Amapola strengthens its commitment to the responsible use of technology by supporting the association that promotes culture, awareness and participation in the use of the web, AI and IT tools.

At a time when artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping work, relationships, access to knowledge and decision-making processes, digital technology must also become sustainable. Against this increasingly urgent backdrop, Amapola Società Benefit is becoming a supporter of Sloweb APS, an association committed to promoting the responsible use of IT tools, the web and Internet applications.

The impact of technology has become a central issue in public and social debate, and was recently addressed in an Encyclical dedicated to the relationship between artificial intelligence and the human person. In this context, the new collaboration stems from a shared commitment to helping build a culture of sustainability that also embraces the digital dimension. This is an area that affects every company, institution and community: from data security to technostress, from the energy consumption of data centres to service accessibility, from the impact on the evolution of professions to the ethical questions raised by artificial intelligence.

Two complementary paths

Amapola is a sustainability consultancy that, since 2009, has supported companies and organisations in developing strategies and projects that make sustainability tangible, understandable and shared with stakeholders. Amapola became a Società Benefit in 2021 and, through its common benefit objectives, is committed to promoting a culture of sustainability across all areas.

Sloweb APS promotes a responsible, conscious and participatory approach to digital technology, software development and IT infrastructure. Through outreach, awareness-raising, training, advisory activities and publications, the association is a point of reference in Italy for those seeking to explore the environmental, social and ethical impacts of technology.

The work of the two organisations is complementary: Amapola brings its expertise in ESG pathways, responsible communication and stakeholder engagement; Sloweb contributes specific knowledge of digital sustainability and a network of professionals committed to spreading more conscious practices in the use and development of technology.

The digital world is material

Talking about digital sustainability means recognising that even what appears to be immaterial has a concrete weight. According to Sloweb, the ICT sector is responsible for almost 4% of global CO₂ emissions, while data centres and networks are expected to account for up to 10% of global electricity demand. But the impact of digital technology is not only environmental. It also concerns accessibility, with 60% of websites in Italy failing to meet the minimum requirements for people with visual impairments; wellbeing, with around 40% of digital workers experiencing technostress; and data security and governance, in a European context that, between 2025 and 2026, recorded an average of 443 notified data breaches per day.

Digital sustainability therefore introduces the principle of responsibility into the production, management and use of technology, encompassing hardware, software, IT services and everyday practices. It is an approach that considers all three ESG dimensions: environmental, with a focus on emissions, circularity and e-waste; social, with attention to accessibility, equity and wellbeing; and governance, in relation to digital sovereignty, security, privacy and ethics.

Technology, people and the common good

“Artificial intelligence is bringing into the present a question we can no longer postpone: what idea of progress do we want to build?” says Luca Valpreda, Founder of Amapola. “Sustainability can no longer be limited to production processes, energy or raw materials. Today, it is deeply connected to the way we use data, platforms, algorithms and digital tools. Supporting Sloweb means strengthening an approach that brings together responsibility, critical thinking and care for people. Because if digital technology, which now occupies an essential place in our lives, is to be truly sustainable, it must remain understandable, governable and oriented towards the common good”.

“The use of digital technologies is now strategic and essential in almost every public and private activity, not only in the innovation and technology sector, but across all business areas,” says Pietro Jarre, one of the founders of Sloweb APS. “It must be understood, designed and governed consciously by those who do business, and examined as an already significant chapter — one that is set to become increasingly crucial — in sustainability policies. Artificial intelligence has only accelerated and amplified this impact. This is why, as Sloweb APS, we promote digital sustainability and believe in the value of collaborating with organisations that have strong sustainability expertise, in order to make our philosophy concrete. We are confident that public attention to this issue will grow significantly in the coming years”.

From awareness to action

Amapola’s support for Sloweb APS reflects a commitment to helping spread a culture of digital sustainability that can speak to companies, institutions, communities and individuals. A culture that does not separate innovation from responsibility, but holds them together: from awareness of the environmental footprint of technology to the promotion of more measured and accessible digital behaviours, from data governance to training on the ethical and productive use of AI.

From this perspective, the dialogue between Amapola and Sloweb may also become a practical form of support for organisations that want to assess their level of digital maturity, define policies and guidelines, train their people, reduce the environmental impacts of their tools and integrate digital responsibility into their ESG strategies. It is a path that starts with culture and awareness and moves towards concrete action, without losing sight of the key point: recognising the impact of digital technologies across all dimensions of sustainability.