Benefit Societies, or Benefit Corporations in English, originated as an American movement. The first US state to recognise them was Maryland in 2010, followed by Virginia, Vermont, New Jersey, Hawaii, California, New York and all the others in the following years. 

Italy was the first nation in Europe to embrace this new business model, more suited to the challenges and opportunities of 21st century markets. It is an expression of an evolved paradigm, which integrates into its corporate purpose not only profit objectives, but also sustainability, with the aim of generating shared value. 

Never before has such a strong focus been placed on environmental and social issues and the impact companies can have on people's lives and the planet. 

The company is the ideal centre for transforming society in a positive sense, but we need shareholders, stakeholders and managers to realise that real and concrete change is needed, based on higher standards of purpose and responsibility. 

But what are Benefit Societies actually and how do they differ from 'traditional' companies? 

They are virtuous companies that voluntarily pursue, in the exercise of their business activities, in addition to the profit motive, typical of 'for-profit' companies, one or more common benefit purposes, usually typical of 'not-for-profit' companies. 

A company, in essence, that aims for economic sustainability, but also environmental and social sustainability. This is why their management requires managers to balance the interest of shareholders and the interest of the community. 

Having a positive impact on society and the biosphere is achieved through the pursuit of concrete actions, planned in the impact report that the Benefit Society is obliged to publish by law, together with the classic year-end financial statements. This is an annual report that describes both the actions carried out and the plans and commitments for the future.

Thus, while normal companies have the sole purpose of satisfying their shareholders, Benefit Societies have the additional goal of improving life on the planet, with accountability, transparency, interdependence, innovation and wealth creation. 

Because those who work in the Benefit Society do so with a purpose of common benefit, pursuing positive effects or reducing negative effects on people, the environment, communities and territories in a voluntary and planned manner. 

Quaba was founded as a Benefit Company to 'improve habits' and help us to be more sustainable, starting with a simple and healthy gesture such as drinking a glass of water. With our solutions, we want to propose a new model of drinking water consumption, discouraging the use of disposable plastic containers and enhancing a resource that belongs to all of us and to our planet: water. Sustainability, respect for the environment and ethics represent for us the essential principles that underpin our way of doing business. 

We believe in and are committed to spreading, with all our partners, a business culture capable of generating favourable conditions for social and environmental prosperity, today and tomorrow. So that more and more companies begin to see their activities as a means of making our planet and our society a better place.