Nettuno and UNI PdR 125:2022: Our Concrete Journey Towards Gender Equality

Why does a leading company in the professional hand cleaner sector choose to certify its social commitment?

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has evolved. It no longer concerns only environmental impact, but also embraces the social and governance dimensions (ESG). At Nettuno, a company that has been caring for the hands of workers in workshops and industries throughout Europe for decades, we obtained the Gender Equality Certification in 2025 in accordance with UNI/PdR 125:2022.

What is the Gender Equality Certification?

The Gender Equality Certification (promoted by the Lombardy Region and co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus) is an organizational management tool. It certifies that an organization adopts policies and practices aimed at ensuring equal opportunities in areas such as recruitment, career development, remuneration, work-life balance, and parental protection.

Our approach: establishing the Committee

To turn principles into concrete actions, we formally established the internal Gender Equality Committee. This body will oversee the implementation of the guidelines and promote internal awareness initiatives.

We believe that valuing female talent and ensuring equal conditions in a sector historically characterized by a strong male presence is both a social responsibility and a significant competitive advantage.

Support from the ESF+ 2021–2027 Programme

This initiative was also made possible thanks to institutional support.

The certification was achieved within the “Towards Gender Equality Certification” call, promoted by the Lombardy Region and co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021–2027, a European instrument that funds active labour market policies, inclusion, and skills development.

A journey that goes beyond certification

Nettuno has joined EWMD Italy (European Women’s Management Development), an international network that promotes women’s leadership and professional networking among women and organizations. It has also signed the #equalpanel Manifesto, a commitment to ensuring balanced representation of women and men in public and professional contexts, including conferences, round tables, events, and public debates, countering the phenomenon of so-called “manels” (all-male panels).

The three initiatives complement each other because they address different aspects of gender equality:
• within the organization, through the Gender Equality Certification;
• in the development of leadership and professional opportunities, through membership in EWMD Italy;
• in public representation and the visibility of women’s expertise, through the #equalpanel Manifesto.

Together, they represent a coherent path that goes beyond compliance with regulatory requirements, translating into a concrete commitment to an inclusive organizational culture, the enhancement of female talent, and greater fairness in decision-making processes and institutional communication.