The main purpose of companies, cost effectiveness That doesn’t mean they can’t contribute—that is, they make money. improve society and the environment surrounding them while performing their activities. a deepening message between Alicante companiesespecially as a result of the importance gained by the so-called Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is supported by the United Nations.
Thus, until 73.5% of companies already settled in familiar with these goals, and more six out of ten they are already running internal social responsibility policiesAccording to his study Implementing the SDGs in Alicante, inca for Alicante Provincial Council. As explained by the authors of the report and those responsible for UA’s Head of CSR, the first of these features, which will be realized in the field where a total of 108 companies of all sizes participate, press irene Y Elena Gallant.
In this sense, the analysis is based on Alicante companies. probably to deal with this kind of policy social problems rather than environmental problems. Therefore, the Sustainable Development Goal that gets the most attention is the one related to the following. promoting decent work and economic growthin many cases without even realizing that the apps they promoted fit that strategy.
Thus, for example, almost nine out of ten companies offer continuing education to adapt their employees to new technologies and at the same time to highlight the high percentage of companies that have protocols against gender-based violence (46%) or those who claim to consider each worker’s employability or personal circumstances when deciding to change their working conditions (56%).
On the contrary, in this social area, SDGs least relevant The surveyed companies ending hunger and malnutritionand by promoting healthy eating. For example, only 40% of companies make financial donations only 36% donate products or services directly. In addition, only 24% have practices to combat food waste or promote healthy habits among their employees.
The most accepted SDG in the environment field is the SDG related one. sustainable production processes and responsible consumption. Seven of the ten companies interviewed have mechanisms to use water efficiently, and 58% take measures to reduce consumption in their daily activities. In this way, until 85% of companies in the region apply the principles of the so-called circular economy.aiming to minimize the waste produced and inevitably reuse what is produced as much as possible.
On the other hand, the authors of the study note the low degree of participation in Alicante regarding SDG 14. protection of marine and coastal ecosystems. In the view of Irene Bajo and Elena Galante, it’s surprising considering we’re in a coastal province. However, even 10% of those consulted do not analyze the impact of their activities on marine biodiversity.
In this regard, the president of Ineca, Nacho Amirolareminded that “leaving a better world than the one we live in” would be the realization of these sustainable development goals and encouraged companies to continue working on this path. Likewise, the Deputy in Charge of Economy, Eduardo DolonHe emphasized the importance of such studies in order to know the situation of the province and to be able to value all the work done.
From waste at Mercicante to a biogas source at the Hidraqua treatment plant
What is garbage for one company can be a source of energy for another. Thus, food waste produced in Mercicante contributes to increasing biogas production at the Rincón de León treatment plant, which belongs to the Hidraqua group. Among the Sustainable Development Goals. This was expressed by Dolores Mejía, general manager of the wholesale facility, and Amelia Navarro, Director of Sustainable Development and Equality at Hidraqua, during their participation in the presentation of the study on the implementation of the SDGs in the province.
Beyond this agreement, each disclosed their respective company’s policy on the matter, which, in the Mercicante case, resulted in 36,500 kilos of food donations benefiting 6,500 people; installation of 20,289 meters of self-powered solar panels, which ensures that all energy consumption of the site is renewable, or training activities to increase the employability of employees.
Amelia Navarro stressed that the reduction in CO2 emissions from Hidraqua for her share of more than 23,600 tonnes – equivalent to 360,000 car trips to Madrid; 20% savings in water consumption per person thanks to leak control and flow regeneration; or an increase in the percentage of female executives now exceeding 35% among many other initiatives