In the current fashion landscape and beyond, sustainability is undoubtedly at the center of attention. However, a crucial element often overlooked in the sustainability debate is workplace safety. To be truly ethical, an industry must foreground not only environmental sustainability, but also ensure safe and dignified working conditions. Without a solid focus on worker safety, the concept of sustainability remains incomplete.

ESG criteria: Environment, Social and Governance
The European Union has established ESG criteria to ensure that companies adopt practices that promote not only environmental sustainability, but also social well-being and responsible governance. These criteria include:

• Environment: corporate practices must minimize environmental impact, reduce CO2 emissions, effectively manage waste and protect natural resources;
• Social: companies must ensure safe and dignified working conditions, promote diversity and inclusion, and contribute positively to the communities in which they operate;
• Governance: there must be transparency in business practices, integrity in management and accountability in the conduct of business.

Data on accidents at work in Italy Jan/May 2024
In the first five months of 2024, data on workplace accidents in Italy paint a worrying picture: despite continuous efforts to improve workplace safety, the number of accidents remains high. In this period, INAIL recorded 251,132 injury reports, an increase of 2.1% compared to the 245,857 reports in the same period of 2023. This data also marks a significant increase of 14.5% compared to the first five months of 2021 and 21.0% compared to 2020. These numbers highlight the need to launch new challenges in ensuring safe and healthy working conditions.

Del Vacchio's model
In contrast to national data, Del Vacchio achieved a remarkable result: zero accidents at work. This achievement is the result of a strategy that integrates advanced automation and interconnection solutions, significantly reducing risks to the health and safety of workers. The company has adopted rigorous training plans, thus maintaining a safe working environment. This commitment demonstrates that workplace safety and environmental sustainability can and must go hand in hand. Truly sustainable production is not limited to reducing environmental impact, but also includes the creation of a safe and respectful working environment. In short, there can be no ethics without safety.

The European Union establishes ESG criteria to guide companies towards responsible practices, at the same time it is essential that every company is committed to ensuring that worker safety is a priority. Del Vacchio Leather represents an illuminating example of how a sincere commitment to safety can integrate perfectly with environmental sustainability and good governance. Ultimately, true sustainability requires a balance between respect for the environment, workplace safety and ethical governance practices.