2024 Sustainability Report: our way of growing, together

For Flora Toscana, sustainability is not something to be talked about only on important occasions: it is a practical way of working, making decisions and building the future. The 2024 Sustainability Report stems from this very vision and represents the first step in a voluntary reporting journey that places transparency, responsibility and the ability to look ahead at its centre. Not just figures, therefore, but a clear account of what we do every day to generate value for members, people, the local area and the entire supply chain.

Some figures

Some figures help us better understand the direction we have taken.

In 2024, Flora Toscana had 234 active members and 131 employees, with a strong prevalence of stable contracts. On the environmental front, 34% of the energy consumed already comes from renewable sources, while 98% of waste was sent for recovery. These figures do not fully capture the meaning of the Report, but they clearly convey a precise intention: to grow while keeping our focus firmly on what truly matters.

Sustainability through everyday choices

From supply chain management to logistical efficiency, from enhancing local production to relationships with customers and the local area, the aim is to combine economic development, environmental care and social responsibility. Transparency, traceability and the ability to adapt to a constantly evolving context also play a central role in this journey.

Environmental sustainability

On the environmental front, 2024 was an important year for consolidating the monitoring of energy consumption and emissions. Total consumption recorded amounted to 2,044.06 MWh, with the renewable share currently linked mainly to production from the photovoltaic system. This is complemented by measures already under way, such as LED lighting, plant upgrades and pilot projects on lower-emission logistics, for example through greater use of sea transport compared with air transport. Looking ahead, the direction is also clear, with the intention of further strengthening the energy transition pathway.

Biodiversity

There is also a theme that is almost part of Flora Toscana’s identity: biodiversity. The Report shows how the protection of plant variety is not an abstract concept, but something that comes through daily work with members, through research and the enhancement of floricultural species. A concrete example is the reproduction of nineteenth-century Camellias, historic varieties that were at risk of being lost. At the same time, the cooperative promotes practices that support agricultural ecosystems and has also developed a line of “bee friendly” plants, supporting pollinators.

Water management

Water management is also approached pragmatically. The direct impact of the sites is limited, but this does not mean lowering our level of attention. On the contrary, the document describes the commitment to using this resource efficiently, with technologies that reduce waste and with the intention of increasingly supporting the supply chain towards more precise and sustainable irrigation practices. In a sector such as floriculture and nursery production, where water is an essential resource, this approach is particularly important.

Circular economy

Flora Toscana is working to reduce the impact of packaging, prioritise lighter and recyclable materials and eliminate overpackaging wherever possible. In 2024, 24.24 tonnes of waste were produced, of which 23.73 tonnes were sent for recovery or recycling, with a recovery rate of 97.9%. These are encouraging results, accompanied, however, by the awareness that there is still room for improvement, especially along the supply chain and in the search for innovative solutions to close material cycles more effectively.

Social responsibility

The Report also devotes considerable attention to people, rightly described as the heart of the cooperative model. At the end of 2024, there were 131 employees and 84.7% had a permanent contract. The issue of safety remains a priority, with a structured system made up of audits, checks, protective equipment and continuous training. During the year, only one workplace accident was recorded. At the same time, training was regarded as a genuine tool for growth: in 2024, a total of 794 hours of training were delivered, including mandatory courses and additional programmes on logistics, project management, sustainability, commercial skills and digital skills.

Alongside employees, the document also highlights the value of the membership base. With 234 active members, Flora Toscana continues to invest in mutuality, services, experimentation and tools such as the Members’ Development Fund, designed to support companies as they move towards more modern, resilient and sustainable production models. It is a vision consistent with the group’s cooperative nature: growing not alone, but together.

Sustainability beyond company boundaries

In 2024, Flora Toscana supported social, educational and cultural initiatives for the local area, from the “Paolo Batoni” Scholarship to projects with schools, associations and organisations committed to social inclusion and health. This is an important aspect of the Report, because it shows how corporate responsibility can also translate into a concrete presence, listening and participation in the local community.

Governance

Finally, there is the issue of governance, namely the way in which these commitments are made solid and credible over time. Flora Toscana describes a participatory and transparent model, supported by tools such as the Code of Ethics, the whistleblowing system, the progressive integration of ESG criteria into supplier management and the digitalisation of data collection through the ESGeo platform. In 2024, moreover, there were no convictions or fines for corruption or extortion. This too is an important sign: sustainability needs culture, processes and shared responsibility, not just good intentions.

This first Sustainability Report is not intended to be an end point. Rather, it is a starting point from which to measure ourselves better, identify priorities and define increasingly concrete objectives. For Flora Toscana, this means continuing to place nature, people and the quality of relationships at the centre of its choices. And it means doing so with a clear outlook: that of those who know that the future is built every day, together.

For those wishing to explore the data, methodology and content in detail, the natural reference remains the full Sustainability Report.

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