In the Italian industrial landscape, two prominent figures stand out not only for the quality of their products but also for their extraordinary social responsibility: Brunello Cucinelli and Isabella Seràgnoli. Both demonstrate how business can be a powerful tool for social improvement, significantly contributing to the communities in which they operate.
Brunello Cucinelli is an entrepreneur in the luxury fashion sector, with stores worldwide and a revenue of 1.1 billion euros. Unlike many prestigious Italian brands, Cucinelli produces entirely in Italy, maintaining control over the entire production chain. This approach not only guarantees the highest quality products but also ensures fair working conditions for all employees.
His employees receive a salary 40% higher than the national manufacturing contract. Additionally, those attending the company's artisan school receive a stipend, promoting training and professional growth. In 2018, Cucinelli sold 6% of his shares to beautify the areas around Perugia, where his company is headquartered. He purchased degraded areas, reclaiming and transforming them into farmland, and funded the construction of sports facilities and cultural activities.
In 2020, he invested 3 million euros in Tes Pharma, a startup researching cures for rare diseases overlooked by major pharmaceutical companies. They are currently studying a molecule to treat some forms of rare cancer and acute kidney diseases, for which there is currently no cure.
Isabella Seràgnoli is the sole shareholder and president of the Coesia group, one of the leading companies in packaging machinery production, with a revenue of 2 billion euros. The Coesia group is headquartered in Bologna, and the Seràgnoli family has always had a strong connection to the area.
As early as the 1970s, the company donated the Hematology and Oncology Institute to the Sant'Orsola Hospital, also funding its modernization and expansion. In 1998, Seràgnoli built one of the first hospices in Italy in the town of Bentivoglio. Subsequently, the Seràgnoli Foundation was established, which built the hospice in Casalecchio and funded the palliative care unit at Bellaria Hospital.
Recently, Isabella Seràgnoli invested 50 million euros in the construction of a pediatric hospice, inaugurated a few weeks ago. This hospice, set in an 8,000-square-meter park, provides pain relief and therapy for children and accommodation for their families, all free of charge. The facilities are accredited and managed by the foundation, with the National Health Service reimbursing the daily cost for each patient, while the remainder is covered by Seràgnoli herself.
The stories of Brunello Cucinelli and Isabella Seràgnoli show how entrepreneurial philanthropy can have a significant impact on society. Both of these entrepreneurs are virtuous examples of how economic success can be combined with social responsibility, giving back a portion of their profits to the community. These models of Italian excellence remind us that doing business is not just about generating wealth but also about contributing to the collective well-being and the improvement of society.