through the REST program: In 2024, Growens launched REST, its first structured leave program designed to increase retention and support work-life balance.
  – Zero work-related illnesses or injuries: For the sixth consecutive reporting year, there were no recorded occupational illnesses or accidents, either on-site or during commuting.
  – Equal opportunities with UNI/pdr 125:2022 certification: Growens successfully completed the UNI/pdr 125:2022 certification process for gender equality, confirming its adherence to best practices for inclusivity and fairness within the organization.

Conclusion 

The 2024 sustainability report represents not only a reporting exercise for Growens but also a tool for dialogue and transparency with all stakeholders. The results achieved confirm the company’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its decision-making processes, helping to build a business model capable of generating long-term shared value.

Looking ahead, Growens will continue to strengthen its strategic approach to sustainability, aiming to anticipate regulatory changes, effectively meet the expectations of its internal and external communities, and promote a corporate culture focused on responsible innovation.