Commit to combining synergies in favor of a more sustainable society
ICEMD SUSTAINALIBITY + INNOVATION = FUTURE has been a hybrid meeting in which dialogue on this formula has been promoted, projecting sustainability as a driver of innovation, beyond traditional approaches.
ICEMD – ESIC Business School Innovation Institute- In line with its positioning of acting as a reference for companies and professionals through innovation, it has brought together experts from different sectors, leaders in their fields of action, at the event. ICEMD SUSTAINABILITY + INNOVATION = FUTURE. A hybrid meeting in which dialogue about this formula has been promoted, projecting sustainability as a driver of innovation.
Throughout the day there was discussion about the importance of addressing business transformation from innovation and sustainability, through success stories in which innovative projects have been developed that generate positive impact and future profitability. In addition, the importance of collaboration has been stressed, the need to establish synergies between different business models to advance the achievement of a more sustainable society.
“Beyond the reputational impact that sustainability entails from a traditional perspective, addressing this concept from the perspective of innovation, we are anticipating what society is going to demand and generating a profitable business that will respond to future regulations, to future social demands and the future conscious consumer,” he argues Belén Grana, host of the event and director of Knowledge Development of ICEMD-ESIC Innovation Institute.
Jaime de Jaraíz Lozano, president and CEO of LG Electronics in IberiaJaraíz opened the event by inviting companies to embark on what he calls "Sustainability 2.0," a concept that recognizes the need for companies not only to be more sustainable and responsible within their own sphere of activity, but also to lead CSR initiatives beyond their core business. He cited LG's innovative efforts as an example, dedicated to improving people's lives and designing the most efficient and sustainable products. "Every company has a responsibility to go a step further, towards Sustainability 2.0, by undertaking concrete actions outside its business to contribute directly and selflessly to combating climate change and achieving a better planet," Jaraíz stated.
Another of the cases analyzed has been the alliance of Carrefour and Too Good to Go to encourage the conscious consumer. Taking into account that a third of all the food produced in the world is wasted, leaving in its wake major social, economic and environmental consequences and that food waste is responsible for between 8% and 10% of global emissions of greenhouse gases, it is necessary to raise awareness in all sectors of society to move towards a sustainable food system and consumption that allow us to achieve a planet without food waste.
“Through our app we help businesses sell their daily surplus of food to avoid waste and its consequent environmental impact. At Too Good To Go we have a mission that is to inspire and empower society in the fight against food waste and to achieve this it is key to join forces with the different actors in the food industry and also public administrations to achieve the goal of reducing halve food waste by 2030 included in the UN SDGs”, argues Adrián Hernández, Key Accounts Success Lead at Too Good To Go.
While Francisco Roldán, director of Express Madrid-Barcelona South Store Operations at Carrefour He highlighted that "at Carrefour we have a primary role in promoting a responsible consumption model, aware of this we work to promote projects like this that contribute to reducing food waste and we also do so by actively listening to our customers."
To discuss the Circular Economy and the need to visualize the business value chain from that perspective, we have had Ecoalf, a company born and developed under the umbrella of this concept, and Michelin, which, although not native to the circular economy, has been able to identify from this perspective new uses for your waste. In this sense, Hugo Ureta Alonso, Institutional Relations at Michelin Spain-Portugal, has recognized that “sustainability is not an option, it is something we have to live with, and sustainable development is that which allows us to respond to our current needs and future generations to respond to theirs. Michelin's strategy is based on 3P (People, Profit, Planet). Maintaining a balance between these three aspects is what guarantees Michelin its permanence and the sustainable growth of its strategic model. This vision of sustainability at all levels is a daily requirement and, at the same time, a compass for the future.”
“If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem… we face humanity's greatest challenge, climate change, and we must become aware, investigate, study and seek a balance between our needs and those of the planet. We cannot do this alone, we must collaborate, unite and work together to improve how we do things and focus on solutions,” adds C.arolina Álvarez Ossorio Speith, Head of Marketing & Communications at Ecoalf.
The day continued with the analysis of the value chain in sustainable mobility in the automotive sector, an industry that generates 10% of GDP and dedicates more than 4% of its turnover to R&D&I. It has become clear how this collaboration between supplier and client is ensuring that the innovation they ask of the sector in terms of sustainable innovation (sustainable mobility, electric car, sustainable car, connected car...) is generated jointly with the companies of components. To Pilar García de la Puebla, Director of Communication and PR at BMW Group Spain, “Sustainability not only includes that the extraction of materials and their use are justified and, in addition, respect fundamental labor and human rights, but that, to the extent possible, renewable energies are used in the manufacturing phase. The goal is to dramatically reduce the environmental impact before the customer drives their new car.” In this sense, Miguel López Quesada, Corporate Director of Communication, Marketing and Institutional Relations at Gestamp and president of the Responsible Business Commission at Sernauto, considers that “Gestamp is a strategic partner for vehicle manufacturers in seeking solutions for mobility that is absolutely committed to sustainability.”
To discuss the attraction of capital towards sustainable innovation, Isabel Vento, head of business development at BlackRock in Iberia, stated that “we have been committed for a long time to raising the quality of data and the use of technology in our activity, something we do through our own risk platform, Aladdin, and which allows us to position sustainability at the center of everything.” what we do. In this sense, we want to help our clients - and the investment community as a whole - to analyze a broader investment universe, to best address their disclosure needs and to build more sustainable portfolios and strategies. For investors, therefore, the climate transition represents a historic investment opportunity; To take advantage of this opportunity, and weather the risks, as with any investment opportunity, investors need data and information.
For its part, Javier Peñalva, Director of Strategy at Clarity AI, has pointed out the advantages that artificial intelligence offers when it comes to integrating a huge volume of information into investment decisions; something that could not be done efficiently by other means. He has stressed that those managers who have access to this technology will have a competitive advantage over others, since they will be able to integrate and interpret a greater volume of data with greater quality and precision.
Another highlight of the day was the appreciation of the concept of sustainability innovation linked to people and leadership. Through an interactive dialogue, Lucila García, deputy general director at Fundación SERES, and Carina Szpilka, founding partner of K Fund They have shown us the growing importance for companies of having a diverse, inclusive and equitable culture. For García “it is important to work equally on different concepts associated with this topic: diversity, inclusion and equity. Diversity to accept and admit differences, inclusion to support differences and give each one its place, and equity to ensure equal opportunities. Committed senior management, effective management, budget allocation and responsibilities, impact measurement and long-term commitment to these concepts lead to more innovative organizations that are sustainable over time and that move towards a business model that sees the differences. an opportunity".
To end the meetings, Begoña Morales, founder and CEO of Conese, has interviewed Arancha Martínez, CEO of ComGo & founder at Itwillbe.org. During the conversation, the success story of It Will Be was presented as a successful model of the use of technology to make the work of social organizations more efficient and, in particular, the use of blockchain technology to register children in India for have them mapped out and fight against vulnerability. In addition, this pioneering technology in the use of blockchain has been brought to the private sector to track the raising and donation of funds and other application uses of this technology that is emerging in the social sector are being analyzed.
“In a world in which technology has allowed us to transform other sectors to make them more efficient and sustainable, the social sector cannot be left behind, at It Will Be we are committed to innovating to create new tools that allow the social sector to collaborate more efficiently, share data securely and fight the most important social challenges more effectively,” says Arancha Martínez.
To put the finishing touch to the event, Enrique Benayas, Director of ESIC Corporate Education and General Director at ICEMD – ESIC Innovation Institute -, has presented the Innovation Series on Sustainability. A study that addresses the main keys to innovation in sustainable growth, defining this concept as growth that is repeatable, ethical and responsible with current and future communities. And key to the long-term success of any business.
Among the conclusions drawn from the report, the importance of technology understood as an aid, not as an end in itself, stands out; education as a driver of change in people and society; the empowerment of individuals and access to resources and education as the basis of prosperity and equality; and the maintenance and improvement of the environment where we live, whether natural or modified by man.
To achieve these objectives, investment in research and development is important for the production of resources in an efficient and sustainable manner, for the use of resources more efficiently, for sustainable management of resources and to guarantee accessibility to these resources. .
The presentation groups the SDGs defined in the 2030 Agenda into three blocks: economy, society and environment and reviews the most important keys to achieving each of these objectives.
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