Sustainability Report 2019

The Esprinet Group deems it essential to pursue a sustainable path, capable of generating and distributing value in a long-lasting way, by focusing on the needs of its stakeholders (customers, suppliers, employees, investors, associations, or institutions), and by establishing “ESG-Environmental Social Governance” goals in step with its business.

Recent events related to the public health emergency caused by the spread of the coronavirus have further highlighted the ability of companies to effectively manage the crisis, thanks to an organization and culture that is deeply rooted in a long-term vision rather than opportunistic tactics. In this sense, sustainability policies play an essential role, drawing the line between virtuous companies and those destined to fall as a result of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Adopting a corporate social responsibility and sustainability approach necessitates achieving a delicate equilibrium among different stakeholder categories and ESG considerations within strategic decision-making processes. Understanding the Group's behavior towards its internal and external stakeholders is therefore essential to analyze its financial results from the right perspective and to define the stages of a path aimed at achieving deep and growing integration in the different socio-economic contexts in which it operates.

The Esprinet Group has for some years now identified and undertaken its sustainability policy thanks to which, through listening to its "stakeholders," a number of social and environmental sustainability projects have been identified and launched. The goal is to route Esprinet towards a stable and lasting path of value creation.

We opened 2019 with a renewed focus on customers and employees, believing that human capital, corporate welfare and customer satisfaction constitute the strong pillars of our competitive strategy.

To better incorporate the needs of customers and employees, The Group has promoted a series of opportunities and moments for listening. This project has been named TIB, an acronym for Together Is Better: it is an initiative that focuses on cooperation and the sharing, essential tools for valuing everyone's individual efforts.

To measure the level of "Customer Satisfaction" along the distribution chain, a series of "Surveys" were entrusted to an external consulting firm. The results obtained made available to the Group statistically relevant data and information to be used at the "decision taking" stage. Based on their analysis, actions were developed aimed at improving and constantly monitoring the level of service provided to customers, starting from the areas of criticality that emerged.

Among the main social activities, 2019 saw the birth of the "For-Te" project, the first delivery service in Italy made entirely by people with disabilities' intellectual disabilities. The goal of "For-Te" is to create an opportunity for people with disabilities to enter the world of work, while at the same time offering a speedy delivery service to customers.

For-Te represents for the Esprinet Group an extraordinary example of "value sharing" in that it allows it to combine policies and operating practices that strengthen corporate competitiveness while improving the economic and social conditions of the area in which it operates.

During the year, corporate volunteer initiatives were extended to Esprinet Iberica, thus multiplying the opportunities for active and concrete participation of workers in the life of the local community.

Also in 2019, the "Green" project was launched aimed at promoting awareness of energy-saving issues among its stakeholders. The initiative was structured on a comparative analysis of some product categories in our catalog based on indicators related to environmental impact. The purpose of the project was to direct, based on the data that emerged, customers toward conscious and sustainable purchasing choices.

Recently, the Esprinet Group has introduced several direct measures to deal with the Covid-19 emergency with the aim of protecting the health and safety of its employees and ensuring business continuity consistent with full compliance with regulations in terms of social distancing and adoption of protective health protocols.

Among the initiatives taken, the Group has authorized continuous smart working for 100% of employees not working in warehouses. In addition, it has activated a health insurance policy for all employees to cover medical expenses in case of infection and has provided "one-time" economic benefits for warehouse and Cash and Carry personnel.

Finally, Esprinet has contributed to the fight against Covid-19 by also donating to the Red Cross of Monza an equipped ambulance. At the same time, the Group has made numerous donations of personal safety devices to entities in the various territories in which it operates. The company has also involved its employees in this initiative through a fundraiser, possible through the donation of days' salary or cash donations.

Finally, a word about the programs for the current year.
Indeed, we are convinced that the time has truly come for our Group to make the transition to a fully integrated sustainability strategy in its strategic business plans. Such a strategy cannot ignore the setting of challenging and measurable ESG targets, integrated into management incentive systems, and even less so into apical figures, in order to create the ideal systemic conditions for a true culture of shared value.