Sustainability, how to create an environmentally friendly business model

The transition towards a sustainable development model is the main challenge of our time: a necessary choice, which can no longer be postponed, which must push us to take the path of change. The countless awareness campaigns promoted at various levels have contributed to considerably increasing the awareness of individual citizens on the importance of adopting responsible behavior for environmental protection. Recent and authoritative surveys, in fact, reveal an exponential increase in Italians willing to follow a green lifestyle.

There is still a long way to go and every member of society is called to do their part. To obtain lasting and truly effective results, for example, the contribution of companies and businesses appears to be fundamental, called to offer concrete answers to the needs of consumers, putting into practice business models that respect the planet, its resources and future generations, in in line with the 17 sustainable development goals contained in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

It is moving in this direction Extract, which aims to harmonize economic objectives with social and environmental ones in the reference territories. The Group, one of the leading operators in Central Italy in the gas distribution and sale sector and also active in the sale of electricity, approved the 2022 Sustainability Report less than a month ago, which certifies the important results achieved.

The protection of the environment, in particular, is pursued through ad hoc initiatives, among which the production of electricity from renewable sources stands out. In 2022 Estra generated approximately 32.2 million kWh, registering a +6.2% compared to the previous year, 84.6% of which came from photovoltaics, 15.1% from biomass and 0, 3% from hydroelectric. Added to this is a decrease of 5.8% in the production of waste, with 81% of the total being sent for recovery.

The attention paid by the Group to environmental sustainability also involves the good daily practices adopted by its employees. This belief was the driving force behind the initiative “Per noi di Estra. Little Big Actions”, which saw the company staff engaged in a series of virtuous practices (circular economy in the name of recycling and reuse, sustainable mobility, energy saving, reduction of plastics, responsible use of paper), to be carried out on site work and in private.

Thanks to the collaboration with greenApes, through a dedicated app, it was possible to trace the sustainable activities carried out and convert them into virtual points which were transformed into donations for forestation interventions in the gardens of the Alda Merini Park, in Prato, and for the maintenance of trees planted. Estra has also joined “Mosaico Verde”, a national campaign conceived and promoted by AzzeroCO2 and Legambiente, with the aim of recovering urban and extra-urban tree-lined areas, or creating new ones, to reduce CO emissions_2.

Furthermore, by adopting the PrintReleaf certification system, the Group is able to measure its consumption of paper and arrange for the planting of trees in numbers equivalent to those cut down to produce it, through a network of reforestation projects around the world. In 2022, this initiative made it possible to offset over 4 million printed pages through the reforestation of 515 trees.

However, the Group’s corporate policy is not limited to implementing significant internal actions, but seeks to offer its customers the right tools for sustainable consumption. From a commercial point of view, in fact, Estra has expanded the offer of products and services from a green perspective, favoring a considerable increase in electricity supply contracts deriving 100% from renewable sources (+59.6 compared to 2021) and of gas supply contracts which provide for the offsetting of CO emissions₂ (+33.8% in 2022).

A significant effort was also made in the field of energy efficiency, thanks to public lighting interventions, condominium renovations and the replacement of traditional boilers with latest generation models. The Extra group it then proved capable of distributing significant economic value to stakeholders and of enhancing its human capital, the intangible but fundamental basis of the company’s performance, where 98.9% of employees are hired on permanent contracts. All this demonstrates a commitment based on long-term strategies, aimed at achieving not only environmental, but also economic and social sustainability.