Pirelli, placing sustainability in the picture

A company with almost 150 years of history, where social responsibility has always played a central role even when the word sustainability was never heard. Ready to celebrate in 2022 its 150^th anniversary and presence on the market, Pirelli has been paying attention to its employees and their families since the late 1800s. Present among the 37 companies in the Global Compact Lead, the company founded by Giovanni Battista Pirelli is based on principles of social, environmental and economic sustainability.

The meaning of sustainability

Very often the word sustainability has been abused or at least used without a solid basis. This is not the case at Pirelli, where it is considered as a tool that completes the company's vision in the creation of long-term value. "We understand it as a tool to support, complete and protect our corporate vision in the creation of long-term value” - Filippo Bettini, Pirelli Sustainability & Future Mobility officer, emphasizes - "not just a reporting tool." At Pirelli, every time an industrial plan is implemented, a new sustainability plan is born, as in the case of the 2020-2022 plan where human capital plays a central role. "Pirelli considers the safety of its employees of utmost importance, which explains the large investments and the ambitious zero accidents target. If in 2020 we had an index of 0.2% of accidents, the goal is zero accidents by 2025," Bettini points out.

Environmental sustainability: carbon neutral from 2030

Entire, manufacturing plants, products lines and production chains operate under the banner of sustainability. Pirelli aims to improve the efficiency of its plants and products starting from the use of completely renewable power in 2025. Becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Environmental sustainability is an integral part of eco safety design. As recalled by Mr. Bettini, it is "a program where, starting from the initial project, the product is designed to have the least impact possible on the environment in terms of production, use and disposal. The objective is to have a closed-loop recycling system. Pirelli already uses 23% of renewable materials which will increase to over 40% in 2025 and reach over 60% in 2030. Our tires will be more efficient, eco-friendly and will contribute to the reduction of emissions thanks to the new technologies used".

Social responsibility

If environmental sustainability plays a fundamental role, social responsibility is no less important. Pirelli, in fact, has always paid particular attention to welfare issues for its workers, starting with first aid stations within its factories and ending with nurseries for their children. "Following the outbreak of the pandemic, we have introduced new services," recalls Pirelli's Sustainability & Future Mobility officer, "to guarantee greater protection, also in terms of smart-working, flexibility and managing people's mobility”. Added to this is the focus on long-term work and productivity, which has translated into a program of reskilling and upskilling, to improve and provide workers with new skills. Of course, social inclusion affects not only employees but also their communities and our suppliers. "On communities," recalls Bettini, "we have an approach that concerns both our headquarters in Milan, and in the specific our Pirelli Foundation and the Pirelli Hangar Bicocca Foundation, as well as additional programs with local entities that led, for example, to importing ventilators from China during the first period of the Covid emergency. Abroad, we also collaborate with projects supporting hospitals and schools, we provide scholarships for our employees' children and we control our network of suppliers down to the small plot of land worked by an Indonesian farmer". All of this is part of a truly well-rounded sustainability strategy, without excluding any component or business reality.