In order to address a subject as urgent as sustainability from a business point of view, this morning at the HQ of CEOE the good governance forum “Sustainability, investment and profitability”, took place an initiative promoted by ATREVIA that brings together representatives from different sectors to discuss opportunities for the future.
The debate was attended by Angel Pes, president of the Spanish United Global Community clubt, José Antonio Pérez Cebrian, Director of Forestalia, Manuel García Casas, director of Merlin Properties, Javier Romero Yacobi, Director of Strategy in Navantia, Teresa González Barreda, Lead Manager ESG/RSC of Arcano Partners and María Luisa Chacón, Director of Communication and SCR of P&G Spain and Portugal
Susana Graupera,Director of Financial Communication at ATREVIA and Mr. José Ramón Pin, General Director of IESE Business School served as moderators of the event.
Pérez Cebrián, current president of CEOE Teruel, highlighted that ”anywhere there is an opportunity, one has tp know how to see it. Teruel, without going any further, accounts for 10% of renewables in Spain. What is worth is talent, empty rural Spain does not exist, because it is full of ideas”.
Javier Romero has been able to focus Navantia a public company in the industrial sector, ”Public character is always linked to greater sensitivity in terms of engagement, for us, CSR is one of the priorities in our performance, and communication is an essential part of reporting on how we go about this”, he commented.
“Starting from the company motto, we already see that sustainability it is naturally integrated: we are a sustainable company in the strategic naval international industry”. Within Navantia’s strategic plan, has had as fundamental pillars: Procurement (thinking of expanding the national and international market and increasing the portfolio of products and services), the digital transformation, operational efficiency, cultural evolution and the growth of our workforce, stressing the importance of recruiting highly qualified personnel especially in terms of technological aspects in order to have a good transition”
From Arcano Partners, Teresa González talks about the profitability of the new sustainable environment. “Over the past few years, management in general consultants have increased the number of sustainable investment products. In fact, any financial or investment forum already includes a space for these issues, and that’s important to appreciate,'” she mentioned. ”The social and financial world need to move closer today more than ever at the investor’s own demand. We from the beginning see a sustainable business plan, because we know that, when it comes to the sale, if it is not, it will negatively affect profitability.”
For his part, Manuel García, of Merlin Properties, has contributed the point of view of the real estate sector, in which it is now clear that, ”the investor is compensated by the certifications because the more efficient buildings attract more tenants willing to pay more, thus making real estate more attractive to potential investors, which increases its value and the value of the stock over time”. Another of the objectives he pointed out is to achieve greater equality: ”In Merlin we are in love with talent, one third of the Board of Directors are women, 44% of our staff are female and 55% of the hires of the last year were also women. Naturally, without quotas or corsets, we have reached very positive figures.”
María Luisa Chacón, from P&G, has explained how the sustainable challenge is faced from what it sums up as, ”an everyday products company that aims to improve the lives of consumers”, and continued, ”We must take advantage of the presence of brands around the world to take them as the voice necessary to reach society and promote the change we want in consumer behavior towards responsible consumption”. She emphasizes the need, “to reward sustainable ideas, but also to the people who have them and promote these projects”. Chacón’s testimony also certifies that acting along this line also yields good results, ”sustainability has been one of our ambitions and we have been working in this direction for several years. The good reception that the company receives invites us to think that shareholders and consumers value this attitude”. Finally, she was commented that, ”there are great goals ahead, and it will not be possible without alliances”.
Angel Pes has highlighted among the great advantages of the 2030 Agenda, ”its compatibility with the technological and digital revolution that we are experiencing today. If we don’t have a digital economy, we won’t be able to contemplate a sustainable economy”.
In short, all the presenter agreed with the need to translate business commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the SDBs into real measures that pursue sustainability, not only environmental but also social.
