Sustainability: Here Are the Leading Companies

Corporate sustainability is now a central element of business strategies, not only for ethical or environmental reasons, but also due to its growing economic, reputational, and regulatory importance. According to several studies, the majority of consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits in favor of more sustainable products (or services) and pay more for them. This is true not only in Italy but globally. Companies have long recognized this trend and have quickly adapted to meet consumer demand. However, not all have truly embraced sustainability concerns, preferring to focus heavily on marketing rather than on a genuine overhaul of their production processes.

So-called " greenwashing ," which in Italian can be translated as "environmentalism on the surface," has not entirely disappeared, although known cases have decreased in recent years. To be sure, ESG- conscious consumers can now rely on the latest edition of the " Sustainability Champions " study by the German Institute for Quality and Finance, which selected 300 companies that, after careful examination, have proven to be sustainable.

The ITQF survey covers practically all commercial sectors and provides the reader with an excellent starting point. However, it does not claim to be exhaustive: outside of the 300 names included in the ranking, there are certainly equally sustainable companies. However, consumers must check their compliance with ESG criteria for themselves. This year, one company stands out above all the others: the furniture manufacturer Scavolini , which conquers the top step of the podium with a full score (100) and reaches first place in the ITQF ranking. The second-placed company, the IT specialist Avvale , stopped at 92.12 points, while the third-placed company, the German company Wuerth , scored 90.88.

Looking at the names in the Top 10, it's immediately clear how the concept of sustainability has now spread to every sector, not just those strictly connected to environmental protection. At the foot of the podium are, for example, the construction company Webuild (88.86) and the car manufacturer Lamborghini (88.77). Behind them is the Fater group (87.93), specializing in household products. In seventh place is Enel Green Power (87.83), which includes sustainability among the factors characterizing its core business, the production of renewable energy. The Top 10 is finally completed by the water producer Sanpellegrino (87.73, eighth), the dairy group Galbani (85.73, ninth), and the appliance manufacturer Bosch (85.54, tenth).