The year 2026 will be pivotal for the Autonomous Province of Trento's Special Strategic and Integrated Marketing Project, coordinated by Trentino Sviluppo's ESG & Sustainability Area. After a 2025 devoted to laying the foundations – with the approval of the Trentino Sustainability Charter of Values, the definition of the new territorial sustainability brand, the establishment of the ESG assessment model for businesses and the launch of the Trentino Sustainability Managers Community – the focus of the new year will naturally be on operational implementation, the consolidation of tools and the increasingly structured involvement of the territorial ecosystem, with a view to achieving the ultimate goal: making Trentino the first territory with an ESG rating.
The Sustainability Label for enterprises
Among the priorities for 2026 is the conversion of the new regional sustainability label into a dynamic tool for enterprises. Within the year, the process of defining guidelines and a user manual, as well as procedures for requesting the logo, controls and verifications, will be initiated.
A dedicated digital platform will be completed, designed to simplify the launch and continuation of sustainability initiatives by businesses. Training activities for trade associations will also be provided, as well as the activation of an information desk managed by Trentino Sviluppo and the launch of a targeted communication campaign, primarily aimed at supporting micro and small businesses in a practical and credible transition to sustainability.
ESG assessment model: benefits and priorities
An additional area of work will focus on implementing the ESG assessment model. Already tested during last year, the system will now be refined to respond to the needs of the national market, while still remaining faithful to local specificities and the needs of the public administration. The model will be directly linked to concrete opportunities related to its use: contributions, incentives, and rewards in public tenders and competitions. Another central aspect will include the design of a digital solution capable of making the assessment process more accessible to businesses and more efficient in terms of data management by the Province.
In parallel, 2026 will see a strong commitment to achieving an ESG rating, including a feasibility study involving all PaT (Autonomous Province of Trento) departments. The ESG & Sustainability area of Trentino Sviluppo and the Province's Sustainability Strategic Mission Unit (UMST) will support internal engagement, coordinating an interdepartmental working group and guaranteeing alignment with regulatory and technical developments, leading up to the validation of the final document and the definition of future development actions, including the preparation of a sustainability reporting model for the Province.
The Sustainability Managers Community and the importance of networking
Stakeholder involvement will continue to be a key element in 2026. The Trentino Sustainability Managers Community will be animated through events, local seminars, round tables and update reports, thereby strengthening dialogue between businesses, institutions and the world of research.
Research, networking and communication activities will round off the programme of events planned for 2026. The Province will consolidate its collaboration with the University of Trento on research areas dedicated to ESG reporting for the public administration, methods of measurement and interoperability between tools available to businesses. At the same time, Trentino Sviluppo will continue to take part in networks and round tables on the definition of the new national and European regulatory framework. Lastly, structured communication activities will help spread awareness of tools, opportunities and best practices, integrating sustainability more and more into public policies for regional development. By 2026, sustainability in Trentino will not only be a guiding principle but a catalyst for systemic change for all actors in the territory.
Cover: photo by Trentino Sviluppo