\About LEAF

Sustainability as a concrete commitment
for a better tomorrow

Our commitment to sustainability is based on concrete premises and on the awareness that it is a challenge that must be tackled on all fronts and according to precise rules. Central to this is the will and the need to balance economic goals with social and environmental ones.

We have decided to summarise the principles that inspire all our current and forthcoming initiatives to achieve these goals in the word LEAF.

LEAF is a word that immediately evokes nature and, at the same time, is an acronym with a strong communicative potential.

LEAF is our answer to the mission of defining, planning and implementing corporate policies in full accordance with the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Life

Individual and collective existence as an expression of equity and inclusiveness.

Action

Projects and initiatives for a fairer and greener world.

Environment

The environment to be protected and enhanced.

Future

The commitment to ensure the next generations a better future.

\Philosophy

The principles that guide us

Every good corporate philosophy is grounded on the will to offer consistent and convincing answers to important questions.

More specifically, with our commitment to sustainability we pursue a development model in which sustainability is part of our ability to stand out by creating value for all stakeholders. We have therefore assigned it a driving role in our growth process and made it an integral part of our corporate culture.

We carefully assess whether what we intend to do is financially sensible and feasible with the resources we have, whilst also setting ourselves the task of measuring its social and environmental impact by acting at all levels.

In short? Purpose, Profit, People, Planet namely, the guiding principles of our sustainability journey.

The journey

Brand reputation

  • Taking part in design competitions and awards

  • Experiential workshop to identify initiatives and insights on specific topics

  • ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards

  • Adoption of the impact and/or sustainability report

Internationalisation

  • Supporting growth in new markets

  • Identifying international fairs beyond the Milan Furniture Fair

  • Inclusivity initiatives through products, e.g.: "humanization” of catalogues, multiculturalism

Product circularity and innovation

  • OR Code with instructions for disassembly and end-of-life management

  • LCA and product EPD

  • Extension of the product life cycle through repair and maintenance service; including monthly fees, extended warranty and maintenance contract

  • Increased use of renewable, recycled and recyclable materials

  • Integration of waste management instructions in promotional materials

Know-how protection and valorisation

  • Training on Lean topics

  • Adoption of a code of ethics, charter of values and code of conduct

  • Definition of procedures to ensure transversal skills

  • Working standards in a Lean perspective

Reduction of environmental impact

  • Purchase of renewable energy

  • Increased self-production of renewable energy

  • Calculation the carbon footprint at organisation level Scope 1, 2, 3 (Logistics in)

Supply chain

  • Adoption of a code of ethics and dissemination to suppliers

  • Supplier mapping

  • Sharing and disseminating sustainability objectives to suppliers

  • Supplier selection criteria in line with our values

  • Creation of a vendor list in accordance with ISO 20400

Governance

  • Lean organisation

  • Process digitisation

  • ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards

  • Adoption of the impact and/or sustainability report

Community

  • Strengthening relations with IUAV academic institutions ref. product innovation

  • ITS Pordenone

  • University of Padua and Udine for Circular Economy

Current and forthcoming concrete actions

CO2 compensation to offset climate-altering gas emissions.

Purchase of energy from renewable sources.

Increased use of products made of aluminium, a totally recyclable and infinitely reusable material.

Use of fabrics from recycling processes.

Use of cardboard also in packaging reinforcement elements instead of polystyrene; use of paper adhesive tape.

Use of paper cups in all company's beverage dispensers.

Electric car charging stations available on-site.

\Timeline

2022

Governance
and know-how

  • ESG rating

  • Business model analysis

  • Mapping of sustainability impacts

2023

Governance
and know-how

  • ESG rating

  • Adoption of a code of ethics

Circularity and product
innovation

  • Increased use of renewable, recycled and recyclable materials

  • Integration of waste management instructions in promotional materials

  • Design of a circular product (REUSE)

  • Circular Economy training

  • Integration of waste recycling instructions in promotional materials

Environmental
impact reduction
and supply chain sustainability

2024

Governance
and know-how

  • Sustainability report (addendum to the statutory financial statements)

  • ESG rating

  • Lean training

Circularity and product
innovation

  • Sale of a circular product (REUSE)

  • Product LCA and EPD (REUSE)

Environmental
impact reduction
and supply chain sustainability

  • Offsetting CO2 emissions

  • Carbon footprint analysis (Scope 3)

2025

Governance
and know-how

  • ISO 45001, Mog 231

  • ISO 14001

  • Drafting the charter of values and code of conduct

Circularity and product
innovation

  • extension of the product life cycle through repair and maintenance

Environmental
impact reduction
and supply chain sustainability

  • Offsetting CO2 emissions

  • Sharing and disseminating sustainability objectives to suppliers

  • increase the self-production of renewable energy

\Our support to the “Valle Lagunare” project:

a concrete and certified contribution to safeguarding the Venice Lagoon

Varaschin - eCO2care logoAs a tangible proof of our close connection to the territory, we decided to support the “Valle Lagunare” project relating to the Venice Lagoon, thanks to which we received an important recognition for the compensation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, obtaining 270 VER credits (TCO2).

The underlying premise is that the impacts of climate change at sea are more rapid and more evident: as a result, marine life and its ability to absorb CO2 is increasingly under threat. Purchasing carbon credits by supporting this project means contributing to the ecological transition of the lagoon and its ecosystems towards a sustainable future.

The project consists in the assessment of greenhouse gas production/absorption in a eutrophic lagoon environment - (‘Fishing Lagoon’) used for extensive aquaculture purposes. Certified carbon credits generated directly in the lagoon are thus issued, thanks to the extensive organic fishing activities and the ecosystem balance in the lagoon valley.

The extensive and respectful management of the natural rhythms of fish farming allows for the conservation of the lagoon valley environment, creating an ideal microclimate that counters the negative impacts of climate change and enables the valley's marine ecosystems to capture large quantities of CO2 and store them in their seabeds.

Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) is the process by which large quantities of carbon are captured and stored in two types of algae that are plentiful in the Venetian lagoon: macroalgae, visible to the naked eye, and phytoplankton. These underwater organisms capture CO2 through photosynthesis: the certified natural process involves brackish water capturing permanently and naturally large quantities of atmospheric CO2 without any mechanical intervention.

The maintenance work carried out regularly in the lagoon valley, on the other hand, is the activity that ensures environmental health, leading to an increase in biodiversity and significantly enhancing the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere.

download the eCO2care certificate
Varaschin - Our support to the “Valle Lagunare” project Varaschin - Our support to the “Valle Lagunare” project Varaschin - Our support to the “Valle Lagunare” project

\Code of Ethics

The principles that guide us

The Code of Ethics of Varaschin S.p.A. (hereinafter the “Company”) identifies a set of core principles and values as the constant benchmark for the daily actions of all the Code Recipients in the business management and its respective activities, which the Company recognizes as essential elements of its own identity and corporate culture.

The context in which the Company works and the challenges that the latter will face in the future, indeed, have made necessary the drafting of this document (hereinafter also “the Code”) in order to outline not only a set of principles and values, but also the rules of conduct that the Company undertakes to respect and enforce. The document is intended as an asset of business ethics, aimed at creating the conditions for managing the relations with the market and all its stakeholders.

For Varaschin S.p.A., the concept of Ethics is therefore expressed in the ability to integrate into its business activity the respect and protection of the interests of all the individuals with whom the Company interacts, with the fundamental safeguard of the resources involved.

The Company aims to reconcile the pursuit of market competitiveness with respect for fairness in professional relationships and to promote, in terms of social responsibility and environmental protection, the correct and responsible use of resources. This relates to the efficiency of business management mechanisms, including the measurement of the inherent risks, primarily our business compliance, which represents the foundations of a sustainable economy.

learn more about the Code of Ethics

\Values

Ethics

For us, sustainability and ethics are an inseparable pair linked to the principle of accountability. At the core, there is the awareness that development must be able to meet the present's needs without compromising the right of future generations to meet their own needs.

Improvement

Sustainability and improvement in our corporate policies are closely intertwined. Communicating our sustainability strategies effectively and correctly increases our value to all stakeholders, positively affecting the trust of all parties involved in our business.

Centrality of the person

The relationship between sustainability and the centrality of the person is a crucial issue for us. In each person, regardless of the role they occupy in the company, we recognise the ability to make an essential contribution to improving our sustainability performance.

\ESG Rating

A development model based on strategically defined environmental, social and governance policies

In order to measure our ability to act according to a sustainable development model, we have undergone an audit to obtain the ESG rating, a synthetic judgment that assesses the ability of a company and any other economic entity to manage environmental, social and governance aspects.

This extension of traditional business indicators is based on the assessment of three factors, the initials of which form its acronym: Enviromental, Social, Governance.

Environmental

The environmental factor addresses risks linked to climate change and, therefore, the actions to reduce CO2 emissions, improve energy efficiency as well as the efficiency in the use of natural resources, the adoption of policies aimed at combating pollution of production sites, the implementation of practices related to the circularity of resources.

Social

The social factor focuses on policies aimed at improving the working environment, welfare, labour relations, gender, skill and age differences, labour standards, safety in the workplace and respect for human rights.

Governance

The governance factor concerns ethics and transparency, the presence of independent or non-executive directors, diversity in the composition of the boards of directors, the development of sustainability plans and objectives linked to boards’ remuneration, control procedures, policies and, more in general, the behaviour of managers and of the company in terms of ethics and compliance.

The results of the ESG rating show both positive aspects and some criticalities, but the most important thing is that we can observe an improvement from year to year, demonstrating that we are on the right path towards the goals set out in the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ESG Rating 2024
ESG
sme rating
57/100
rating grade
A
E
environmental rating
39/100
S
social rating
63/100
G
governance rating
69/100

55 – 99

low
risk
AAA
AA
A

In harmony with the European Union 2030/2050 targets and frameworks, the company is looking at the future with positive impacts among the entire ESG materiality and a high transparency level towards the stakeholders.

25 – 54

medium
risk
BBB
BB
B

The company has started a journey of sustainable development, which is opening the doors to new opportunities of growth. However, there is a moderate risk of not being able to stay aligned with the upcoming regulatory compliance.

0 – 24

high
risk
CCC
CC
C
D

Although the company is complying with its national regulatory system, it seems there is a difficulty in planning and executing strategic sustainable development objectives and/or the progress is too slow.

There is a high risk of fraud and/or prejudicial events.

0

E

Not enough information in order to rate the company.

2022
ESG
sme rating
44/100
rating grade
BBB
E
environmental rating
24/100
S
social rating
50/100
G
governance rating
58/100
Varaschin rating ESG 2022
2024
ESG
sme rating
57/100
rating grade
A
E
environmental rating
39/100
S
social rating
63/100
G
governance rating
69/100
Varaschin rating ESG 2024
Improvement from 2022 to 2024
Environment
Waste
38/100
49/100
Energy
28/100
41/100
Environment
11/100
46/100
Mobility
17/100
20/100
Social
Professional
ethics
45/100
58/100
Social
responsibility
62/100
72/100
Health
and safety
43/100
58/100
Governance
Transparency
40/100
55/100
Products
29/100
56/100
Innovation
75/100
79/100
Economy
89/100
86/100

\Products

Designing and building a people-
and environment-friendly future

Nowadays, imagining a product, designing it, producing it and launching it on the market means addressing sustainability issues in a concrete way. At the centre, there is the need to improve the health of our planet and the quality of life for all of us.

The search for creative and production guidelines that allow us to employ natural and recyclable materials, and at the same time to use them wisely in order to reduce the impact on the availability of resources, has been one of the cornerstones of our approach to the creation of each new collection for several years now.

Quality remains an essential value, which results in durability, a factor of great importance in our green philosophy: indeed, allowing people to enjoy a long-lasting product means promoting a model of responsible consumption.

Varaschin Reuse collection

Reuse

The REUSE collection represents the first point of arrival of a new path of innovation and sustainability.

Consisting of an armchair, a lounge chair, a pouf and a long pouf, all characterised by softly curved lines that evoke the organic forms of nature, it is entirely designed, as its name suggests, with the intention of reuse.
The choice of materials, all extremely durable and totally recyclable, respects the principles of circular economy. The structures, made of Okoumé wood, are boltless, meaning that no adhesives are used. The hemp used for the upholstery fabrics is sourced from plants grown without fertilisers, thus reducing emissions. Materials made up of multiple raw materials have been excluded to make the product end-of-life recovery easier.


download the LCA certificate explore Reuse
Varaschin Noss collection

Noss

Consisting of an armchair, chair and stool, the NOSS collection stands out for the original and successfully balanced relationship between the elegant sturdiness of the seat and the sinuously welcoming lines of the backrest.

The green highlights of the project are the use of aluminium for the seats, a 100% recyclable and almost endlessly reusable material, and the use of powder coating. The latter, unlike liquid paints, is free of solvents, toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOC) and has therefore less impact on the environment.

explore Noss
Varaschin Barcode collection

Barcode

For the BARCODE collection, which includes sun loungers, coffee tables and consoles characterised by an elegant linear texture 'engraved' in the wood, we used selected teak from certified and responsibly managed plantations, respecting nature, workers and all regulations on the origin of raw materials.

This choice reflects our commitment to a design in which style, functionality and respect for the environment coexist in the best possible way.

explore Barcode
Varaschin Bali collection

Bali

Consisting of a two or three-seater sofa, armchair, bergère and coffee tables, the BALI collection is characterised by essential lines of extreme formal purity.

The centrepiece of the project is the solid teak structure, made using certified wood from responsibly managed plantations, respecting nature, workers and all regulations on the origin of raw materials.Behind this, there is what we can define as an ethical choice at the service of aesthetics and well-being.

explore Bali

\Fabrics

Fabrics chosen to benefit people and the planet

We select fabrics for the upholstery of our collections according to their capacity to combine performance and beauty with sustainability.

The special fiber, the main material from which fabrics are made, allows avoiding dyeing after the production process. This leads to a significant reduction of the use of water (up to 5 times less), energy and chemicals, thus generating much less pollution.

The amount of recycled materials used by our supplier to manufacture them is constantly increasing. 100% of acrylic waste is recycled and destined for reuse.

The resistance to tearing, abrasion and pilling (the fiber balls that form with use over time), and the colour fastness, i.e. the ability to resist the action of external agents without compromising the quality of the dyeing, guaranteed for 5 years, translate into high durability; hence, less consumption of natural resources and reduction in overall related emissions.

\Environmental
policy

environmental policy