On Thursday, April 9, at the Circolo dei lettori in Turin, the event “Benefit Corporations: being, becoming, telling one’s story. A shared journey between identity and social impact” took place. The initiative is part of the national information and training programme promoted by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, with the support of Unioncamere and Si.Camera, aimed at supporting companies and professionals in the process of establishing or transitioning towards Benefit Corporations.

The morning session

The morning session was dedicated to exploring data, territorial practices, and impact measurement tools, moderated by Irene Maddio-Rocco (Torino Social Impact).

The event opened with institutional greetings from Simona De Giorgio (Coordination Committee for Social Entrepreneurship of the Turin Chamber of commerce and Torino Social Impact), Miura Fanello (Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy), and Marilina Labia (Head of Technical Assistance Area for Public Administration, Si.Camera). A particular focus was placed on institutional support for Benefit Corporations and the “Benefit Competition.”

The competition is a pioneering initiative in the Italian landscape, representing the first national competition specifically dedicated to Benefit Corporations. Promoted by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, it aims to recognise and give visibility to the best entrepreneurial experiences adopting the Benefit model, demonstrating how economic success and positive social impact can be combined.

Claudia Sanesi (Secretary General of the Chamber of commerce of Brindisi-Taranto) then contributed to the panel “The phenomenon of Benefit Corporations: data and territorial practices”, offering an overview of the model’s evolution, from its first regulatory framework—established 10 years ago—to today, supported by data from the Observatory of the Brindisi-Taranto Chamber of Commerce at both national and local level.

Emiliano Giovine (Head of ESG & Legal Impact at RPLT and Scientific Director of the Legal Impact pillar at Cottino Social Impact Campus) then explored impact measurement for Benefit Corporations in greater depth, beyond regulatory compliance, in a session titled “Impact measurement for Benefit Corporations.”

The following panel, “Fit4benefit: a training path for being a Benefit Corporation,” involved four Benefit Corporations that co-designed the Fit4benefit Community of Practice with Torino Social Impact and have actively participated since its inception: Emanuela De Sabato (Futura Law Firm SB), Alice Umbrella (BDFL Torino STP SB), Micol Burighel (Amapola SB), and Nadia Lambiase (Mercato Circolare SB). They shared reflections on the characteristics of Benefit Corporations within the Turin network, the main challenges for organisations adopting this model, and what is still needed to support its growth. They also discussed how working within an ecosystem can support the transition towards more sustainable business models and how organisations can concretely “train” to become a Benefit Corporation.

The final panel presented the afternoon Community of Practice activities, focusing on the relationship between Torino Social Impact, Unione Industriali Torino, and the framework of the Salone della CSR e dell’innovazione sociale within which the meeting took place. This collaboration highlighted the importance of working together.

As Lorena Di Maria (Torino Social Impact) stated: “The meaning of this collaboration stems from a shared intention: to join forces to do better together, pool networks and expertise, and ensure that what emerges from the Community of Practice—knowledge, tools, and solutions—does not remain confined to meetings, but becomes shared heritage, opening new learning trajectories.”

Rossella Sobrero also presented the theme of this year’s Salone della CSR e dell’innovazione sociale, “Going beyond,” stating that “sustainability must be transformative; if it does not generate change, it is not transformative. Sustainability must be desirable and bring pleasure. It is built in territories, therefore it is necessary to ensure well-being for people and businesses and share it within the ecosystem.”

The afternoon session

In the afternoon, the third 2026 session of the Benefit Corporations Community of Practice took place, titled “Communicating benefit between identity, value, and impact,” in collaboration with the Salone della CSR e dell’innovazione sociale and Unione Industriali Torino.

The session explored what it means to communicate effectively today, combining theoretical and practical perspectives on how to credibly and consciously communicate an organisation’s social and environmental commitment.

Rossella Sobrero led an initial training session on communication as a lever to promote organisational values, addressing brand activism and presenting examples such as Patagonia, Almo Nature, Banca Etica, and NaturaSì. She also discussed the transition from green marketing to greenwashing, highlighting risks, historical cases, and guidance on responsible communication.

Sustainability, she emphasised, is increasingly a competitiveness factor and, for Benefit Corporations in particular, a strategic driver that must be communicated sincerely, authentically, and in a measured way. Every organisation — whether a Benefit Corporation or not — must define its purpose in order to be recognised as a social actor. A clear purpose supports the definition of the “how” (culture, experience, know-how) and the “what” (products and services), strengthening intangible organisational assets.

Special attention was also given to the growing relevance of the “S” in ESG, now increasingly central, with companies expected not only to reduce environmental impact but also to contribute socially through workplace relations and broader community well-being.

A practical workshop followed, led by Micol Burighel (Amapola communication lead) and Anna Filippucci (Executive Account, Reporting Area, Amapola). Participants worked on developing clear and credible communication strategies for Benefit identity, identifying appropriate tools and channels. The exercise focused on constructing coherent, actionable messages rather than advertising slogans.

Overall, the event highlighted the importance of a synergistic approach between national and local levels, aimed at strengthening and disseminating the Benefit culture through shared tools, visions, and practices.