We have a new chapter of Sacyr iPodcast, the space where we talk about innovation with experts who inspire us and help us to broaden our vision.

In this case, the fifth chapter is focused on air quality in confined environments.

To delve deeper into this topic, Patricia Martínez, General Manager of Sustainability, Environment and Innovation, talks with Miguel París, Director of Health and Safety, about how innovation helps us to reduce risks, anticipate problems and ensure safer and more sustainable spaces. "Innovation and safety can be a point of attraction for talent in the sector," explains Miguel Paris.

"In fact, the Community of Madrid has given us the award, in the Large Company category, for considering our innovative practices as the best in safety and health," Paris explains.

"Air quality (amount of oxygen, relative humidity, temperature or certain pollutants, etc) can influence our health, as well as biological pollutants in water, dust in construction, pollution on roads, all are factors that can affect the working conditions of our workers, so we have to put special control capacity," says Paris.

"Our mission is to help on construction sites, above all, to take care of people, the most valuable thing we have in this company," explains Miguel Paris.

Miguel Paris sees the preventive culture more implanted in society, not only in Sacyr, "everything that helps to industrialize and modernize the sector will favor safety and better working conditions for our people," explains this expert.

You can listen to this podcast on Explora.

Ana Aurora Grande Barriga

Management Systems 
Quality, Environment and Energy

The new Sustainable Mobility Law marks a turning point, recognizing mobility for the first time as an accessible and inclusive right. For the first time, mobility is recognized as a citizen’s right, accessible and inclusive.

It also boosts state funding for urban transportation, accelerates the digitalization of our transport systems, and sets a clear goal: achieving climate neutrality in the transportation sector.

Its pillars include:

•    Clean and healthy mobility: Transportation accounts for 29% of Spain's greenhouse gas emissions. The law demands significant progress in decarbonizing the transportation sector and achieving climate neutrality.
•    Digitalization and innovation: The Integrated Mobility Data Space (EDIM) will be created to centralize mobility information and drive innovation.
•    Increased investment: Almost €10 billion in European funding will be available to support mobility projects.
•    Mobility as a right: The law prioritizes protecting state funding for urban transport, ensuring everyone has access to mobility options.

What does it mean for companies like Sacyr?

The bill mandates that workplaces with over 200 employees, or 100 per shift, must implement a Sustainable Mobility to Work Plan (SMWP). This SMWP, developed in collaboration with employee representatives, must prioritize active transportation (walking, cycling), public transit, carpooling and low-emission vehicles.

It also contemplates the possibility of appointing a mobility manager to coordinate these efforts. 

A monitoring report is required every two years, and non-compliance could result in fines of up to €6,000.
Furthermore, transport hubs and toll roads must meet energy efficiency standards, including:

•    Certification in environmental and energy management systems (ISO 14001/50001)
•    Carbon Footprint Assessment
•    Using energy from renewable sources and securing guarantees of origin for renewable energy.

What are we doing?

Sacyr’s Quality, Environment and Energy Department has already launched initiatives that align with the law's objectives. We provide bicycle and electric scooter parking, electric vehicle charging stations, hybrid and electric vehicles for staff and encourage public transport use through Sacyr Flex, our transit pass program. We also actively promote and encourage carpooling, which benefits the environment and economically incentivizes drivers through Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) approved by the Spanish Government.

Flexible work arrangements, efficient driving training in our environmental best practices manual, and the use collaborative work tools that minimize commuting between worksites are also integral to our operations.

We also maintain a fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles (powered by cleaner fuels like LPG), which also generate ESCs for the company. We prioritize train travel over air travel for business trips, reducing our carbon footprint. And we are incorporating biofuels, which can reduce net CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fuels.

Looking Ahead: New Opportunities

This law not only sets requirements, but also inspires innovation. It opens doors for pilot projects in mobility digitalization and encourages public-private partnerships to develop automated vehicles.

In construction, it promotes sustainable infrastructure like transport terminals, bike lanes, and energy-efficient buildings. It also champions rail transport through the creation of new rail freight corridors.

The law also encourages intermodal connections between bicycles and public transportation in concession areas and promotes rapid electric vehicle charging on highways.

Finally, subsidies are planned for companies developing SMWPs, helping them stay competitive while advancing sustainability.
In short, this law bill challenges us all to actively participate in creating a better future. At Sacyr, we’re prepared to lead the way toward cleaner, smarter, and more people-centric mobility.
 

¿Qué estamos haciendo?

Desde la Dirección de Calidad, Medio Ambiente y Energía de Sacyr, ya hemos puesto en marcha varias iniciativas que nos acercan a los objetivos de la ley. Contamos con aparcamientos para bicicletas y patinetes eléctricos, puntos de recarga para vehículos eléctricos, flota de vehículos eléctricos e híbridos para los trabajadores, y fomentamos el uso del transporte público a través de Sacyr Flex, nuestro programa para adquirir tarjetas de transporte. También promovemos y sensibilizamos al personal sobre el coche compartido, que además genera beneficios económicos para los conductores, gracias a los Certificados de Ahorro Energético (CAE) aprobados por e Gobierno de España. 

La flexibilidad horaria, la formación en conducción eficiente en nuestro manual de buenas prácticas ambientales y el fomento de herramientas informáticas de trabajo colaborativo que reducen los desplazamientos entre centros de trabajo son otras medidas que ya forman parte de nuestro día a día.

Además, disponemos de una flota de vehículos eléctricos y coches híbridos (con combustibles menos contaminantes, como el GLP), que también genera CAE’s con beneficios económicos para la empresa. Priorizamos los traslados de trabajo en tren, en sustitución del avión, que es más contaminante. También estamos incorporando el uso de biocombustibles (que puede reducir hasta un 90% de las emisiones netas de CO2 en comparación con el combustible de origen mineral).

Mirando hacia el futuro: oportunidades que se abren

La ley no solo exige, también inspira. Abre la puerta a proyectos piloto de innovación y digitalización en movilidad, fomenta la colaboración público-privada para el desarrollo de vehículos automatizados. 

En el ámbito de la construcción, promueve infraestructuras sostenibles como terminales de transporte, carriles bici y edificios energéticamente eficientes. Además, fomenta el transporte ferroviario, con el desarrollo de nuevas autopistas ferroviarias, para el transporte de mercancías y de personas.  En el área concesional, se impulsa la intermodalidad entre bicicleta y transporte público, y la recarga eléctrica rápida en autopistas. 

Además, se prevén subvenciones para empresas que desarrollen sus PMST, lo que representa una oportunidad para seguir avanzando sin perder competitividad.

En definitiva, este proyecto de ley nos reta a ser parte activa del cambio. En Sacyr, estamos preparados para liderar el camino hacia una movilidad más limpia, inteligente y humana.