The assumption of social responsibility is an investment that can contribute to the enterprise’s competitiveness and development. In today's globalized society, the challenge lies not merely in the ability to produce quality goods and services at competitive prices. Rather, intangible assets such as reputation and social and environmental commitment have become increasingly important due to their capacity to add value because of their wealth of content and ability to reinforce the Group's character.
Iris Ceramica Group has chosen to support its growth strategy with a strong, unwavering commitment to creating value for all of society. This choice stems from the deep-seated conviction that all companies have an important role to play in society and cannot shirk the duty – and pleasure – of contributing to its development and success. Each year, this profoundly intimate relationship translates into support for projects and activities which, through its Foundation, the Group regards as important and strategic by making donations that totaled 337,000.00 euros in 2020.
The Iris Ceramica Group Foundation was established in 2019 to preserve, interpret and disseminate the values according to which the Group has been operating for 60 years. From the very beginning, the theme of environmental sustainability has been identified as the key principle guiding the commitment to build the only possible future. While continuously developing industrial models, the role of a business foundation like ours is crucial in supporting projects intended to achieve the cultural evolution of the territory on which our very identity is based. We have listed some of the most significant to give a flavor of the commitment we make to issues that are very close to our heart.
COMPANY
Iris Ceramica Group Foundation donates Sapienstone #aroundthetop truck to Italian Red Cross
The Iris Ceramica Group Foundation has been part of a beautiful reconversion story featuring the SapienStone truck, the “traveling showroom” that has visited the main cities of Italy and Europe over the last four years to bring Made in Italy products to the world with its #AroundTheTop tour and the “People are different and live different communication campaign. Dress your kitchen”. It all started in 2016 when, as a way of launching the specialized kitchen top brand, Iris Ceramica Group bought a large 12-meter truck and equipped it with two kitchens with innovative SapienStone tops with integrated induction, which allow you to cook directly on the ceramic surface. The goal was to establish a dialogue between different cultures on the many ways of experiencing cooking. After traveling for thousands of kilometers between Naples, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Lyon, London, Birmingham, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, the truck was donated by the Foundation to the Italian Red Cross as a special civil protection and health care vehicle. The Provincial Committee of Pisa, which operates across the country with over 1000 members, will in particular use the truck to support health screening and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. The Sapienstone truck’s new life began on May 22, 2021, at the San Rossore Park in Pisa, where it served as a means of providing emergency assistance and support for the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2021, a world equestrian championship which, this year, saw competing horses and riders from 35 nations, representing 5 continents, on a 160 km course within the estate.
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ENVIRONMENT
An educational garden for the Casa Coccapani nursery school
In June 2021, a new educational garden was inaugurated inside "Casa Coccapani" in Fiorano Modenese, a green space surrounding the nursery school of the same name redeveloped to a design promoted by the Iris Ceramica Group Foundation working with the municipality of Fiorano Modenese . The inauguration event was attended, amongst others, by the Mayor Francesco Tosi, councilors Luca Busani and Carlo Santini, the schools coordinator Barbara Messori and the Florentine parish priest Don Antonio Lumare.
The design won the ninth Next Landmark international competition for architects and designers organized by the Floornature.com magazine and promoted by the Iris Ceramica Group Foundation that invited participants to transform the outdoor area of the nursery school into an “educational garden”, without upsetting the layout of the spaces and keeping the existing trees.
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CULTURE
Unesco Youth Forum: working for the future of under-35s
The Italian Youth Forum, an annual event of the world’s biggest UNESCO youth association was held in March 2021. During the event, the Next Generation You Manifesto was presented and discussed with representatives of institutions and companies, experts and attendees, as a real and joint commitment to implement good practices and spread awareness of the issues in the UN’s 2030 Agenda. This was subsequently presented to the Italian government as a proposal for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The guests included Federica Minozzi, CEO of Iris Ceramica Group, who took part in the session entitled “La Casa Comune”, dedicated to the most virtuous and forward-looking local companies involved in pursuing environmental and social sustainability.
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