The Global Compact Network Italy closed 2025 with its best membership results since its establishment: in fact, 150 companies have chosen to join the United Nations initiative in the last twelve months, bringing the total number of active participants in Italy to 791.
This significant growth confirms the central role of UNGCN Italy in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals set by the 2030 Agenda and takes on even greater significance in light of a year marked by strong geopolitical tensions and growing economic and environmental instability.
The composition of the Italian Network
The new members joining in 2025 further enrich the composition of the Network, bringing with them a plurality of experiences, sectors, and company sizes. Among the new members, companies represent 33%, while SMEs make up 67%, confirming the role of UNGCN Italy as an inclusive and cross-sector platform.
The UNGC Italian Network is now well-structured and representative of the national economic fabric: 791 participants in total, divided between:
- 336 large companies (43%)
- 397 SMEs (50%)
- 58 non-business organizations (7%)
This balanced model enhances the quality of dialogue and the effectiveness of the actions promoted, fostering a dynamic, resilient network focused on sharing good business practices.
The distribution by production sector also reflects the cross-cutting nature of the UN initiative: the most represented sectors include construction (17%), industry (11%), software and IT services (8%), chemicals (6%), and alternative energy (3%).
An overview of Italian companies performance in sustainability
The commitment of the companies participating in UNGCN Italy is confirmed by the results of the Communication on Progress (CoP) 2025, the mandatory annual report through which companies communicate their progress on the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. The data show an overall solid performance and, on some key issues, above the European average:
- 84% of Italian companies have adopted a formal human rights policy (in line with 85% at European level)
- 88% of Italian companies have implemented a commitment to environmental issues, exceeding the European figure (84%)
- 79% say they have a policy dedicated to anti-corruption, compared to 73% of the European average.
Read also:
2026 Annual Letter to UN Global Compact Participants from Sanda Ojiambo
UN Global Compact 2026: complete preview of scheduled UN international events