Cosentino Group: “We cannot forget the great social value that acting sustainably brings to our societies”
Over the past few years, many companies have decided to adapt their business models to more sustainable work dynamics. There is also an increasing number of customers and users who value these types of initiatives driven by the business sector. In this way, the desire to align with sustainability values is now applied across most value chains, from suppliers to consumers. Núñez i Navarro is no exception.
Recently, the Group has strengthened its alliance with the multinational leader in the production and distribution of innovative and sustainable surfaces for the architecture and design sector, Grupo Cosentino, which has been responsible for equipping the kitchens of the new Riera de Cassoles 66 development with the hybrid mineral surface Silestone®*, developed with HybriQ®** technology.
The synergy between Cosentino and Núñez i Navarro dates back a long time and reinforces the firm commitment to sustainability of both groups, which join forces to promote products with the highest sustainable efficiency. Therefore, today we wanted to chat with Antonio Urdiales, Director of Sustainability at Cosentino, about the way in which the company drives an eco-efficient business model to “inspire people through innovative and sustainable spaces”.
Urdiales starts from a clear conviction: "Sustainability is, for Cosentino, a priority and a core element. We consider it a dynamic concept that is constantly evolving, and for this reason, we must always be up to date on sustainability issues and continuously analyze what more we can do to improve the business model from an eco-efficient perspective."When asked about the main goal of this constant evolution, Urdiales explains that the motivation of the Group is to "ensure the future of the coming generations so that they can develop the same or better than ours."
The Cosentino Group has been committed to the environment since its very beginnings: "the seed of sustainability was planted at our inception", they recall. At the birth of the Group, more than 40 years ago, the company was engaged in marble extraction and its commercialization; "likewise, the company wanted to make use of materials that were not being used, that is, mineral waste. Thus began our long journey towards sustainability".
El director de Sostenibilidad de Cosentino recuerda que las dificultades que surgieron en esa fase inicial fueron utilizados como una poderosa herramienta de aprendizaje: "A partir de ahí, el Grupo fue poco a poco especializándose y así fue como en 2011 lanzamos la primera serie de colores sostenible para nuestra marca Silestone®, que contaba en su composición con más de un 70% de material reciclado. Este éxito para la compañía fue reconocido con diversos premios a nivel internacional.”. En los años posteriores, Cosentino evolucionó en la misma dirección hasta que en 2015 “se hizo una apuesta estratégica clara por el departamento de Medio Ambiente y empezamos, conscientes de nuestro papel de liderazgo dentro del sector, a apostar por los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Agenda 2030, impulsando, entre otros, la innovación, la producción responsable y la seguridad en términos de calidad, salud y medio ambiente. Objetivos en los que estamos trabajando para involucrar a toda la cadena de valor”.
Urdiales explains to us how this commitment to more sustainable production has materialized: “Following the same line of work, in 2020, we created the Sustainability Department under the Vice Presidency of Corporate Development and General Secretariat, which allows us to have a more global and cross-sectional vision of the company. Likewise, we can provide more direct support on the areas that influence the value chain, from Purchasing, Production, Logistics, to the Marketing of our product.”
The existence of the Sustainability Department allows the group to act in response to the rise of problems related to energy, resources, and raw materials at a global level. Urdiales tells us what his recipe for success is to make the right decisions with enough foresight: “Measuring and evaluating our journey is essential on the path to sustainability. We have integrated measurement systems (KPIs) into all departments, which show us how we can continue to improve while making those improvements tangible. So, ultimately, digitalization and sustainability go hand in hand. Digitalization is a help to be more efficient, use resources better, spend less, and be more competitive. That is, precisely, being sustainable.”, he claims.
Urdiales also acknowledges that the inclusion of such sustainable initiatives in a family business model "has been made easier thanks to the very idiosyncrasy of our Group, which comes from a long family tradition deeply connected and committed to the environment from its beginnings, compared to other larger companies".
Whether large or small, many companies are beginning to include actions that promote sustainability in their business models. Urdiales reflects on this and recalls that “a few years ago, sustainability was exclusively associated with the environment, although over the last few years more facets have been added to the sustainability paradigm, such as the economic or social aspect. We must demonstrate that being sustainable also enhances the competitiveness and profitability of companies”. The director of sustainability warns that “it is an opportunity that businesses cannot afford to miss”.
Seeing the great prominence of the concept of 'sustainability' within the company, we also talked about the teams' connection with the philosophy promoted by Cosentino. In this regard, Urdiales comments that "it is fortunate to have a young work team, between 35 and 40 years old, who have a mindset more in line with our challenges to maintain sustainability". Cosentino benefits from this professional profile and moves towards creating ambassadors in all areas of the company, "as if they were champions of sustainability. These ambassadors are responsible for instilling sustainable criteria in the different departments".
In this regard, providing learning tools to work teams not only benefits the users, but also “for Cosentino, professionalizing teams through training also drives sustainability in the social fabric, as we ensure long-term profitability with a guarantee.”. With this purpose, Cosentino launched the Eduarda Justo Foundation in 2006 in Almería “to empower people to train from a sustainable and urbanistic perspective”. The foundation is named after Eduarda Justo, mother of the three founders and an example of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and social commitment.
Por otro lado, en 2005 se fundó la Fundación de Arte Ibáñez Cosentino, “situada en Olula del Río, población cercana a la sede central de Cosentino. El objetivo de la Fundación es, entre otros, la promoción de la cultura, el arte y la cultura en el entorno en el que estamos.”. La Fundación de Arte Ibáñez Cosentino es otro ejemplo de cómo el Grupo entiende el mensaje de sostenibilidad de manera transversal y aporta valor al tejido social: “La sostenibilidad también tiene que responder a la igualdad, a las oportunidades y al tejido social para que crezca. Por ello, entendemos la empresa como un ciudadano corporativo, es decir, un ciudadano que busca dejar un mundo mejor”.
Before concluding, Antonio Urdiales highlights the projects that are coming up in the near future. “Among others, we will continue working on energy efficiency to keep decarbonizing our processes, we will advance logistically to become more efficient, being aware that we must be able to adapt to the new demands of society and the planet. On the other hand, we want to enhance our commitment to the citizens and we will strive to ensure that the development of our environment is positive”.
The philosophy of Grupo Cosentino is built on a solid foundation of self-determination and commitment to the environment and social fabric. Urdiales concludes the conversation by appealing to the power we all have to improve the sustainability paradigm: “We must not forget the great social value that acting responsibly in our societies brings. Being sustainable is, in fact, the greatest responsibility each of us has”.
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* The pioneering technology HybriQ® features environmental milestones characteristic of Cosentino, such as the use of 100% renewable electric energy and 99% reused water from the production process itself; and regarding its composition, it includes recycled materials.
** Silestone® is a surface that also includes the Environmental Product Declaration for its entire range of colors.
