Amplifon S.p.A. (EXM; Bloomberg/Reuters ticker: AMP:IM/AMPF.MI), global leader in hearing solutions and services, announces its new Sustainability Plan “Listening Ahead”. The Plan includes 20 new targets in four areas (Product & Service Stewardship, People Empowerment, Community Impact, and Ethical Behavior) to 2026, 2028, and 2030.

These targets include the promotion of accessible hearing care, increasingly innovative customer experiences, but also support to students and professionals interested in joining the hearing care industry; the development of talents, in terms of skills and professional growth as part of a healthy and inclusive work environment that guarantees equal opportunities to all; raising awareness among young people about prevention and hearing health, thanks to projects of significant social value and active engagement of Amplifon employees in the Group’s Foundations initiatives; lastly, particular focus will be devoted in integrating sustainability criteria as part of responsible supply chain management, in addition to new initiatives targeting our fight to climate change and promoting circularity initiatives.

This is the second Sustainability Plan in Amplifon’s history after the one announced in 2021 with targets through 2023. Since 2016, Amplifon has been following an organic path into sustainability, focused on listening to its stakeholders: from customers and their needs to all the employees and collaborators, from local communities to future generations, from the value chain to the environment in which the company operates. 

Amplifon developed its new Sustainability Plan in light of its main stakeholders’ priorities, including, for example, employees, the communities in which it operates, suppliers, investors, and ESG rating agencies, highlighting its contribution to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are the most relevant to its business.

In order to guarantee the full alignment of Amplifon’s entire organization to its sustainability strategy, the targets are also reflected in the Company’s Remuneration Policy which is tied to Top Management’s short- and long-term variable compensation. Lastly, with a view of further integration of the Company’s financial and sustainability strategies, the same targets are also linked to three ESG-linked credit lines.  More in detail:

 Product & Service Stewardship

• Offer free complete hearing tests, generating a total saving of more than €600 million for prospects and customers in the period 2024-2026.
• Implement the New Store Protocol in at least one-third of the countries where Amplifon operates by 2026.
• Invest in future audiologists and hearing care professionals by offering adult professional programs and licensing support involving at least 800 people globally in 2024-2026.
• Define and launch a new Amplifon-branded product reusable packaging with revised materials by 2025.

People Empowerment

• Provide at least 3 days on average of training per year per capita for back-office employees (including at least 2 hours on average of training on sustainability-related topics) and field force employees up to 2026.
• Ensure that at least 40% of the back-office population is assessed as talents & high performers every year up to 2026 and that at least 30% of the field force is assessed as talents & high performers by 2026 in the countries where the new assessment system for the field force is implemented.
• Obtain the Top Employer Global Certification by 2026.
• Maintain above 50% female gender representation in the global back-office population every year up to 2028 and increase it in the global leadership population to at least 35% by 2028.
• Launch a new Global DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) Action Plan by 2024, including bias-free workshops for the DEIB committee & core team and all global leaders by 2024.

Community Impact

• Extend the “Listen Responsibly” program to involve a total of at least 10 million people under 35 globally by 2028 through digital communication campaigns and events.
• Reach at least 50.000 total noise measurements via the noise tracker of the “Listen Responsibly” app by 2026.
• Reach at least 5.000 employees’ participation in Foundations’ volunteering and Social Ambassadorship initiatives in the period 2024-2026.
• Contribute to the development of Amplifon Foundation’s activities also to expand its activities in other countries outside Italy, with at least €5 million donated in the three years 2024-2026.

Ethical Behavior

• Achieve Supplier Code of Conduct acceptance and assess ESG practices of 100% of its direct suppliers and at least 50% of key indirect suppliers by 2026.
• Reach 100% of green electricity supply for HQs and direct stores by 2030.
• Reach more than 60% hybrid or fully electric global car fleet by 2030.
• Set and submit near-term decarbonization Science-based Targets by 2025.
• Increase the penetration and use of rechargeable hearing aids, avoiding the use of more than 320 million batteries per year by 2028.
• Install in at least 50% of direct stores end-of-life battery collectors for a new centralized collection and recycling process by 2028.

The new Sustainability Plan is included in Amplifon’s Non-Financial Statement 2023 which as of this year, is part of the Annual Report 2023, as evidence of the further inclusion of ESG topics in the Company’s business strategy.