Environmental sustainability

The projects or environmental improvements driven by the CZFB, such as energy consumption and waste generation, are part of the institution's ongoing activity to contribute to sustainable development, which aligns with its Environmental Good Practices Guide and Environmental Policy.

Sustainability Projects and Environ mental Improvements

In 2024, the Consorci continued to promote several environmentally-focused projects to reduce its impact on the environment and improve its sustainable performance, with actions such as the following:

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Waste Management

A key initiative in this regard is the CZFB RECICLA campaign, designed to raise awareness among workers and users about the importance of separating waste for recycling (with various tips and a consultation channel). Goal: To increase the percentage of selectively collected waste to 60% by 2026 (data collected until October 2024 shows that 36% of the waste generated has been adequately sorted).

Conferences and visits

The Consorci participated in April in the seventh Debate and Experiences Day for a Circular and Competitive Economy, held at DFactory Barcelona.

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Resource Consumption

Progress in Sustainable Corporate Action

Compared to 2023

11 % less energy

consumed

32 % less water

consumed

15 % fewer CO2 equivalent tons

have been emitted

49 % less paper (kg)

consumed

Data from buildings and the industrial park certified by EMAS
Get to Know Our Environmental Policy

  • Requirement for eco-friendly, sustainable, or recycled materials and environmental certification

  • 51.49 % reduction in paper consumption compared to the previous year

  • Sustainable purchase KPI equivalent to 100%

  • Savings in transportation by consolidating purchases on a monthly, semi-annual, and yearly basis: representing 30.52% of total purchases made by the end of the year

  • Protocol for the reuse of obsolete goods for responsible consumption and social utilization

Access CZFB Sustainability Certifications

Creation of the ZF Sustainability Club

The increased participation of CZFB companies in the Sustainability Observatory created in 2023 enhances their achievement of goals in collecting ESG/RSC indicators and impacts, following internationally recognized standards, and providing aggregated KPIs.

At the end of 2024, the ZF Sustainability Club was formalized to streamline the process for companies to input data into the Sustainability Observatory indicators, encourage participation, and foster collaboration among companies and their sustainability professionals. In this first meeting, Akzo Nobel and PRECERO were recognized as the most proactive companies in contributing data to the Observatory, earning the title 2024 First Sustainability Early Adopter at the Sustainability Observatory.

IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY IS A CONSTANT AT ZF

The CZFB has joined AEBALL to promote cooperation, innovation, and sustainability projects in its productive fabric, aiming to improve companies' competitiveness and efficiency. As a result, a strategic alliance has been created to enhance the business fabric of the Zona Franca industrial park and its Zona Franca Customs.

The CZFB participated in several meetings of this project (created by the Generalitat in 2023), contributing up to 70 proposals, including one about the need to have regenerated water available in the industrial park to address water needs during droughts.

The CZFB took part in this meeting with representatives from Agua es Vida, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Comunidad de Usuarios de Aguas del Delta del Llobregat, CONFAVAC (Catalan Federation of Neighborhood Associations), Baix Llobregat Regional Council, Vallès Oriental Regional Council, Barcelona Provincial Council, Fundación Catalana del Esplai, Barcelona Hotels Guild, Catalan Sports Cluster (INDESCAT), Mercabarna, Catalonia's Ornamental Flower and Plant Market, the Port of Barcelona, Third Sector Table, Union General de Trabajadores (UGT Cataluña), Union of Sports Federations, and Union of Farmers of Catalonia.

WE ARE PART OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The CZFB participated with Mercabarna as supporting members in communicating and disseminating results for the Foodwaste for Foodpack project (from the Operational Groups of the European Innovation Association) to promote the circular economy and reduce environmental impact. The project promotes waste valorization from the fruit and vegetable processing industry to produce packaging material for the agri-food industry from fibers.

At a key moment for the logistics and energy future of Catalonia, a collaboration agreement was signed at the CZFB offices between the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), represented by its Director Joan Ramon Morante, and Barcelona-Catalunya Centre Logístic (BCL), represented by its President Pere Navarro. Goal: To work towards a more sustainable and innovative management model.

SGS, the global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, announced the opening of its new facilities next to the Port of Barcelona, at the heart of the CZFB. As the company highlighted: “This inauguration marks the beginning of a new era of expansion and service improvement crucial for international trade in one of the most important ports in Europe.”

ZF Sustainability Report

Actions

  • At the headquarters, several actions have been taken to improve energy efficiency, such as improving the south-facing façade (thermal envelope), replacing lighting with LED lights, installing sensors, replacing the air conditioning units, and connecting to the Ecoenergies network.
  • Energy efficiency measures have also been implemented at the BP building, including renovating the curtain wall façade and refurbishing the lighting installation.
  • The CZFB facilities hosted a pilot test for smart gardening sensors (Fliwer technology) based on controlling vital plant parameters (light, temperature, humidity, water, and fertilizer dosage).
  • Solar films have been installed on windows in the DFactory building to minimize the impact of solar energy on the building's interior. Façade improvements were carried out at the BP building, enhancing energy efficiency.
  • To increase the percentage of green energy consumed, the Headquarters, DFactory, MediaTIC, Nexus I, Nexus II, BP, Dolors Aleu, Zona Franca Customs, and the industrial park's common areas have switched to an electricity supplier offering higher percentages of renewable energy.

Conferences and visits

The Consorci participated in April in the seventh Debate and Experiences Day for a Circular and Competitive Economy, held at DFactory Barcelona. Pere Navarro, the Special Government Delegate, inaugurated this initiative, which concluded with attendees visiting the Industry 4.0 HUB at DFactory. The event hosted proposals such as the “Implementation Agenda for a Circular Amsterdam 2023-2026” lecture and experience sessions on water management, waste, energy efficiency, innovation, and sustainability.

In November, a guided tour of the Ecoenergies facilities in Zona Franca was held related to employee involvement in the EMAS certification, which included participation in the “EMAS Let’s Play” competition.