Agustina Ramet – Softys

For Agustina Ramet, law is not just about compliance—it’s about creating value, fostering trust, and building a better future. As Legal, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability Director for Softys, she leads with a conviction that every legal framework, contract, and policy can be a vehicle for positive change. Her role sits at the intersection of business and purpose, where she ensures that Softys’ growth across Latin America is both responsible and resilient.

Agustina Ramet | Softys | Legal, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director

Softys, a CMPC company, is one of the region’s leading hygiene and personal care manufacturers, known for brands that touch millions of lives every day, such as Elite, Higienol, Babysec, Sussex and LadySoft. From tissue paper and diapers to feminine care and personal hygiene products, Softys operates in multiple countries, each with unique regulatory and environmental contexts. That diversity is part of what makes the company’s sustainability strategy both ambitious and necessary.

“Sustainability is one of the five pillars of our business plan—the foundation on which we build everything else,” Ramet says. “Our commitment goes well beyond legal compliance.”

That commitment is spelled out in the company’s Sustainability Strategy 2024–2028, guided by the principle “We care about the future today.” It focuses on four main objectives: being better together—prioritizing people, safety, diversity, and integrity; being responsible from beginning to end—reducing environmental impact throughout the supply chain; caring about our consumers—offering sustainable value in every product; and supporting communities and their development—creating shared value and mitigating negative externalities.

Balancing legal responsibilities with these goals, Ramet says, means using compliance as a baseline rather than a ceiling. “From there, we innovate and create value,” she explains. “That’s how we reduce risks, strengthen trust, and open up responsible growth opportunities for Softys across Latin America.”

Beyond Compliance: Building a Responsible Business

At Softys, the Legal, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability team plays a far more strategic role than simply ensuring compliance or mitigating risk. Ramet and her team see themselves as enablers of sustainable growth, weaving environmental and social principles into the company’s operating DNA.

“We make sure the company not only complies with existing regulations but is also prepared for upcoming legal and regulatory trends,” she says. This proactive approach allows Softys to innovate instead of react. In Argentina, for example, the company’s factories in Naschel, San Luis, and Zárate, Buenos Aires Province, were certified by Global Zero Waste—an achievement that went beyond local legal requirements. “This was done proactively by Softys Argentina, having sustainability as our guideline,” Ramet notes.

That proactive stance extends to every part of the business. The legal team helps translate Softys’ sustainability commitments into concrete policies, contracts, and governance frameworks. Whether it’s integrating responsible sourcing standards into supplier contracts or designing policies that promote diversity and inclusion, the team ensures that an enforceable structure backs every sustainability goal.

They also act as trusted advisors to operational and commercial teams, helping them identify opportunities where legal frameworks can support innovation. “Legal at Softys is not only about protecting the company,” Ramet says. “It’s about enabling it to lead responsibly and consistently across all the markets where we operate.”

In Argentina, where environmental regulations are evolving rapidly, this proactive model has paid dividends. Ramet’s team closely monitors legal changes and maintains dialogue with authorities and environmental experts to anticipate new requirements. But compliance, she says, isn’t just about risk avoidance—it’s a catalyst for innovation. “Stricter requirements on waste management or water usage often inspire us to improve our processes,” she says. “Regulatory evolution can strengthen our competitiveness and advance our long-term sustainability vision.”

From legal frameworks to human impact

Softys’ sustainability vision extends well beyond its factories and offices—it reaches into the communities where it operates. One of the company’s most impactful initiatives is Softys Contigo, a partnership launched in 2021 with the NGO TECHO. The project’s goal: to bring hygiene, water, and sanitation solutions to underserved communities across Latin America.

Through a US$6 million commitment running from 2022 to 2026, the program is expected to benefit more than 60,000 people in eight countries—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. So far, over 32,000 people have already benefited, thanks to the dedication of thousands of Softys employees and volunteers.

In Argentina, the initiative has delivered tangible results. Since 2023, Softys and its partners have built 132 sanitary solutions, each including a sink, toilet, and shower, improving the quality of life and access to potable water for 1,600 beneficiaries. More than 650 volunteers—including employees and clients—helped make it possible.

At the El Progreso neighborhood of Zárate, Softys partnered with TECHO and the local municipality to build 35 comprehensive housing and sanitation solutions for families living without basic services. In La Bístrica, the company installed in-home water connections, erected a water tower, and provided hygiene training sessions to improve sanitary conditions and prevent disease.

For World Water Day 2025, Softys teams in Zárate’s Reysol neighborhood installed 15 household access points to clean water and hosted workshops on menstrual health and proper handwashing practices, strengthening community health education. In Vicente López, the company delivered 10 emergency homes equipped with sanitation solutions to families who previously lacked them, helping restore dignified living conditions.

These initiatives combine infrastructure, education, and public–private collaboration to produce tangible improvements in hundreds of lives, highlighting the fundamental importance of universal access to clean water and sanitation as cornerstones of public health.

“These projects demonstrate what it means to translate sustainability from strategy to impact,” Ramet says. “We’re not only addressing environmental challenges but contributing to human dignity.”

The company’s focus on inclusion is another key component. In Zárate, Softys partnered with the local government’s Disability Directorate to promote employment for people with disabilities. The collaboration led to the hiring of a 23-year-old woman with developmental delays and a deaf woman as Human Resources Assistants. “They found not just a job, but a place where their dreams came true,” Ramet says with pride.

Stakeholder engagement, she adds, is fundamental to balancing business priorities with social and environmental goals. By maintaining open, honest communication and working collaboratively with partners, Softys has created a culture where sustainability is a shared responsibility. “This collaborative approach often leads to innovative ideas and mutual benefits,” Ramet says.

Governance, innovation & the future of sustainability law

Softys’ approach to sustainability is deeply rooted in corporate governance. Rather than treating environmental or social initiatives as add-ons, the company embeds them into its decision-making and long-term planning. “Sustainability is part of our governance DNA,” Ramet says. “It guides how we manage risks, engage stakeholders, and create long-term value for the company, our communities, and the environment.”

That commitment manifests in measurable objectives tracked with the same rigor as financial performance. Sustainability targets—ranging from emissions reductions to responsible sourcing—are integrated into board and executive accountability frameworks. For Ramet, this level of integration is what transforms sustainability from a communications topic into a strategic advantage.

Technology plays an increasingly vital role in maintaining that advantage. The legal team uses digital tools and analytics to monitor environmental compliance across all Softys operations. Automated systems help track permits, deadlines, and evolving regulations, while data insights allow the company to anticipate risks and opportunities. “By combining legal expertise with technological innovation, we ensure our sustainability efforts are transparent, scalable, and legally sound,” Ramet explains.

Innovation, however, is not limited to systems—it’s also cultural. The legal team actively promotes environmental awareness and collaboration across departments, from operations to communications. By aligning people around a shared vision, Ramet ensures sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.

For other legal leaders hoping to drive sustainability from within their own organizations, Ramet offers clear advice. First, embed sustainability into every decision. “Go beyond regulatory compliance,” she says. “Make sure environmental and social considerations are part of every contract, policy, and business discussion.”

Second, embrace technology and data. “AI won’t replace lawyers,” she says, “but it will probably replace lawyers who don’t take advantage of AI.” Data-driven insights, she adds, help legal teams move from reactive to proactive partners in sustainability.

Third, foster cross-functional collaboration. “Sustainability requires teamwork,” she emphasizes. “Legal leaders should work closely with operations, marketing, sales, and communications to align strategies and anticipate regulatory change.”

And finally, lead by example. Within her own department, Ramet has encouraged digitization and paper reduction, small shifts that reinforce Softys’ broader sustainability commitments.

Ultimately, Ramet sees her role as a bridge between business strategy and sustainability purpose—a link that ensures environmental and social goals are not just aspirations but integral parts of how Softys operates and grows. “The legal function has a unique opportunity to make sustainability real,” she says. “When we align values with action, we build not only a stronger company, but a better tomorrow.”