Eboca has hosted this Tuesday September 26th a forum organized by GoAragón, CEOE Huesca and Huesca Excelente with the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce, which has counted with Teresa Berdié, marketing and communication director of ARPA Equipos Móviles de Campaña; Juan Royo Abenia, economist specialist in sustainability, and Miguel Luis Lapeña, European ambassador for the Climate Pact.
The company Eboca has hosted this Tuesday, September 26, the round table «Discover how sustainability drives the growth of your company», organized by GoAragón, CEOE Huesca and Huesca Excelente with the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce, and which has been attended by social agents and representatives of the institutions to listen to the three speakers: Teresa Berdié, marketing and communication director of ARPA Equipos Móviles de Campaña; Juan Royo Abenia, economist specialized in sustainability, and Miguel Luis Lapeña, European ambassador for the Climate Pact, with the coordination of Alfredo Cortés, director and founding partner of GoAragón.
The day began with a few words from Celsa Rufas, vice-president of the Provincial Council of Huesca, with which she pointed out the «involvement» of this institution with business and sustainability, which «can and should go hand in hand» to obtain «a social and environmental benefit from which we can all benefit». Next, Huesca City Councilor Belén Almudévar defined sustainability as a «pressing» objective that goes beyond corporate identity; it is aimed at creating a «better world for our children».
Avelina Bellostas, president of the Sustainability and Circular Economy Commission of CEOE Aragón, applauded the «involved» work of companies in Aragón committed to the environmental, social and economic pillars, a «great showcase for the work for sustainability to be seen every day». Manuel Rodríguez Chesa, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Huesca, understands sustainability as «an urgent path in which it is not allowed to turn back». Jorge Pascual, president of Huesca Excelente, was «convinced of the profitability of sustainability for small and large companies, as well as for the self-employed».
ARPA realized the importance of sustainability, in the words of Teresa Berdié, when it was certified to live in the double aspect of «internationalization» and «creativity» by communicating sustainability «in a catalytic way». Juan Royo referred to the concepts of «impact, risk and opportunities», with a new European directive that helps companies to draw up sustainability reports. «Companies are already responsible for what they generate and also for their value chain», he pointed out before defining sustainability as «business logic». And he called for corporate social responsibility.
«WE HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE SMALL GESTURES THAT ACHIEVE A GREAT DEAL» TERESA BERDIE
Miguel Luis Lapeña developed the concept of sustainable development within a framework of «polycrisis», crises that continue over time with the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as climate change. In this context, companies have to play a «conscious role in generating alliances and challenges in the field of sustainability, transparency, ethics and leadership». It is necessary to move towards a union between «the public, social agents and companies».
Berdié stressed that for ARPA «leadership comes first and then awareness». A first milestone for this company was «decarbonization», the commitment to the «Business Ambition for 1.5º» or saving water at work: «We became aware that we have to make these small gestures that achieve a lot», he said, explaining other initiatives underway to save energy and eliminate waste by promoting suppliers «who have this sustainability».
«THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING PEOPLE AND TEAMS AT THE CENTER HAS BEEN BORN AND THEY ARE KEY, AS IS SOCIETY AT A TIME WHEN INFORMATION IS GREATER» JUAN ROYO
To combine sustainability and profitability, Royo reflected on the fact that «companies today face more risks and the key is transparency». The impact of the company inside and outside its walls must be studied, and the company must know how to deal with risks. This position is shared by Lapeña, who believes that «opportunities» are opening up in the face of these risks: «We relate to shareholders and financial institutions, suppliers and customers. Now the concept of putting people and teams at the center has been born and they are key, as is society at a time when information is greater».
Companies depend on a «good reputation» based on «transparency and common sense», said Berdié, for whom «we must put the employee at the center». Reputation is also, according to Royo, «vindicating the local», and a business does not make sense «if it is not profitable and sustainable». Lapeña believes that the strategy must be «aligned with the 2030 Agenda», and «all companies are working on equality and training actions». A strategy that must be «aligned, communicated and put in common».
Royo highlighted the need for a «new culture of facing risks and being transparent», and Berdié added that there must be «constant training». Berdié advocated a «constant study of where we want to go», since the situation is moving towards a «profitable optimization of resources for the company». The key lies in «being able to face risks in a world in which you face risks and are surrounded by competition». «Information is power,» said Berdié, for whom «internal communication is a big issue and this is reflected in the external consumer, who is informed in a different way. If you communicate well and are transparent and have quality, the reputation comes with it».
The circular economy, with Aragón as one of the best-placed autonomous communities, goes hand in hand with the social agents and dialogue, with around 200 companies adhering to the Aragón Circular seal promoted by the regional executive, Lapeña said. «A new concept has been born, that of repair», indicated the European ambassador for Climate Change, for whom the circular economy stimulates «collaboration and talent». Tangible goods and also «knowledge» are shared, said Royo, for whom «sharing good practices is another key to the circular economy and corporate social responsibility».
All the sustainable development goals are «relevant», especially number 17, which refers to «partnerships to achieve the goals», and Royo commented that there has been a shift from «exacerbated competition to collaboration» and that he prefers to «share talent» by betting on «serendipity». Berdié generated a «responsible communication» objective. Lapeña called for «public and private collaboration», and Berdié for «working in a cooperative way».
As a final piece of advice to the entrepreneurs attending this forum, Royo launched the objective of «working logically». «Involve the teams» was the idea put forward by Teresa Berdié, and Miguel Luis Lapeña suggested «gathering ideas» to make good use of them.