PREMISE
Mecoser Sistemi S.p.A. has implemented and certified a social responsibility system compliant with the requirements of the SA 8000:2014 standard.
Numerous surveys carried out in recent years have shown the expansion of market segments oriented towards critical and conscious consumption, preferring those companies producing goods / services that take into account the social and environmental impact of their activities. It is therefore evident how the ethical commitment of a company can enter directly into the so-called value chain, proposing the use of new competitive levers consistent with a sustainable development for the future of the entire planet.
This is undoubtedly the main reason why Mecoser Sistemi S.p.A. has felt the need to verify the correct management of corporate social responsibility, considering that the value of a product, in addition to its intrinsic qualitative characteristics, also consists of non – material characteristics associated with it, such as supply conditions, services of assistance and personalization, the image and finally the history of the product.
All this is valid both for the aspects related to consumer safety (think for example the wholesomeness of products intended for food use or the absence of genetically modified organisms), and for those linked to the so-called ethical nature of the production cycle (think for example, issues such as environmental protection or exploitation of workers in a manner contrary to some fundamental human rights).
For the former (safety aspects), consumer sensitivity has been more immediate because he can be considered a potential victim of unsafe products / services. For the latter, on the other hand, the ethical aspects of the production cycle, the threshold of attention is still in the ascent phase, following, precisely, of the problems connected to the processes of globalization.
Wanting to simplify the slogan as much as possible could be:
“Equip themselves a certified management system of social responsibility and labor rights makes it more competitive and allows us to achieve an ethically correct profit“.
This is even more true if a company already has an Integrated Quality, Environment and Safety Management System; undertaking to integrate it with the SA 8000 certification means taking on an ethical commitment, that is to say, depending on the country of reference, going beyond compliance with current legislation, integrating social and environmental problems in a voluntary way in its strategy, in daily operations and in relations with stakeholders ( in other words, investing in human and environmental capital). This path can be considered fully effective only if supported by an internal and external communication system and certified by a third party.
The decision to achieve the SA8000 certification is due to the fact that it is unanimously considered the best known international standard of reference in the world.
Secondly, another factor that has led to the choice of this certification model is that of so-called awareness. Without a doubt the benefits of the SA 8000 can be summarized as follows:
- achievement of best practices in terms of employment ethics, commercial activities and financial transactions;
- better involvement and motivation of employees;
- greater transparency on the management of activities;
- improvement of the corporate image and consequent implementation of the business;
- international recognition of commitment in a socially responsible business.
The Management considered, as a natural advancement of this strategy based on ethical values, the adaptation to the SA 8000 standard in order to structure and formalize the choices made. The realization and publication of the Report SA 8000: 2014 makes it possible to illustrate and declare the qualitative and quantitative performances achieved which highlight compliance with the law with a view to full transparency and collaboration with its stakeholders.
