More than three decades ago, people started talking about sustainable development, warning about the impact of human industrial activity on the environment. With the passage of time and the appearance of new generations and new technologies, this concept is given more and more weight in order to try to achieve a balance between economic development and care for nature and life.

For this reason, it is pleasing to see that in Ecuador the industrial and business sectors are more concerned about this issue. More and more companies are working to mitigate the impact of their activities on the environment and create a positive impact in their communities.

An example of this is the opening of Tía’s 5,000 m² photovoltaic plant in its Regional Distribution Center (CRD) in Calacalí-Quito, which is expected to produce 1,687 MWh and save up to $115,000 per year, replacing the energy consumption of the total perishable and non-perishable logistics operation products. More than $1 million was invested in collaboration with IDB Invest, part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose goal is to advance clean energy projects to contribute to sustainable development.

All over the world, a company is required to be economically profitable, socially just and environmentally acceptable, so that it will not endanger society or nature in the short, medium or long term.

This is spreading more and more in the country. Last year, the number of companies that produced Sustainability Reports doubled, and more and more universities are improving their offerings in this area, according to data from Cemdes (Ecuador’s Business Council for Sustainable Development).

Finally, this path is also part of the global goals, the call of the United Nations to face the great challenges facing humanity in the search for a better life without endangering the planet. (OR)