We use sustainable finance instruments to speed up the implementation of our sustainability actions in order to achieve the goals we have set. Sustainable finance means ensuring that, together with purely financial indicators, good environmental, social and governance practices are taken into account in our investment decisions.
We know that our customers, suppliers, employees and investors pay close attention to what we do in light of all these criteria, and we believe that the use of sustainable finance plays a critical role in transforming the economy and society. Thus, in 2024 we published our “Sustainable Finance Framework”, a document that serves as a framework for the Group’s sustainable finance instruments. This document is in line with:
- The Green Loan Principles and the Sustainability-linked Loan Principles, published by the LMA – Loan Market Association (the authoritative voice of the syndicated loan market).
- The Green Bond Principles and the Sustainability-linked Bond Principles, published by ICMA – International Capital Market Association.
The aim of this document is to cover a wide range of financial instruments:
- Green loans or bonds, to finance concrete climate or environmental projects.
- Sustainability-linked loans or bonds, to finance the company’s own activity on its sustainability path, and in relation to which the performance indicators chosen from the five set out in the document are monitored.
- Supply chain financing instruments, in this case indexed to the sustainability of the suppliers being financed.
Five indicators from the Corporate Responsibility topics focused on by the Group were included in the Sustainable Finance Framework, representing the topics identified in our double materiality matrix and the ambitious commitments made as part of our sustainability strategy. The Framework has been certified by EQA, an independent third-party organisation accredited for such purpose.