The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) awarded Alessandro Benetton the 2023 Global Advocate of the Year award for his "dedication and leadership in promoting sustainable policies as president of Edizione, one of Europe's leading holding companies.
Alessandro Benetton was awarded by the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, who underlined the commitment of the Italian businessman, at the head of Edizione from 2022, to promoting the culture of UN ESG criteria within a broad portfolio of activities. Its companies employ more than 70,000 people around the world and cover areas ranging from mobility infrastructures with Mundys, to food distribution (Avolta), clothing (United Colors), agriculture and digital services, taking on the challenge of a development that does not generate inequalities, but is distributed equitably between women and men and between generations.
The award is a recognition of the strategic approach that Alessandro Benetton has developed over the years by applying the teachings he received at Harvard University from Michael Porter in the activities of 21Invest - the European investment group he founded in 1992 - and with which later joined the Shared Value Initiative as the world's first venture capital firm.
It is a path of constant commitment that has led it to use sustainability as an integral part of the value creation process, investing, again with 21Invest, in companies that have grown and become competitive by improving the economic and social conditions of the communities. in which they work.
The award also highlights the introduction by Benetton of a new sustainable business culture at Edizione SPA, through initiatives carried out by companies such as Mundys, the infrastructure parent company, whose holding companies present in 24 countries will reduce their assets by half. emissions by 2030 - until reaching zero no later than 2040 - and to which the World Economic Forum has entrusted the leadership of the negotiating table to guide the process of decarbonization of global air transport.
This result has also been obtained on the basis of the results achieved by Aeroporti di Roma, which with Fiumicino airport is playing a leading role worldwide not only in terms of quality of service - recognized with five Skytrax stars and for the sixth rated as the best airport in Europe for consecutive years, but also for strategic decarbonization projects, such as Abertis' commitment to promote electric mobility through the installation of innovative charging stations in its main networks.
The UNCA Awards ceremony was held on Friday, December 15 at Casa Cipriani in New York, in which Sharon Stone, elected World Citizen of the Year, and Sofia Carson, World Defender of the Year for her activities as Unicef ambassador.
The prize is awarded each year to high-level personalities who work to find solutions to global problems, from conflict resolution to humanitarian aid, from disease control to climate change... Among the winners in previous editions are President Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Ted Turner, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Nicholas Cage, Stevie Wonder and Michael Douglas.
"I am honored to receive this recognition for my commitment to sustainable development, just as the important COP28 agreement to abandon fossil fuels by 2050 has been reached. It is now up to each of us to work to achieve this goal," said Benetton.
