RadiciGroup has just published its 2010 Sustainability Report, the latest in the series of annual reports the Group has been publishing since 2003 on its initiatives and results achieved in the area of corporate social responsibility. Doing business responsibly by combining economic with social, ethical and environmental values is one of RadiciGroup's primary objectives. The Group has long been engaged on the front of sustainability, which it sees as a true challenge that must be tackled and won. The environmental, climatic, social and economic impact of an industrial firm during its entire life cycle is huge, and sustainable management of business activities can really make a difference. This is the reason why RadiciGroup is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its industrial activities, from the very beginning to the very end of its production chain, i.e. from chemicals to plastics and synthetic fibres. Moreover, the Group strives to operate in harmony with the environment and local communities, and to safeguard the health and safety of its employees. All these goals are pursued through a series of concrete actions: developing products manufactured with renewable source materials or recycled materials obtained from the process waste and rejects of the Group's production chain; using clean (hydroelectric) energy for a good part of its production activities; implementing projects aimed at reducing the consumption of precious natural resources such as water; and adopting tools, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), to asses and measure the environmental performance of its products. All these actions are part of the RadiciGroup “Operation Twenty4” sustainability programme, which provides for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% decrease in energy consumption, a 20% increase in energy generated from renewable sources, and a 20% increase in the use of recycled materials.

In its 2010 Sustainability Report, RadiciGroup has started a transition towards corporate responsibility reporting in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. GRI is an international organization that produces the most widely recognized framework for economic, environmental and social sustainability reporting, which has been adopted by major companies worldwide.

The GRI reporting method, together with the observance of international standards such as ISO and OHSAS, enhances the quality of products, production processes, the environment, and the health and safety of employees.

The latest RadiciGroup Sustainability Report consists of five chapters – Organization Profile, Strategy and Analysis, Business Objectives, Responsible Care® and RadiciGroup Stakeholders – which provide a complete and integrated picture of the environmental, economic and social performance of the Group. In 2010 RadiciGroup companies demonstrated a very high level of commitment and attention to sustainability, by enhancing the efficiency of their activities and reducing their environmental impact. Furthermore, the companies continued their efforts to develop innovative products produced from renewable source materials, to use production processes requiring fewer natural resources, to use clean energy, and to adopt methods for sustainability performance assessment and measurement that promote eco-innovation and sustainable competitiveness.