The Sustainable Development Goals: an analysis of Sustainability Reporting in the Italian Paper and Pulp Industry

In 2015 the United Nations Member States have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): these purpose of these goals is to shape a prosperous future for people and the environment in both developing and developed countries and to encourage Countries to create a global partnership for achieving them. The United Nations have highlighted that business organizations’ impacts are crucial for improving and safeguarding our planet and our society; furthermore, various companies have implemented actions and plans that are socially and environmentally beneficial, usually adopting Corporate Social Responsibility practices. Several organizations are used to disclose voluntarily their environmental, social and economic performances in Sustainability Reports, which are communicative documents that allow organizations to disclose their performances to both their external and internal stakeholders. In Europe, during the last years, the European Commission has introduced the Directive 2014/95/EU that imposes big organizations to disclose non-financial information: this requirement has determined an important change for companies that are involved and it has highlighted the necessity of shifting towards a global and sustainable economy, where companies are required to combine long term profitability, social justice and environmental protection. In this thesis it has been analysed the Paper and Pulp Industry and there have been especially considered the sustainability practices that have been adopted for safeguarding the environment, such as the utilization of certified raw material sources, the adoption of technologies that minimize water pollution and greenhouse gases emissions and the re-utilization of waste materials thanks to recycling processes. It has been found that, despite this industry is an energy and capital-intensive industry, it is able to operate sustainably; furthermore, an important element that determines the sustainability of the industry is that paper is a sustainable material since it is natural, renewable and recyclable. It has been specifically analysed the Paper and Pulp Industry in the Italian context, considering especially the Sustainability Reporting and the non-financial information that companies disclose, and the adoption of certifications, that allow to differentiate products and to guarantee that products are produced with the adoption of sustainable practices. This thesis highlights the importance of companies’ communication of their environmental and social performances and provides a comprehensive overview of the Paper and Pulp Industry, that is able to operate sustainably despite being an energy and capital-intensive industry.