BOTTA EcoPackaging
Company profile
BOTTA EcoPackaging has been manufacturing corrugated cardboard packaging since 1947. It is well-established in the industry as a sustainability expert and has received numerous international prizes, including the Packaging Excellence Award (2020) and the Road to Green Award (2022).
Context and objectives
BOTTA EcoPackaging rises to the challenge of ethnic discrimination and under-representation of women with its “inclusive and sustainable packaging” scheme. It promotes gender equality, supports foreign women from different backgrounds and places value on diverse teams, which are more capable of responding to the market and innovating. The company has opened up opportunities for discussion to drive the necessary cultural change and demonstrate the resulting added value.
Description of activities and results
The inclusive and sustainable packaging scheme by BOTTA EcoPackaging implemented several measures to foster inclusion and diversity. First and foremost, recruitment and hiring were geared towards looking for candidates from diverse backgrounds, in particular foreign women, with the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship programme by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mentoring and training programmes were launched to support the career development of new hires.
Discussions on unconscious biases and gender stereotypes stimulated the personal and professional growth of all employees, through the experience of working in teams with a mix of genders, ages and ethnicities, and the recognition of different cultures, traditions and capabilities. Internships specifically for international female students led to those with excellent performance being offered full-time jobs, as proven by the case of a Vietnamese intern who is now a key figure in the marketing department.
The scheme turned the work environment around: women in senior roles offered fresh perspectives, steering the company into the future. The inclusive culture improved satisfaction and the sense of belonging among employees, inspiring mutual respect. Language and technology skills also improved due to the need to communicate with the new staff, including through the use of simultaneous translation.
Tip
Looking for people from different cultures was essential in order to appreciate the benefits of diverse teams and nurture open-mindedness about new cultures and capabilities.