Buoni Sole

“Buoni Sole”: A New Step Toward Safer Outdoor Workplaces

As part of its commitment to improving public health behaviors, La Roche-Posay is launching the “Buoni Sole” initiative in Italy. Inspired by corporate meal voucher systems across Europe (including Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, or the Czech Republic), this UV ticket initiative aims to improve access to sun protection for outdoor workers, while also raising awareness and reinforcing the belief that sun protection is a fundamental worker right.

Sun exposure is not just a summer concern for millions of outdoor workers, it’s a daily occupational risk.

In Italy, more than 4 million people work outdoors every day (Source 1: Eurostat, Source 2: EU-OSHA), exposed to long hours under intense sun and UV rays. From construction sites to fields, vineyards, fishing boats and docks, these workers spend hours under direct sun, creating a dangerous working environment.

“Outdoor workers are significantly more exposed to UV rays, which increases their risk of developing skin cancer by around 60% compared to indoor workers,” explains Stefania Guida, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.
Yet, 52% of outdoor workers do not use any sun protection at all (Source: La medicina del lavoro)

Proper protection isn’t occasional, it’s consistent
While helmets and protective gear are standard in outdoor workers' safety kits, sun protection is still too often overlooked. Not because workers don’t care, but because sunscreen often comes at their own expense, making it a lower priority within already constrained budgets. When used correctly, effective coverage can require up to five tubes of sunscreen per month, representing a significant financial amount for many workers in Italy.

A workplace solution to a public health issue
To address this challenge, La Roche-Posay Italy, together with BETC Paris and Havas, has developed Buoni Sole, an innovative B2B initiative designed to make sun protection more accessible for outdoor workers.

Inspired by Italy’s widely used buoni pasto system, the concept is simple: a UV ticket that acts as a subsidy for sunscreen, helping employees cover its cost, with the expense partially supported by their employer, just as meal vouchers help cover food.
By enabling companies to contribute directly, Buoni Sole transforms sun protection from a personal expense into a shared responsibility and a standard workplace benefit.

From a pilot to a movement
To kick start the program, La Roche-Posay Italy is offering the cost of sun protection during the first summer for three pilot companies that have committed to continuing the program in the years ahead.

From Franciacorta to Sicily, in sectors where sun exposure is part of everyday work, the pilots include Irritec, CanevaWorld, and Terre d’Aenor, who are paving the way for broader adoption across Italian industries. La Roche-Posay is committed to closely following implementation on the ground, demonstrating how easily sun protection can be integrated into the daily routines of outdoor workers.

The brand is now inviting companies across Italy to join the initiative and take part in a collective effort to protect outdoor workers. Following a call to action shared on LinkedIn, more and more companies are expressing interest, helping Buoni Sole grow into a broader movement.