The market and the social economy: the Gadda Act marks its tenth anniversary
Having been in force for two lustri, it remains a benchmark for ETS and businesses. The range of goods covered has expanded to include clothing, electronics and medicines
The Anti-Waste Act (Law 166/2016) is celebrating its tenth anniversary and remains one of the most progressive pieces of legislation governing the relationship between the market and social economy organisations. It did not merely introduce a set of rules to encourage the donation of goods no longer intended for sale. Rather, it has helped to change the cultural perception of waste, consumption and production, placing the issue of sustainability throughout the entire supply chain, from the business to the end consumer.
The key point is precisely this: goods that do not reach the market – whether because they remain unsold, have been withdrawn from sale, are no longer marketable, or have been excluded from ordinary distribution channels by the company’s own choice – do not necessarily lose their value. On the contrary, they can become tools for meeting the needs of the community, if integrated into an organised supply chain capable of linking companies, third-sector organisations and public bodies. It is in this context that the Gadda Act represented a paradigm shift.
Surplus ceases to be a cost to be managed or an asset destined for disposal, and becomes a resource to be recovered and channelled towards social purposes. From this perspective, giving goes beyond mere occasional charity, taking on a new function: the recovery of value and its return to the community in the form of a tangible benefit. This approach forges a strong bond between businesses and the third sector, recognising the latter as a vehicle capable of transforming assets of economic value into effective responses to social needs.
It is no coincidence that, in recent years, increasingly well-structured supply chainsdonation networks. This applies to surplus food, but also to medicines and, more generally, to a wide range of goods that the legislator has progressively brought within the scope of the legislation.
A wider range
Whilst in the initial phase the basket mainly comprised foodstuffs, medicines, personal and household care and hygiene products, supplements, stationery and books, subsequent developments have also extended the range to include furniture, furnishings, toys, building materials, household appliances, personal computers and electronic devices. As highlighted by MP Maria Chiara Gadda, these are ‘unclaimed orphaned products, end-of-season stock, and goods discarded due to minor cosmetic defects, which can find new value within the supply chain social solidarity sector. Poverty, unfortunately, is on the rise, and people’s needs include access to food, as well as school supplies, personal and household care and hygiene products, textiles and toys. This is why projects such as ‘Amazon Dona’ and ‘Fondazione Valore’ can help foster a culture of giving.”
