Italian wine giant publishes inaugural sustainability report

Zonin1821, which counts producers including Oltrenero and Castello di Albola in its portfolio, has published its first ever Group Sustainability Report.

The report examines the environmental, economic and social responsibility of the group as a whole, assessing the impacts, both positive and negative, of the company.

Zonin1821 Group president Domenico Zonin explained: “The process of acquisitions started by my family in the 1970s aimed to enhance and promote Italian wine cultures internationally but also
preserve our unique winegrowing districts for future generations. The theme of generational change is key to understanding our entrepreneurial vision: companies not only have responsibilities in the ‘here and now’ but, like families and institutions, they must contribute via their work to expressing the values of openness and inclusion, including protecting resources, respecting the environment, guaranteeing human well-being, promoting gender equality and valuing diversity.”

A key part of the report concerns ‘material sustainability’. This reflects the economic, environmental and social impacts (positive or negative) generated by the company, enabling the company to concentrate its resources and attention on the most relevant issues, thereby providing a solid basis for the development and management of its sustainability strategy.

With regards to the social aspects of sustainability cited by Zonin, the group has expressed its commitment to “creating stimulating and dynamic work environments”, and for the support of the “socio-economic development” of wine growing areas. With regards to the health of workers, the company noted: “The Group attributes special importance to the work conditions of everyone involved in its business operations, to prevention and protection of health and safety in the workplace, as well as to the psycho-physical well-being of employees and the balance between home and work life.”

Given the close association of ‘sustainability’ with environmentalism, the report also cites the use of agricultural practices with low environmental impact. As for economic sustainability, this is tied to both environmental and social sustainability – if the latter two are followed, the former can be achieved, and vice versa.

The report correlates with the Zonin1821 Sustainability Plan as defined in 2022. As well as providing sustainability objectives, the plan offers insight into how those goals, as defined by the United Nations, can be reached.

Zonin concluded that though a great deal had been achieved, the road ahead was still long: “We should also try to be concrete and realistic and avoid falling into idealism: promoting sustainability is not easy and the road for society is long, as shown by the frequent changes in pro-sustainability legislation. The path must be traveled together, involving every company and individual, each in their own small way. By taking one step at a time and making informed choices, we can all make a positive contribution to the present and, thereby, a difference to the future.”