GIFASP: from environmental sustainability to sustainable business

With memory and topicality, well-deserved attention for young people and preventive measures for the future of enterprise: the goals and challenges of a “small and beautiful” world are made clear.
Stefano Lavorini

The folding box and carton manufacturers represented by GIFASP organized two events during the month of June. The first, held on Thursday the 16th in Milan, saw the presentation of awards to the winners of the Packlick photography contest, in memory of Giuseppe Meana. The second, held in Bardolino on the 17th and 18th, was the 36th National Congress dedicated to “The generational transfer of business and protecting the entrepreneur’s personal legacy”.

Packaging in a snapshot
“Packaging is everywhere”, but it’s not seen until it ends up in the rubbish bin: this, so far, has been the fate of a universal object, a symbol of our current consumption model.
This has been a thorn in the side of the entire packaging industry (which sees itself neglected, if not outright accused) and the motivation for repeated attempts by industry associations and manufacturers to penetrate the wall of “ignorance” and indifference that separates citizens from the reality.
A subject made complex by its implications for technology, the market and the environment, packaging is rarely able to engender compelling stories capable of capturing the popular imagination. This is perhaps because it is too real and necessary to be reduced to a one-dimensional surface, in the manner of what is most popular today.

But the problem is also a matter of resources, as the supply chain - from raw materials producers to retailers, from packaging manufacturers to brand owners -, acting in an uncoordinated fashion, is not able to focus its resources to take advantage of the power of an all-pervasive media.
The current approach is through single targeted campaigns, usually focused on young people, in the hope of making them more informed “consumers” or professionals.
This was the case of the Packlick photography contest, organized by GIFASP in partnership with Pusterla 1880 to honor the memory of Giuseppe Meana, a businessman and photography lover, but also promotes the sustainability of paper packaging.
We dedicated considerable space to the event in the July/August issue of ItaliaImballaggio dativoweb.net/it/contenuti/gifasp-XXXVI-convegno-nazionale-concorso-fotografico-Packlick)

“Exams never end”... even for business
In the 1973 comedy film “Exams never end” by Eduardo De Filippo, the protagonist Guglielmo Speranza goes to confession: «I’m sick of following the rules of a society that demands a fervent “yes” from you, when much more fervent “no’s” rise up in your throat like so many hiccups».
It takes awareness and courage to take a position, to make determined and well-reflected decisions in general, but also and especially in moments such as that when one passes on a business to the next generation, which are often marked by the conflict of generosity and ambition, of rationality and sentiment.

The GIFASP annual conference, which was held on 17 and 18 June in Bardolino (VR) dealt with this topic, offering points for reflection, as well as updates on the tools available to business owners and the various fiscal and tax-related aspects of the various available options.
That this is no small matter is also attested by a recent study presented in Milan in early June by the company Global Strategy.
In the company’s 2016 SME Survey, 85% of the 448 Italian SMEs deemed Excellent (based on precise economic, financial and asset parameters) are controlled by a single family. Of this target sample, 32% have already gone through a generational change, 26% have planned one and 42% are yet to come up with such a plan.
In brief, there is a lot of work to do, and GIFASP has wisely decided to become active in this area.
The event also marked the latest in a long series of educational activities on the association’s part aimed at promoting a new perspective and a new way of doing business.

Training in the field. This time the event unfolded in two distinct registers: one in the vein of learning and psychology, based on the acceptance of the need to educate emotionally across generations, led by Paolo Roccatagliata; and another more pragmatic and specialized, expertly and accurately organized by Nicola Canessa and Paolo Gaeta, who looked at useful tools for generational transitions in order to highlight the advantages offered by the European legal instruments of internal trusts (which are different from offshore trusts) in order to protect assets, the interests of minors and differently abled persons and property for the safeguarding of inheritance, etc.

Adele Raiola’s informative presentation tackled the related topic of charitable donations.
“Off topic” but down to earth and of certain interest was the talk given by Paolo Tamborrini of the Polytechnic of Turin, who called the participants’ attention to the partnership of universities and enterprises in order to provide training in new professions in the field of packaging design.
Overall, the event was marked by ambitious goals, delivered with the best intentions, but left some confusion among participants regarding the schedule of meetings, as well as the number of actual members and enthusiastic participants in attendance, largely due to the unfortunate proximity with the large German printing fair Drupa.
The organizing of the event, by the association’s secretary with the help of the company PTS, was attentive and friendly. The location was excellent, in spite of the unfortunate timing and the power blackout that put a damper on the jovial evening.