Le Italian SMEs are increasingly focusing on sustainability. 67% of companies consider being sustainable to be important, with peaks of 82% in the Chemical-Pharmaceutical sector and 75% in Mechanics. 38% of Italian SMEs have already started investments but the green evolution is only at the beginning and will intensify in the next two years involving 78% of companies. This is what emerged from the survey ofMarket Watch PMI Observatory of Banca Ifis, in collaboration with Format Research, carried out between May and June on a representative sample of over 500 Italian companies.
On the ESG front, the SMEs of Chemistry-Pharmaceutical and Agribusiness they leapt forward. Against an average of 38% of companies investing, the two sectors are respectively at 56% and 50%. While, about 6% of Textile-Fashion and Technology companies are redesigning production with the principles and methodologies of the circular economy.
The most widespread environmental sustainability initiatives are: the energy saving, in first place with 82% rising 13% next year, follows the waste cycle management (78% of the sample in terms of investments), the reduction of the use of polluting chemical agents (68% with a +10% propensity to invest in the next year), therefore the use of recyclable materials and renewable resources (64% and 54%, respectively). The focus on sustainability is confirmed by the intensity of the actions put in place: 69% of SMEs have launched at least two green initiatives.
But why are companies increasingly green-oriented in recent times? It is not only a matter of “sense of duty” but also of a strategic leverage from the postural competitive e reputational. In particular, for 45% the objectives are: to protect and respect the territory, to protect the future and the well-being of the community. For 32% the reason is the attention to the well-being of workers in production, for 27% the saving of resources and for one company out of four the increase in competitiveness (25%).
Attention involves the whole supply chain: from supplier to consumer. In fact, companies verify that their suppliers also demonstrate that they are sustainable in terms of process and workplace safety (49%), environmental impact (33%) and labor policies implemented (28%). Looking instead at the outlet market, 49% of SMEs also carry out stakeholder engagement initiatives and dialogue with the local area by supporting non-profit organizations or financing public activities on the subject.
In terms of reputation, companies have noticed an improvement (about 62% of companies) and 41% report an increase in staff satisfaction. But there is also a downside: for 44% there was an increase in costs, for 23% a lack of personnel skills.
Among the reasons for which still a part of the companies has not invested in sustainability (62%) we find the difficulty of implementing sustainable actions on the product or on the production process, and to follow the high costs. However, these SMEs are determined to overcome these obstacles as 66% declare that they intend to invest in this aspect in the future (7%) or "probably" (59%).
