Sustainability can no longer be just a declaration of intent, but must become a concrete, measurable, and shared model. This is the vision of Giulio Romagnoli, CEO of Romagnoli F.lli SpA, a leading company in the Italian fruit and vegetable sector, following the publication of the new ESG report dedicated to large-scale retail trade.
According to Romagnoli, the report confirms large-scale retailers' growing commitment to sustainability, but also highlights the need to fill gaps and communicate their results more transparently. "Objective metrics and concrete tools like the ESG rating are needed to validate the efforts of those who embarked on this journey well before it became a trend or a regulatory requirement," he emphasizes.
Romagnoli F.lli, which will soon publish its fifth Sustainability Report and request Cerved's ESG Rating for the fifth time, has chosen to integrate sustainability as a strategic asset, embracing environmental, economic, social, and governance pillars. "True sustainability is not a slogan. It's a complex strategy that requires investment, measurement, continuous improvement, and supply chain involvement," explains the manager.
The European Parliament's recent Green Claims Directive, aimed at combating greenwashing, reinforces the need for verifiable environmental claims. "We have been using certified tools and international GRI standards for years. But now we need the entire supply chain to move in the same direction, with consistency and responsibility," adds Grazia Romagnoli, the company's managing director.
Romagnoli F.lli, a producer and distributor of ware and seed potatoes, onions, and fruit and vegetables, both under its own brand and for large-scale retail trade, reaffirms its commitment to a genuine transformation of the sector. "We must restore value to agricultural products, recognizing that behind them lies a project based on varietal research, planning, and sustainability. It's time to move from narrative to verification. Only in this way can we ensure a credible and competitive future for our agri-food system."
