Italmark presents “Our Care”, its strategic sustainability plan 2026-2028

Italmark presented “Our Care”, its Strategic Sustainability Plan 2026-2028, a programme that translates the Group’s commitment to people, the environment and the economic, social and cultural fabric of the areas in which it operates into measurable objectives.

The Strategic Sustainability Plan 2026-2028, presented during the event held at the Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery in Brescia by Mauro Odolini, sustainability manager at Italmark, marks an evolution in the Group’s approach: from reporting on activities to defining objectives and indicators capable of measuring the results and impacts generated over time. “Our Care” expresses the desire to care for people, the environment and the local area through four areas of action: customers, team, planet and territory.

Customers and team

For customers, the plan provides for at least six structured campaigns to be carried out by 2028, dedicated to food education in line with the “Missione Benessere” project and to promoting informed purchasing choices. For the team, the commitment takes the form of investment in training that goes beyond legal obligations, with more than 32.000 hours of professional training per year, of which 19.000 are dedicated to developing technical and specialist skills and 13.000 to behavioural training. This is complemented by maintaining the Uni/PdR 125:2022 gender equality certification.

The planet and the local area

With regard to the planet, Italmark aims to strengthen energy self-generation by achieving 16 active photovoltaic plants, for a total capacity of at least 4.000 kWp across stores and distribution centres. The programme also includes circular economy objectives, with the use of 100% recyclable materials for department packaging and the achievement of 40% post-consumer recycled plastic. However, it is in its relationship with the local area that the philosophy of the plan finds its broadest expression. Italmark has allocated at least 800.000 euros in total, during the period 2025-2028, to local social and environmental projects developed together with local authorities, foundations and third-sector organisations.

The aim is to move beyond the logic of occasional contributions and develop multi-year projects with shared objectives and results. Ongoing projects include the reforestation programme, which will involve planting 1.400 trees by 2034 as part of the Green Plan of the Municipality of Brescia. “Missione Benessere”, the project promoting healthy lifestyles carried out with the scientific contribution of Fondazione Umberto Veronesi Ets, is also continuing; it has already involved more than 3.000 primary school pupils. This vision also extends to culture, through participation in Alleanza Cultura, the public-private cooperation project promoted by Fondazione Brescia Musei to enhance the city’s historical and artistic heritage.

Relations with the local production system represent a further strategic pillar. The Group will introduce a Supplier Code of Conduct and begin a mapping and assessment process based on ESG criteria that will cover 90% of local producers – currently around 193 companies, of which 163 are from Lombardy and 30 from Emilia – by 2028, with the aim of strengthening shared responsibility throughout the supply chain and supporting partners on a path towards sustainable growth.

The comment

“For our family, sustainability is not new; it is the natural evolution of what we have always sought to do: run a business with care for the people and places in which it operates, helping to protect the future of supply chains and new generations. Today we want to take this a step further: to begin concretely measuring the impacts we generate, both inside and outside the company, in the local area and in the communities where we operate. We do not want merely to carry out activities, but to understand what value they can create and what tangible contribution they can make,” declared Marco Odolini, executive chairman of Italmark.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.