Introduction and corporate commitment
Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Fidia’ or the ‘Company’) is an Italian multinational company founded in 1946, a global leader in the research, development, production, and marketing of innovative products, especially based on hyaluronic acid and its derivatives. Fidia distributes its products in over 120 countries worldwide, through a solid network of partners and distributors, and commercial branches in strategic markets.
Fidia’s business is characterized by a particular focus on safety, ethics, customers, people, processes, results, and efficiency. Aware of the strategic role of procurement in promoting sustainable development, Fidia has adopted this Sustainable Procurement Policy (hereinafter ‘Policy’), integrating it into its Ethics & Compliance System. The Policy aims to guide and support all company functions involved in purchasing—particularly the Procurement department—in selecting goods and services that meet environmental, social, and economic responsibility criteria.
Fidia recognizes that every purchase represents an opportunity to contribute to the creation of shared value throughout the entire supply chain. The Company is therefore committed to establishing relationships with suppliers who share the same values and to adopting operational tools to evaluate, monitor, and continuously improve the sustainability of its procurement activities. This Policy applies to all purchasing processes and represents an extension of the principles already established in the Supplier Code of Conduct, forming an integral part of Fidia’s commitment to a more sustainable, fair, and transparent future.
Purpose of the policy
This Policy defines the principles, objectives, and commitments through which Fidia intends to integrate environmental, social, and ethical criteria into its procurement processes, with the goal of contributing to a more responsible, resilient, and sustainable economic system.
This document aims to:
- Promote purchasing choices that minimize environmental impact and encourage efficient use of natural resources;
- Strengthen supplier selection and management based on social responsibility, protection of human rights, and occupational health and safety;
- Integrate principles of legality, transparency, fairness, and integrity in supplier relations;
- Support sustainable innovation, encouraging the adoption of low-impact, high-value practices and technologies across the entire product/service life cycle;
- Establish shared principles with suppliers and contribute to improving their sustainability performance.
The Policy serves as an operational reference for all company functions involved in procurement and represents a concrete commitment toward the evolution of a procurement model focused on sustainability and continuous improvement. Fidia expects its suppliers to share and operate in accordance with the principles set out in the Supplier Code of Conduct and in this Policy.
E.S.G. Principles
Fidia recognizes the central role of suppliers in achieving its sustainability objectives and expects them to adopt consistent measures with the following ESG principles and the Supplier Code of Conduct:
1. Ethics and Integrity
We expect suppliers to operate with honesty, transparency, and respect for the law, adopting practices consistent with the following principles:
- Corporate integrity and ethical behavior;
- Respect for fundamental human rights in every operational context;
- Accountability for their actions throughout the entire supply chain;
- Compliance with applicable laws at the local, national, and international levels.
2. Social Responsibility
Fidia requires suppliers to actively contribute to the well-being of people and communities through:
- Responsible conduct toward stakeholders;
- Protection of workers’ health and safety;
- Promotion of the economic and social development of the local communities in which they operate.
3. Human Rights, Child Labor and Forced Labor
In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Fidia is committed to preventing all forms of abuse along the supply chain. To this end, Fidia expects its suppliers to align with the following key points:
- Exclusion of child labor, defined as the employment of individuals under the age of 15 or, where higher, under the legal minimum age established in the relevant country;
- Exclusion of forced, coerced, or involuntary labor in any form, including servitude, coercion, withholding of documents, or other practices that infringe on individual freedom;
- Recognition and respect for freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
These aspects may be included in the ESG qualification process and be subject to periodic verification.
4. Environmental Protection
Fidia encourages the selection of suppliers committed to environmental protection. We expect suppliers to adopt solutions aimed at reducing the environmental impact of their activities by committing to:
- Use of eco-friendly products and processes;
- Adoption of certified environmental management systems (e.g., ISO);
- Application of reduce, reuse, and recycle principles, such as sustainable packaging, reduction of single-use plastics, use of recycled or recyclable materials;
- Implementation of environmentally sustainable practices and initiatives;
- Use of tools to assess environmental impact (e.g., L.C.A.) and measures to reduce carbon footprint, water consumption, and energy use.
5. Quality and Responsible Innovation
Suppliers must ensure high quality and management standards through:
- A comprehensive and effective Quality Management System (Q.M.S.);
- Use of facilities, equipment, and technologies appropriate to operations and in continuous improvement cycles;
- Responsible management of the materials and resources employed.
6. Promotion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (D&E&I)
Fidia promotes a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment, free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. We expect suppliers, in turn, to incorporate principles aligned with the following points:
- Valuing diversity among suppliers and employees;
- Promoting gender equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
These key principles will be taken into account during Fidia’s procurement process.
Integration into procurement processes
Fidia recognizes the strategic role of Procurement in promoting sustainable development and is committed to integrating environmental, social, and ethical criteria into decision-making processes throughout the entire supply chain. In particular, to ensure that business partners share the company’s sustainability values and standards, Fidia has established an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) supplier qualification process, which is structured in the following phases:
- Supplier Identification: the supplier to be evaluated is identified based on its strategic relevance, purchase volume, or type of supply.
- ESG Questionnaire Submission: the supplier is required to complete a dedicated questionnaire designed to collect information on environmental, social, and ethical aspects.
- Evaluation of Responses: the information provided is reviewed by the designated internal personnel to assess the level of compliance with Fidia’s required standards.
- Sustainability Risk Analysis: based on the responses received and any additional sources (certifications, previous audits, reports), a risk analysis is conducted to assess the supplier’s sustainability profile.
- Verification Audit (if necessary): in cases of critical or insufficient areas, a second-level audit may be conducted to directly verify operational conditions and processes (either on-site or remotely).
- Continuous Monitoring: qualified suppliers are subject to periodic monitoring of ESG performance, including questionnaire updates, reviews, field audits, and other initiatives.
The evaluation of responses to the ESG questionnaires and any supporting evidence collected (audits, certifications, risk analyses) is jointly reviewed by the Procurement team and an internal committee composed of representatives from various company functions, including Q.A., H.S.E., Finance, Controlling, Project Management, Legal, People & Culture, and Engineering. In the event of critical issues or deviations from expected standards, the team discusses whether to proceed with the procurement process, potentially initiating an improvement plan or suspending the collaboration. Final decisions are approved by Company Management, in line with the internal governance system.
Continuous performance improvement
Fidia considers continuous improvement an essential element for building a resilient, ethical, and sustainable supply chain. For this reason, the relationship with suppliers in terms of sustainability does not end with the initial evaluation phase but continues through structured actions of monitoring, support, and mutual growth.
In particular, Fidia intends to undertake the following actions:
- Periodic update of the ESG Questionnaire: suppliers are required, if requested by Fidia, to periodically renew the information provided through the ESG questionnaire in order to assess the evolution of their practices and sustainable performance.
- Dedicated improvement plans: in the presence of critical areas or room for improvement, specific corrective plans may be jointly defined, with measurable objectives and clear deadlines, including the activation of external development programs.
- Incentivizing virtuous behavior: ESG performance may be considered as an evaluation factor in contract renewals, the definition of purchase volumes, or access to future collaboration opportunities.
Through this approach, Fidia aims to build strong and lasting relationships based on transparency, trust, and the shared pursuit of common sustainability goals.
Fidia’s commitment
Fidia recognizes that a sustainable procurement policy cannot exist without consistent and coherent internal commitment. For this reason, the company adopts a series of concrete initiatives to ensure the effectiveness, updating, and dissemination of this Policy, as well as to strengthen the skills and awareness of its personnel involved in procurement processes.
In particular, Fidia is committed to:
- Training and raising awareness among internal personnel: through dedicated courses, workshops, and informational tools, a responsible and informed approach to procurement decisions is promoted.
- Periodic review of the Policy: the Sustainable Procurement Policy is subject to regular review to ensure its alignment with regulatory developments, international standards, business needs, and feedback received from suppliers and stakeholders.
- Promoting a culture of sustainability within the company: commitment to sustainability is shared across the organization, not only within the procurement area but also among other business functions, fostering an integrated and synergistic approach.
Through these actions, Fidia aims to create a continuous improvement cycle that involves both internal and external stakeholders.
Conclusions
The Sustainable Procurement Policy reflects Fidia’s commitment to promoting responsible purchasing practices throughout the entire supply chain. All current and potential suppliers are invited to review the Policy, embrace its principles, and actively collaborate in ensuring their implementation and continuous improvement. Fidia also expects its suppliers to provide, when requested, third-party certified information.
Fidia reserves the right to periodically update this Policy in response to regulatory developments, industry’s best practices, and business needs. Any revisions will be promptly communicated to suppliers and published in the appropriate section of Fidia’s website.
Fidia also encourages the reporting of any behavior that does not comply with the principles of this Policy, through the channels provided by the adopted whistleblowing procedure, in full respect of confidentiality and applicable regulations. All reports, including those submitted anonymously, will be handled with impartiality, promptness, and without any risk of retaliation for the whistleblower.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Policy may lead to corrective actions, including possible exclusion from commercial relationships, in accordance with the Supplier Code of Conduct and current contractual agreements.
Attachments
Supplier Code of Conduct: https://www.fidiapharma.com/supplier-code-of-conduct/
Ethical Code: https://www.fidiapharma.com/our-group/governance/
Whistleblowing Procedure: https://www.fidiapharma.it/il-nostro-gruppo/governance/