The key is in the three erres
To talk about economy and the environment as two complementary aspects is something that seems to be far from the economic and environmental reality in which we live. However, there is A concept that relates these aspects and allows us to develop an economic system without continuing to abuse our resources: the circular economy.
The circular economy, fundamental to combat and avoid damage to the environment, is a system that pursues the production of goods and services, trying to minimize the waste of raw materials, energy sources and water. That is to say, It refers directly to the sustainable economy.
Is a “Intersection of environmental, economic and social aspects”, as explained by the Circular Economy Foundation itself. This system was born in response to the visible depletion of natural resources and fossil fuels, which demonstrates how the economic systems established so far are reaching their limit. Therefore, the main objective of the circular economy is to take advantage of resources and always use them efficiently. It is also a system that generates employment, since, for example, waste management already generates thousands of jobs in Spain.
At this point, the idea of the three erres is established: the reuse of those residues or parts of these that can be used for the elaboration of new products; the repair to give them a second life; recycling, which makes it possible to take advantage of certain materials .; a process in which the recovery also allows to take advantage of all the waste whose recycling is not possible.
AENOR Zero Waste Certificate
The Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR), is the leading entity in certification of management systems, products and services, and responsible for the development and dissemination of UNE standards.
The AENOR ‘Zero Waste’ certificate recognizes those organizations that value the different fractions of waste they generate, within the defined scope, avoiding their final disposal as landfill disposal. The entity explains on its website how “the generation of waste is one of the most complicated environmental challenges that society currently faces. Due to its development, the volume of waste generation on a global scale suffers a continuous increase. The abandonment or improper management of waste produces significant impacts on receiving media and can cause pollution in water, soil, air, contribute to climate change and affect ecosystems and human health. Instead, When waste is properly managed, it can be converted into resources that contribute to the saving of raw materials and guarantee economic sustainability, with a positive effect on the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems. ”
The CIRCULAR ECONOMY model seeks to reverse the current pyramid of waste management, maximizing waste prevention and recovery actions (reuse, recycling or energy recovery). The ‘Zero Waste’ certification is part of the OECD, UNEP, G20, PEMAR, European Union and Spain actions in relation to Circular Economy.
Santander bets on a sustainable future
Entities such as Banco Santander have promoted several initiatives in recent years that help the implementation of this economic system, not only internally, but also in the programs and initiatives it develops. For example, rewarding great entrepreneurial ideas from young talents such as Integreellence, local winners in the 2018 edition of their Explorer university entrepreneurship program in Spain. Integreellence, an example among the hundreds supported by the bank in the different countries in which it operates, is a platform to help build smart cities that perfectly integrate with existing environmental needs. In fact, Banco Santander has been chosen as the most sustainable bank in the world in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2019.
Now, the entity has also become the first Spanish bank to achieve AENOR's ‘Zero Waste’ certificate, after a 23% reduction in waste generated in just 3 years.
In the Santander Group City of Boadilla del Monte, with more than 8,000 ‘inhabitants’, there is a clean point of more than 1,000 square meters for the selective collection of waste. At present, 30 different types of waste are separated, compacted and pressed and, since January 2019 alone, more than 1.9 million kilos of waste have been managed.
The director of the General Services and Own Insurance area, Belén Sánchez Miguel, has acknowledged feeling "Very proud of the social and environmental contribution that it supposes and encourages us to continue working with enthusiasm day by day to continue achieving new achievements." On the other hand, José Magro, Sustainability and CSR Manager of AENOR, argues that “this certificate is in line with the circular economy guidelines and helps compliance with the regulatory developments that will be published shortly, ensuring that organizations minimize and they value the different fractions of waste that they generate continuously. That is, its destinations are reuse, recycling or energy recovery with energy recovery and not landfill. In addition, it can improve your waste management costs. ”
From here, Banco Santander will continue to work to strengthen the management system certified by AENOR and the integration of the ‘Zero Waste’ certificate into the daily operations of the Financial City with the objective of increasing the solidity of the implanted management system, reducing waste generation, the 12% packaging in the year 2021 and the promotion of measures such as the elimination of paper tablecloths in the different dining rooms of the City, the use of recycled paper napkins, biodegradable cups or the implantation of vending Sustainable in buildings.
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