In 2003, Poste Italiane adopted a Code of Ethics, setting out the fundamental principles that underpin the Group's culture, behaviour, and approach to business.
The Code applies to all individuals involved in pursuing Poste Italiane’s goals and outlines the principles and rules of conduct to be followed in professional activities and in managing relationships with shareholders, colleagues, customers, suppliers, and partners, as well as public institutions, political organisations, trade unions and all the company’s stakeholders What the code covers.
Together with the 231 Model, the Code of Ethics integrates the overall crime prevention system and is a reference for all specific policies and regulatory instruments governing activities potentially exposed to the risk of offences.
The Code applies to all individuals involved in pursuing Poste Italiane’s goals and outlines the principles and rules of conduct to be followed in professional activities and in managing relationships with shareholders, colleagues, customers, suppliers, and partners, as well as public institutions, political organisations, trade unions and all the company’s stakeholders What the code covers.
Together with the 231 Model, the Code of Ethics integrates the overall crime prevention system and is a reference for all specific policies and regulatory instruments governing activities potentially exposed to the risk of offences.
WHAT THE CODE COVERS
Summary of key topics covered. For complete guidance, see the full Code of Ethics.
We are aware that we play a primary and relevant role in the market, economic development and the well-being of the community and the people who work or collaborate with us. Therefore, we consider it essential to clearly defne the values and social role that enable us to contribute to the processes of cohesion, inclusion and overall sustainability of the territory and the communities in which we operate.
- Who it applies to and when it applies
The Code applies to directors, supervisory bodies, management, and all employees, as well as to those who work - either directly or indirectly, permanently or temporarily - to pursue the objectives of Poste Italiane. All recipients must comply with its principles.
- Guiding principles (our core values)
Over the years, the Code of Ethics has changed, with the goal of updating and broadening the principles and rules of conduct.
The current version — approved by the Board of Directors in November 2023 — reaffirms and expands the basic principles that guide Poste Italiane’s culture, behaviour, and way of doing business.
Our core values must be shared and applied by all stakeholders as the basis for a relationship of mutual trust:
- Integrity and legality
We promote integrity, legality, honesty, fairness and fair competition between parties - Impartiality and fairness
We operate according to impartiality and do not allow any discrimination - Community support
We actively work to support the needs of the socio-economic context and the community - Respecting and valuing people
We recognise the contribution of each individual as well as of teamwork - Transparency and Completeness
We promote transparent communication at all levels - Sustainable growth
We promote sustainable success through responsible investment - Innovation
We identify innovation and digitisation as key elements of strategic progress, necessary to offer state-of-the-art technology solutions - Environmental protection
We encourage environmental protection through a conscious management of energy, water and waste - Quality, diligence and professionalism
We devote our best efforts to constant improvement - Confidentiality We ensure the necessary confidentiality in handling information
- Integrity and legality
The Code of Ethics constitutes the set of values, principles and commitments that we have towards our people and towards our many external stakeholders, regulating the way we work and collaborate together.
- Protection of rights and dignity
We promote the protection of human rights for all people working within our value chain - Staff welfare and development
We promote loyalty, fairness and respect in the relationships between our People - Diversity and Inclusion
We operate with impartiality and do not allow any form of direct or indirect discrimination - Occupational Health and Safety
We promote the psychological and physical well-being of people through policies, prevention programmes and information and awareness campaigns - Protection of corporate assets
We use and manage company assets and tools with integrity, fairness and responsibility - Healthy working environment
We promote a healthy working environment and deem any act or behaviour that constitutes harassment or violence in the workplace unacceptable - Gifts, presents or other benefit
We act on the basis of the principles of honesty, transparency and integrity - Conflict of interest
We ensure compliance with provisions on conflict of interest
We invite our stakeholders to share our values, as the basis of an increasingly solid relationship of trust, made up of common ideals and goals
- Equal opportunities and fairness
We base our relationships with suppliers and partners on competence, professionalism, transparency, fairness and impartiality. - Conflict of interest
We require our suppliers and partners to comply with provisions on conflict of interest - Anti-corruption
We actively contribute to preventing and combating all acts of corruption - Anti-money laundering and Anti-terrorism
We counter all forms of money laundering and terrorist financing
- Privacy protection
We guarantee the protection of personal data and maximum information security - Quality, transparency and fairness towards customers
We set customer satisfaction as the main objective of our quality policies and safeguard the rights and interests of those who benefit from our goods and services
- Value for investors, efficiency and transparency
We pursue the goal of long-lasting and sustainable value creation for the beneft not only of shareholders, but also in consideration of the interests of other stakeholders relevant to the company - Privileged information
We ensure the proper handling of corporate information and of inside information in particular - Competition
We oppose any form of illegitimate restriction of competitive confrontation
- Protection of health, safety and the environment
We promote policies to protect health and safety, the environment and public safety - Relations with associations and political and trade union organisations
We ensure relations with political and trade union associations and organisations that comply with the principles of integrity and transparency - Community support
We take an active role in supporting the needs of the socio-economic context and the community
We supervise compliance with the Code of Ethics by setting up appropriate information, prevention and monitoring tools and procedures, also ensuring the transparency of operations and conduct implemented and intervening with corrective actions if necessary. In particular, the competent functions are committed to promoting the correct and effective distribution of the Code of Ethics, including through specifc training and communications initiatives.
- Awareness of and compliance with the code of ethics
We are committed to disseminating the Code of Ethics as widely as possible to all stakeholders, also through training and information initiatives aimed at sharing the contents of the Code and creating awareness of the principles and rules of conduct for day-to-day activities and the related methods of implementation - Reporting violations
In order to bring to light any irregularities or alleged offences, we provide all stakeholders with communication channels (Whistleblowing channels) suitable for guaranteeing the receipt and management of substantiated reports of relevant conduct based on accurate and consistent factual elements, ensuring the protection of the reporting person in line with the applicable legislation. - Disciplinary actions
If a violation of the principles of the Code is verifed, the Ethics Committee will bring the case to the attention of the relevant corporate function or corporate bodies. - Approval and revision of the code of ethics
The Code of Ethics is adopted by resolution of the Board of Directors of each company of the Poste Italiane Group, which also approves subsequent updates.
Model 231
The principles that guide our organisation in the management of the company activities.