The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, met today with representatives of the 23 large Spanish companies that are part of the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative and asked them to “continue with the commitment to development that does not endanger natural capital”.

This initiative provides a framework for cooperation between large companies, NGOs, associations and the General State Administration, and joins efforts for the improvement and maintenance of natural capital in Spain.

During the meeting, Morán stressed that “one of the values of the IEEB is to demonstrate how alliances between actors are a real opportunity for sustainable development. At the Ministry for Ecological Transition we are convinced that the challenges ahead need a combined effort and that together we are stronger”.

The Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative has 23 large companies adhered to, 26% from the food and personal care sector; 22% from the energy sector; 17% from the construction and urban services sector; 13% from the extractive sector and another 9% from the consulting and engineering sector; The remaining companies are distributed between the household appliances, financial and transport sectors.

The latest companies to join the IEEB have been the Danone Group and HeidelbergCement Hispania. Also part of it are Altran, ABB, Balèaria, BSH, Cemex, Cepsa, Decathlon, Endesa, Ferrovial, FCC, Mahou-San Miguel, Heineken, Iberdrola, LafargeHolcim, Mapfre, Naturgy, OHL, Red Eléctrica, Suez Water Spain, Unilever and Yves Rocher. It also has 4 strategic partners, Fundación Global Nature, Forética, Club of Excellence in Sustainability and Biodiversity in Good Company. All the member companies have signed the Pact for Biodiversity, where they commit to assess the impact of their activity on biodiversity, include the protection of biodiversity in their management and extend the commitment to their supply chain, among other commitments.