Economic sustainability

An organization in constant evolution

Pere Navarro, Special Government Delegate, and Blanca Sorigué, General Director, have led the execution of the strategic plan designed until 2024, with a review planned for the 2025-2029 period, achieving nearly 100% compliance with the Strategic Projects Plan, in line with its guidelines, objectives, and pillars, as confirmed by the organization’s board at the end of the fiscal year.

Among the measures adopted

Zona Franca has once again stood out by fostering economic growth in an environment of digital transformation, environmental respect, and conditions that ensure social wellbeing. A collective purpose that contributes to a better society.

CZFB Numbers
2024 Busget

Continuing operations
1. Net turnovers 64,312
a). Sales 64,312
3. Work carried out by the company for its fixed assets 2,000
4. Supplies -2,000
c) Work carried out by other companies -2,000
5. Other operating income 7,617
a). Non-core and other current operating income 7,617
b). Operating subsidies included in results
6. Staff expenses -7,384
a). Wages, salaries and similar -5,948
b). Social security contributions -1,436
c). Provisions 0
7. Other operating expenses -28,500
a). External services -20,921
b). Taxes -7,579
c). Losses, impairment and variation of provisions due to commercial transactions 0
8. Depreciation of fixed assets -13,042
9. Charging of non-financial fixed asset subsidies and others 142
11. Deterioration and results for fixed assets disposals 0
a). Deterioration and depreciation 0
b). Profit/loss from disposals and others 0
13. Other results
Operating profit/loss 23,145
14. Financial income 3,258
a). From holdings in equity instruments 3,258
b). In third parties
15. Financial expenses -625
b). From debts with third parties -625
Financial profit/loss 2,633
Profit/loss before tax 25,778
Profit/loss from the financial year from continuing operations 25,778
Balance of the financial year 25,778
Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account of the CZFB Pending approval in July 2025

"Today, nearly 100% of the actions defined in the CZFB Strategic Plan created in 2019 have been executed. This plan was based on the longterm sustainability of the CZFB, the economic and social development of the area, urban integration, and environmental sustainability. Currently, we are working on a new document to continue advancing in economic and social progress."

Blanca Sorigué
General Director of CZFB

Complete Execution of the Strategic Projects Plan

The successful execution of the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan reaffirms the commitment to economic and Social Development Projects for the area, urban integration of District 4.0, and Compliance with ESG criteria, all based on sustainability to generate resources for the development of the three previous pillars.

An update for 2025-2029 is expected, which will define new strategic pillars, detail new projects, and adjust the tasks of ongoing projects.

Goals

  • Increase the Net Worth of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB).
  • Maintain a high level of Return on Sales (ROS).
  • Increase Return on Net Assets (RONA).
  • Align Projects with Strategic Plans.
  • Increase our brand recognition.

Areas

  • Generate new business.
  • Increase the efficiency of current business.
  • Eliminate current business.

Projects

  • Standardise the global scoring of Projects vs. Strategy and Return on Investment (ROI).
  • Define clients' strategies for the PIFZ and the Zona Franca Customs in Barcelona (ZFA) in terms of profitability.
  • Definition of a new business model for fairs, events and acts to promote the new economy of transformation towards Industry 4.0.
  • Increase operating and organisational eficiency.
  • Installation of ERP software as the general business management system.
  • Divestment plan for non-strategic projects.

Goals

  • Develop the territory's economy through the development of its companies.
  • Be a driving force for the generation of and demand for talent.
  • Be the technology hub for Industry 4.0 for Southern Europe.
  • Develop the area economy through contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

Areas

  • Develop technological knowledge.
  • Take advantage of the synergies between the current lines of business.
  • Strategic alliances to ensure talent.

Projects

  • Plan to attract Industry 4.0 companies and for the transformation of PIZF clients.
  • Plan for 5G connectivity in the PIZF Correos Project.
  • Correos Project.
  • Creation of Laboratories/Industry 4.0 Incubators.
  • Expansion of the ZFA as an Industry 4.0 manufacturing attraction.
  • Contribute to guaranteeing quality education, building infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialisation, fostering innovation and reinforcing alliances for international cooperation to achieve the SDGs.

Goals

  • Adhere to the SDGs it can have an impact on.
  • Integrate the Zona Franca Industrial Estate (PIFZ) with the urban environment of Barcelona.
  • Be a reference for Circular Economy in the area.
  • Generate environmental and social value contributing to the SDGs.

Areas

  • Develop the Circular Economy program extending this outside the PIZF.
  • Increase energy eficiency in the PIZF and in new buildings.
  • Integrate the PIZF into the urban environment of Barcelona.

Projects

  • Rework the town planning of the PIZF and include green areas, access points to the city, services area and leisure areas.
  • Improve mobility in the PIZF: pavement refurbishment plan, bicycle lanes, introduce electric scooters to avoid the use of cars.
  • Energy efficiency.
  • Development of the Circular Economy.
  • Promote the SDG actions to which we can bring the most value and which promote environmental and urban sustainability.

Among the measures adopted in 2024, the following stand out:

  • Development of the requirements mandated by ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (section 5.3 "Roles, responsibilities, and authorities within the organization") and its controls regarding "Roles and responsibilities" from "Annex A," as well as in the ENS based on the CCN-STIC-801 security guide "National Security Scheme," directly related to the Information Security Management System at CZFB.
  • Improve communication to serve our customers, collaborators, suppliers, and citizens better. This communication is carried out in three languages: Catalan, Spanish, and English.
  • All our purchases have been made sustainably and ecologically, depending on the type of product/service. This is reflected in a 51.49% reduction in paper consumption compared to the previous year (always recycled, sustainable, and eco-friendly paper).
  • For products, we require that raw materials used come, as far as possible, from eco-friendly, sustainable, and/ or recycled materials (and ensure recyclability afterward if they are not made from recycled and/or eco-friendly products).
  • In terms of services, we have consolidated the internal services for canteens and events at the DFactory building into a single monthly service and centralized the orders for the IT Department.
  • Several KPIs have been created to track the increasing sustainability of our purchases, and improvements are planned in areas that need them.
  • We continue the Supplier Qualification process and reinforce the contracting system according to the LCSP (Public Sector Contracts Law).
  • Launch of the Protocol for the Transfer of Goods, which regulates the transfer of movable assets or rights owned by the CZFB for use and promotes responsible use when these assets are considered for transfer.
  • Revalidation of all certifications for the management systems of the various departments of the CZFB, which have been renewed, and in some cases expanded, in 2024:
    • — UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015. Quality management systems.
    • — UNE-EN ISO 45001:2023. Occupational health and safety management systems.
    • — EN ISO/IEC 27001:2023. Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection. Information security management systems.
    • — Adherence to the European Regulation EMAS CE 1221/2009. Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.
    • — UNEIQNet SR10. Social Responsibility Management System.
    • — Sustainable strategy (SDGs) - AENOR.
    • — Adhesion to the United Nations Global Compact.
    • — LEED GOLD. Sustainable building for the DFACTORY Barcelona building.
  • WELL Gold Certification Obtained from Green Business Certification for DFactory Barcelona. This dynamic scoring system for buildings and communities helps identify, measure, and monitor the features of built spaces that impact the health and well-being of both workers and visitors to the building.