Novamont received the "UGO" certification, which is awarded by the Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CISE), a special branch of the Forlì-Cesena Chamber of Commerce in Italy.

The UGO certification is given to organizations which:

• invest at least 5% of their value-added in basic or applied research activities;
• apply the "precautionary principle", if necessary, when launching new products which might, in the current state of the art, imply some degree of uncertainty in terms of their interaction with human health, safety or the environment;
• when applying the precautionary principle, invest at least 1% of their turnover in research specifically aimed at eliminating any threats at source wherever possible, and at anticipating preventive measures to combat existing risks;
• direct their business and planning capabilities towards innovations that maximise the value and quality of life for everyone concerned;
• and compete by looking to increase value rather than reduce costs.

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Novamont is one of Italy's leading bioplastics firms, based in Novara, Italy. On September 9th company representatives explained how their biodegradable materials (Mater-Bi®) can be used as a form of sustainable innovation in agriculture. As well they described Novamont's approach to sustainable innovation management, highlighting the methods used by the company and its compatibility with new markets interested in corporate social responsibility issues.