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MILAN – Rhea Vendors Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coffee break machines, presents the 2024 Sustainability Report, which for the first time includes the Group’s entire international scope. The Report represents an important step in the process of integrating sustainability into the business model, strengthening the company’s commitment to creating shared value for people, communities, and the environment.
“With this second Sustainability Report, extended for the first time to include all our international offices, we want to share an integrated vision of our global commitment. We are aware of our responsibility toward the planet and its people, and we will continue to promote a business approach that combines quality, well-being, and sustainability. Our ambition is to encourage a more conscious lifestyle, offering moments of conviviality that respect the environment and enhance human relationships,” comments Andrea Pozzolini, CEO, Rhea.
Highlights:
- 65 years of history
- 11 international branches
- More than 90 countries served worldwide
- 401 employees globally
- 99% of hires on permanent contract
- 100% energy from renewable sources in Italy and Austria
- -18 tons of materials used
- 57 actions planned for sustainability
- 8 areas of R&D
- Part of the United Nations Global Compact
A growing commitment: the adoption of the ESRS and the updated Sustainability Plan
In 2024, Rhea began the transition from the GRI standards to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), aligning itself with the new European reporting directives (CSRD).
The 2024 Report, therefore, represents a first step toward increasingly comprehensive, transparent, and consistent disclosure aligned with the Group’s ESG priorities.
At the same time, the company updated its 2024–2026 Strategic Sustainability Plan, which now includes 57 initiatives across seven main areas: culture and strategy, governance, environmental impacts, products and services, value chain, people, and communities.
Actions completed during the year include joining the United Nations Global Compact, calculating the product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and establishing the ESG Committee to oversee sustainability governance in an organised manner.
rhea ESG: fostering sustainability
In 2024, the company launched the “rhea ESG” initiative, designed to encourage and support responsible behaviours to make the vending sector more sustainable by offering participants a contribution to finance sustainability policies.
The machine models used to promote the initiative generate significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to their non-ESG equivalents, demonstrating the effectiveness of the design choices aimed at reducing environmental impact: the patented Varitherm induction heating system, the modular structure, and the use of recycled and recyclable materials.
Each rhea ESG machine is equipped with a QR code that allows customers and consumers to access dedicated content on the product’s sustainability, raising awareness throughout the entire value chain. “With this initiative, we aim to activate a virtuous circle among suppliers, customers, and consumers,” explains Pozzolini, “to transform vending into a shared lab for sustainable innovation.”
People first
In 2024, Rhea reaffirmed the central role of people as a driver of sustainable growth.
99% of employment contracts are permanent, and the company expanded its training programmes, offering pathways dedicated to developing both hard and soft skills. To support onboarding and sharing company values, a “buddy” system was also introduced for mentoring new hires and strengthening the sense of belonging and collaboration within the organisation. Particular attention is given to gender equality, as evidenced by the UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification, which was achieved and maintained. Women hold 33% of Board of Directors positions, representing an overall gender pay gap of 8.3%, an improvement over the 9.0% recorded in 2023. This result, which stands out positively compared to national averages (over 20%) and the broader European context (13%), demonstrates the company’s concrete commitment to promoting equity and constantly monitoring any gender-related differences.
Governance and transparency
In 2024, Rhea strengthened its sustainability governance system by establishing an ESG Committee, coordinated by Stefano Macchi, Chief Sustainability Officer. Its task is to monitor the implementation of the plan and ensure alignment between strategy, objectives, and results.
The Group has a Code of Ethics and a whistleblowing system that allows employees and collaborators to report any irregular behaviour confidentially and safely. These tools represent a fundamental safeguard of corporate conduct, helping mitigate reputational and legal risks.
“The 2024 Sustainability Report is tangible confirmation of our determination to anticipate regulatory developments and consolidate a corporate culture based on ethics, transparency, and sustainable innovation,” adds Stefano Macchi. “Being a community that promotes people’s well-being is our shared goal. Through our work, our products, and our choices, we want to contribute to spreading a more sustainable lifestyle.”
Social responsibility
Rhea has always considered its social obligations in the territories where it operates to be central. The belief that no solid and lasting growth can exist without the well-being of local communities has guided the company in developing concrete initiatives aligned with its values and capable of generating a positive impact.
Over the years, Rhea has built a synergistic relationship with the local social fabric, supporting organisations that promote inclusion, culture, sports, solidarity, and care. This commitment is now undergoing a process of strategic evolution, aimed at bringing all initiatives together under a single set of values and identity, with the goal of structuring a coherent and recognisable strategy for giving back to the community, both locally and internationally.
A commitment to the future
With the 2024 Sustainability Report, Rhea strengthens and expands its commitment to increasingly responsible and innovative growth. This is an ongoing journey, guided by the belief that sustainability and people’s well-being are the foundations of a shared and lasting future.
The 2024 Sustainability Report is available on Rhea’s website here.
About Rhea
Rhea, founded by Aldo Doglioni Majer in 1960, is one of the largest producers of automatic machines for coffee breaks in the world. For over sixty years, Rhea has stood out for its wide international reach, high-level design, state-of-the-art technology, and ‘Made in Italy’ excellence. With headquarters and manufacturing based in the province of Varese and foreign branches in 10 countries, Rhea is proud of having spread coffee break culture to over 100 countries around the world.
From a global player in vending to a pioneer in the introduction of vending to the new retail, hospitality and out-of-home sectors, Rhea confirms its mission to interpret and often anticipate a constantly evolving market.
Rhea’s new proposals revolutionize the very concept of hospitality, both in business and domestic contexts, with a value proposition that improves the coffee break moment.
