Winners of the 5th edition of the social innovation and sustainable development award and the 8th corporate social responsibility and sustainability ideas competition

President Mario Pozza: We extend our best wishes to everyone, encouraging the pursuit of continuous growth along individual paths of improvement toward sustainability, with the hope of collaborating to achieve the common goal of protecting our planet.

Treviso, October 16, 2024 – The awards ceremony for students and businesses, held as part of the social innovation and development award and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability ideas competition, took place at the Treviso Chamber of Commerce.

With pride, – President Pozza stated – for the past twenty years, the Treviso-Belluno/Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce, through its services dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has been designing, disseminating, and promoting CSR values, recognizing that the social dimension is a key asset in economic action, spanning human capital, local relationships, and engagement with stakeholders. Now, with the European Commission’s agenda goals and the widespread awareness of the need to pursue sustainable development through both digital and ecological transitions, these years of intense activity represent as a guiding trajectory for strategic business choices and a means to support competitiveness both in Italy and abroad.

Two longstanding initiatives, the “Social Innovation and Sustainable Development Award” and the “Ideas Competition for Schools,” have reached their 5th and 8th editions, respectively. These initiatives provide financial rewards to recognize projects that are socially responsible and serve their local communities, enriching the economic landscape through innovative ideas, technologies, and approaches geared toward a more sustainable economy.

This special focus on all-round sustainability characterises the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso – Belluno in particular. All the more so in this year, as also celebrates 20 years of activity.

The Chamber has chosen to reward the winning projects—developed by businesses and schools—within the framework of these two competitions, in this joint event aimed at fostering an exchange of ideas between today’s entrepreneurs and the “entrepreneurs of tomorrow,” to support a more sustainable economy and world, encompassing the three pillars: economic, environmental, and social.

A total prize fund of €37,500 has been allocated among the winners, selected by a dedicated evaluation committee.

The schools’ competition offers three prizes for each education level:
1st Prize: €2,000
2nd Prize: €1,000
3rd Prize: €500

For the business competition, two prizes are awarded for each of the three categories: €5,000 for the first place and €4,000 for the second place.

We renew our best wishes, – stated President Mario Pozza, – for everyone to continue growing by following their individual paths of continuous improvement toward sustainability, while hoping to collaborate to achieve the common goal of protecting our planet.

This year, the business competition received 22 project submissions, of which six were selected for awards.

The Chamber’s website and the dedicated CSR portal provide summaries of the key features and economic impact of the six awarded companies, recognized today:

– HBI S.r.L., Zero Branco (TV) – 1st prize for Environmental Innovation, for the project “Eva mini,” which developed and prototyped an innovative technology for the efficient treatment of sludge from civil and industrial wastewater.
– 4stores S.r.L., Treviso – 2nd prize for Environmental Innovation, for the project “Junk Plastic Rehab,” combining sustainability with fashion and design, transforming waste materials into high-end luxury eyewear.
– Pan del Piave S.a.s., Maserada sul Piave (TV) – 1st prize for Social Innovation, for the project “Young Bakers: because innovation means workplace well-being and new partnerships,” which focuses on process and product improvement, workplace well-being, and the development of new partnerships.
– Tecnosystemi S.p.A., Vittorio Veneto (TV) – 2nd prize for Social Innovation, for the project “A New Green Area in the Industrial Zone,” creating a better ecosystem for local families and workers by reclaiming public spaces for environmental and social benefit.
– Primavera di Tomas Martina, Tambre (BL) – 1st prize for Economic Innovation, for the project “Farm Manufacture – Alpago Cashmere,” which outlines the growth path undertaken to develop handmade accessories and garments using cashmere from the company’s own herd.
– Soc. Agr. Anticamente SS, Roncade (TV) – 2nd prize for Economic Innovation, for the project “Widespread Anticamente Shop,” expanding the distribution of “Pane coraggioso – Brave Bread,” made from ancient, organic grains through a short supply chain and natural sourdough.

For schools, during the 2023-2024 academic year, the Ideas Competition “20 Years of Corporate Social Responsibility: New Challenges for a More Sustainable World,” invited students and teachers to reflect on sustainability and the interconnections between the ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) pillars, with the aim of imagining and building a more sustainable future. The students created promotional materials that represented the evolution of CSR over the past 20 years within the Chamber of Commerce. The projects of the four winning schools have been published on the Chamber’s website and the CSR portal:

– Primary School “C. Ronchi” – IC of Vallada Agordina (BL) – 1st prize in the primary schools category for the project “Happy Birthday CSR! Celebrating 20 Years of CSR with the Song of Sustainability, the Responsibility Calendar, and its history.”
– ENAC Veneto Foundation – Canossian C.F.P. Treviso, 1st prize in the secondary schools category for the project “CSR – Shortology,” a poster illustrating the Chamber’s key achievements in CSR activities and services.
– ISISS “A. V. Obici” – Oderzo, 2nd prize in the secondary schools category for the project “Ideas for a More Sustainable World,” a CSR-themed calendar for use in 2025.
– ITT “E. Barsanti” – Castelfranco (TV), 3rd prize in the secondary schools category for the project “Let’s Stay Sustainable,” a short presentation on CSR and the Treviso-Belluno Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber will continue to develop new services and enhance existing ones, including pathways to sustainability reporting and gender equality, participation in systemic projects on the energy transition, and providing grants and support to businesses and associations to foster digital and ecological innovation.

The Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of services to companies, aspiring entrepreneurs, and schools, available both in-person and remotely, allowing users to access these services with ease and through various technological means.