Abstract

Well-being, environment protection, and new generations’ future are becoming increasingly important in people’s perception, so companies must develop new products, services, and business models, and create new relationships and collaborations to meet their growth and profit, and, together, social responsibility. The companies must participate in social and political life, i.e., they must take responsibility. In this scenario, today’s businesses must invest their resources in research and innovation projects to satisfy social needs by complying with three principles: the principle of solidarity and responsibility, the principle of plurality, and the principle of participation. People want to choose, buy, and live in full respect of the planet, in order to leave a better world as a legacy to their children. Therefore, social responsibility requires a new business model, which led to the birth of «benefit companies» and Bcorps, which are emerging in the Italian context too. Benefit companies balance profit and social needs, to meet the interests of shareholders and communities: they combine individual benefit with the pursuit of a shared collective good. To support the transition to sustainability the private sector must work with the state and civil society to ensure public assistance and social security, avoid the exclusion of any social groups, protect the environment, preserve cultural heritage, and provide a sustainable future for our planet, in compliance with the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by United Nations Member States.