BERGAMO (ITALPRESS) – Attention to sustainability rewards companies and will be an increasingly important endeavor in light of the European directive that, as of Jan. 1, 2026, makes sustainability reporting mandatory also for unlisted companies that, however, exceed two limits between 50 million revenues, 25 million assets and 250 employees. From 2027, however, it will also be the turn of listed small and medium-sized companies. And, in cascade, even SMEs not obliged by the regulations will be involved in this process, because all along the supply chain they will be asked to demonstrate compliance with certain sustainability criteria.The acceleration toward a more people-friendly economy that focuses on sustainability was photographed at the first edition of the BNC ESG Conference. Challenges and Opportunities for Business, organized by Studio BNC – Berta, Nembrini, Colombini and Associates and held on October 29 at Villa Moroni in Stezzano (BG). A trend confirmed by the latest report by GreenItaly and Fondazione Symbola: companies that between 2019 and 2023 made eco-investments (38.6 percent of the total) achieved better results in terms of turnover (+32 percent vs. +25 percent), exports (+24 percent vs. +20 percent) and employment (+23 percent vs. +15 percent). A commitment to sustainability that rewards Bergamo: in terms of the incidence of green professions on the total number of new contracts signed in 2023, the province of Bergamo ranks third in Italy (45.1%) after Caltanissetta and Piacenza (ex aequo with 50.9%) and Lodi (47.9%). “The new regulations should not be experienced as a compliance dropped from above,” said Francesca Ghezzi, partner of Studio BNC at the opening of the works, “but as an opportunity to be seized in order to remain competitive. Instances related to new environmental challenges and economic opportunities for companies today find a perfect synthesis. The numbers show how ecology and economy can and must travel together for the same goal: environmental, social and economic sustainability. “A commitment deepened by Riccardo Rapelli, partner at Studio BNC, in introducing the roundtable dedicated to testimonies from companies “Even unlisted SMEs, not obliged by regulations, must address the ESG issue because the market and the context, therefore customers, suppliers, employees and financing entities, require it. Suppliers of large companies, in fact, must adapt because, in addition to being evaluated on the economic indicator and quality, they are also evaluated for environmental, social and governance issues. Talking about ESG, therefore, is a highly strategic issue of economic sustainability. “The energy transition presents companies with complex challenges. “Today, Banks in order to grant credit are required to verify environmental compliance and ESG criteria. Environmental risks, therefore, also become financial risks; they are not two different things,” stressed Professor Mario Comana, professor of Economics of Financial Intermediaries at LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome, who introduced the focus with testimonies from credit institutions. Financial support is not enough to complete the path to ESG. Companies need to be accompanied in this process, to gain awareness of what to do, how to do it and tell the story. Indeed, Maria Martinelli, scientific coordinator of Studio BNC’s ESG focus team pointed out, “Since the 2023 agenda was defined, it was understood that public funds would never be adequate. Today, therefore, there is a risk management theme. The focus is on environmental risks, but also sociopolitical risks. The evolution of risk is related to the experience that we are all experiencing in our daily lives as well. “The social component becomes a strategic asset for companies, beyond the philanthropic dimension,” recalled Marco Pasta, partner of Conlabora, an investee Benefit Company of the BNC firm and coordinator of the panel on nonprofits. “The ESG transition increasingly stimulates a design comparison between for-profit and nonprofit to build together concrete initiatives capable of combining economic value and measurable social value, for the benefit of our communities and the people who live the company and the territory.””To summarize what was said today in one sentence, I can say that without ESG the business condition becomes more risky for the economic context in which it operates. It is a contingent issue,” concluded Giorgio Berta. Also speaking at the conference were Alessandra Gallone, Advisor and expert at the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security with responsibility for the circular economy, and Antonello Pezzini member of the European Economic and Social Committee.Guests of the three panel discussions that addressed different aspects of the issue:Opportunities beyond compliance: The new dimension in doing business, with testimonies by Maria Enrica Danese, Director Corporate Communication & Sustainability of TIM; Simona Grossi, Managing Director and Partner of Greenthesis Group; Olivo Foglieni, President of FECS Group; Gerolamo Soliveri, Director of NICRO with Riccardo Rapelli, partner Studio BNC;Sustainability and Access to Capital, with speakers Maria Martinelli of Studio BNC’s ESG focus team; Mirco Leonelli, ESG Specialist at BPER Banca; Valeria Anfossi, Intesa San Paolo Enterprise Marketing Coordination; Raffaele Barteselli, Banco BPM Head of Transition and Sustainability; and Barbara Sacchetto, ESG Italy Unicredit.Social Value: a Strategic Asset for Competitiveness, with Marcella Messina, Councillor for Social Policies Longevity, Health and Sport of the Municipality of Bergamo. Lucio Moioli, president of Confcooperative of Bergamo, Federica Bruletti, secretary general of Fondazione Comunità Bergamasca and Stefano Remuzzi, director of the Social and Labor Pastoral Office of the Diocese of Bergamo, Marco Pasta partner Conlabora a company participated by Studio BNC.Moderator of the conference was journalist Nicolas Lozito who spoke on “Sustainable is Competitive.”-photo Studio Belive press office-(ITALPRESS).
