In April 2008 Hera launched the Hera₂O project, for the purpose of promoting the drinking of tap water by employees. In partnership with Adriatica Acque (an investee company of the Group), water dispensers have been installed in 5 in-house canteens, on 27 company premises and in 7 branches. The dispensers do not purify the water in any way, but offer chilled normal or sparkling tap water, without modifying the water’s properties in any way.

The project, has been backed up by an awareness raising campaign to relay information on the quality of tap water in the various areas supplied by Hera and on the environmental and economic benefits of consuming it. This project, was supported by an informational campaign which included the creation of a logo, posters and flyers about the quality of the water in the areas served by Hera, napkins for the canteens showing data on the quality of tap water, coasters for meeting rooms, carafes with the Hera₂O logo, articles in the House Organ, and news reports on the company TV and internal portal.

In July 2008 Hera distributed Hera₂O water bottles and informational materials to 4,500 customers and the over 6,000 employees of the Group, free of charge.

To consolidate the consumption of tap water, to avoid using disposable plastic cups every time one drinks and, finally, to “thank” employees who since April 2009 have agreed not to drink mineral water at break times, in June 2009 a water bottle was given free of charge to all staff members who use the four company canteens.

Furthermore, the Hera₂O project was present at numerous local events, including the 16th IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) World Organic Congress held in Modena in June 2008, and the 2008 and 2009 “Slow Food on Film” international festivals of cinema and food in Bologna.

During the conference held in Modena on 6 July to present the Hera Group 2008 Sustainability Report, Maurizio Chiarini (Managing Director of Hera), Luigi Rambelli (Chairman of Legambiente Turismo) and Fabio Massaro (Chairman of Adriatica Acque) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the supply, at special rates, of dispensers of still or fizzy chilled mains water to tourist facilities that have signed up to Legambiente Turismo and have a commitment to raising awareness on the consumption of tap water.

Already in March 2007 Hera and Legambiente Turismo signed an MoU for the development of environmental sustainability projects targeted at reducing waste in tourist facilities that support Legambiente’s Decalogue. Signed on 6 July, the Memorandum represents another step in the promotion of more environmentally friendly consumption habits, since it aims to reduce not just the consumption of bottled mineral water but also the environmental impact deriving from the production and transportation (mostly by road) of plastic bottles. Italy, with 194 litres per head in 2006¹, is in fact the largest consumer nation of bottled mineral water in the world.