The Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative (IEEB), promoted by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, celebrates its second anniversary today with a total of 20 companies adhering to the Pact for Biodiversity, a document of commitments to which, for the moment, the maritime transport company Baleària has joined last.
The IEEB was born on May 22, 2013 with the aim of promoting, together with the business sector, an economic development compatible with the conservation of biodiversity. A total of 10 very diverse economic sectors are represented, from the energy, infrastructure and construction, technology, food and beverage, transport, household appliances, retail, outsourcing, cosmetics and biopharmaceutical sectors.
In these first two years, the companies adhering to this Initiative have contributed to the conservation of the natural environment through 14 projects and 21 informative events.
Among the activities carried out by the companies within the framework of the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative, the dissemination of the values of the National Parks Network, in which the Decathlon company has collaborated, or environmental volunteering, in which Yves Rocher has been actively involved, stands out.
On the other hand, companies such as Ferrovial, through the Global Change Monitoring Network in the National Parks Network, or Iberdrola, with its participation in the LIFE+ Cantabrian Capercaillie project, have also contributed to the research and conservation of our natural heritage.
In addition, sectoral workshops and working groups on companies and biodiversity have been developed in collaboration with the Global Nature Foundation; through the Club of Excellence in Sustainability, the Observatory of Business Management of Biodiversity has been launched and a catalogue of good practices in biodiversity management has been drawn up, and with Forética, the project “Responsible with biodiversity” has been launched, whose purpose is to involve companies in sustainable management and highlight emerging opportunities in the field of biodiversity.
SPANISH INITIATIVE BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY
The IEEB provides a framework for cooperation between large companies, associations, NGOs and the General State Administration, which join forces to improve and maintain natural capital in Spain. Among the objectives of this project are the integration of biodiversity into business policy and management, the enhancement of the contribution of companies to the conservation of natural heritage and the channelling of private financing for these purposes.
The adhesion of companies to this Initiative implies the signing of the Pact for Biodiversity, a document that incorporates the principles of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and through which the company’s commitment is visualized. In addition, the IEEB offers the possibility of promoting projects jointly and increasing the added value of the company, making visible its firm commitment to sustainability.
The companies adhering to the Biodiversity Pact are the following:
Energy: Cepsa, Endesa, Gas Natural Fenosa, Iberdrola and Red Eléctrica de España.
Infrastructure and construction: Cemex Spain, Ferrovial, Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), Holcim and Lafarge.
– Technology: Altran and Asea Brown Boveri (ABB).
– Food and beverages: Mahou-San Miguel Group and Heineken Spain.
– Transport: Baleària.
– Household appliances: BSH Electrodomésticos España.
– Retail: Decathlon.
– Outsourcing: ISS.
– Cosmetics: Yves Rocher.
Biopharmacy: Zeltia.
