The Counselor for Sustainability and Environment of the Andalusian Government, Catalina García, has closed the event ‘The Impact of Corporate Foundations’ in Seville, organized by the Association of Entrepreneurs of Southern Spain (Cesur) with the sponsorship of Moeve and the collaboration of the School of Industrial Organization (EOI). In this forum, the regional official highlighted the strategic role of companies and foundations in the ecological transition, as well as the commitment of the Andalusian Government to a sustainable, just, and resilient development model.
During her speech, Catalina García announced a new digital tool enabled from the Environmental Portal of the Andalusian Government that will allow locating companies whose products and services are certified with the quality label ‘Natural Park of Andalusia’. «From the Environmental Portal of the Government, we wanted to take a step further in recognizing the commitment of our companies to sustainability,» she stated.
The counselor explained that this new digital platform «provides visibility to all products and services that have the quality label ‘Natural Park of Andalusia’. A brand that certifies the excellence of what is offered, as well as its origin in environments of high ecological value and its connection to a development model respectful of nature.»
Specifically, this tool allows anyone to easily locate some of the 700 companies operating within the protected natural areas of Andalusia, access their contact details, know their location, and discover more than 1,800 natural products, handicrafts, and tourist services. «It is a direct way to support the productive fabric that bets on authenticity, quality, and sustainability as identity marks, while reinforcing the link between local economy and conservation of natural heritage,» she emphasized.
Accompanied by the Deputy Counselor for Sustainability and Environment, Sergio Arjona, the counselor highlighted the work of those who participated in the event, particularly praising the professionalism of those leading from the business and foundation sphere. In this regard, she underscored the commitment and excellence of Teresa Mañueco, General Director of the Moeve Foundation; Regla Bejarano, Director of the Cruzcampo Foundation; Manuela Villena, Manager of the Bidafarma Foundation; Vanessa Jaklistch, Director of Communication, Marketing, and Institutional Relations of the EOI; and Luis Prendes, General Director of the Telefónica Foundation.
In this meeting space, the counselor emphasized the role of corporate foundations as «catalysts of social commitment, economic transformation, and promotion of values that transcend the strictly corporate sphere.» A task that, in her words, «becomes a true laboratory of social and environmental innovation, capable of forging alliances, generating knowledge, piloting circular economy projects, promoting environmental volunteering, or raising awareness about major climate challenges.»
Catalina García stressed that sustainability «is no longer just a buzzword in speeches. It is an ethical requirement, an economic necessity, and a real opportunity to differentiate, grow, and consolidate in a globally transforming market,» she affirmed. Therefore, she noted that the Andalusian Government is working to ensure that companies are not mere spectators but «indispensable actors in building a fairer, cleaner, and more resilient development model.»
Public-Private Collaboration and Circular Economy
The Sustainability Minister also emphasized the value of collaboration between the public and private sectors as a driver of transformation. «Andalusia has understood this synergy as a lever to promote environmental policies that serve the citizens and have in the productive fabric a committed and convinced ally,» she stated.
In this regard, she recalled that the autonomous community has a clear roadmap: the Andalusian Climate Action Plan, which since its approval in 2021 «has mobilized more than 2.6 billion euros in 231 measures.» She also highlighted the implementation of the Andalusian Emissions Compensation System, which allows companies to calculate and offset their carbon footprint, as well as the development of the Andalusian Catalog of Emissions Absorption Projects, «which already includes 27 projects in nearly 2,400 hectares.»
Regarding the latter, the counselor pointed out that these advances have made Andalusia «the first autonomous community with projects pre-registered in the national registry of carbon footprint at public events» and that the regional administration has managed to «reduce our footprint by 86% since 2019.»
In terms of the circular economy, the counselor highlighted the approval of the Andalusian Circular Economy Law in 2023, which proposes «a production system that reduces waste, reuses materials, and optimizes resources.» A law «pioneering in Spain» that is also translated into concrete actions such as the Andalusian Circular Economy Strategy, whose formulation was recently approved by the Governing Council. «A strategy that promotes industrial symbiosis between companies, fosters innovation, and encourages responsible production,» she added.
New Laws for Andalusia
The counselor also took this forum to report that her department is processing three draft laws that «stem from a shared vision: that of a greener, more prepared for the future, and stronger Andalusia from its commitment to the environment and socioeconomic development.»
These are the draft laws for Environmental Agents, Forestry, and Environmental Management in Andalusia. Norms that «will allow us to modernize, update, and prepare our land for the challenges of the present and the future,» she stated.
Finally, the counselor appealed to shared responsibility and collaborative work as keys to the future. «We are facing a profound change. It’s not about applying patches. It’s about redesigning how we produce, consume, and coexist. And in that redesign, the business sector must be a protagonist,» she concluded. In this way, she thanked Cesur, Moeve, the School of Industrial Organization, and all participants for their involvement in an event «that demonstrates that profitability and values can be combined» and that «the future is built on loyal collaboration between the public and private sectors.»