Since mid-2019, Sorigué has been researching a new technology that makes it possible to first isolate and then obtain nanocellulose from waste extracted from the filtration of sludge at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The nanocellulose will then serve as the raw material for new processes in the industry. This research, which is being carried out under the name Beyond Waste, is one of the projects currently being developed by the group with the strategic goal of promoting circular economy solutions.
 
At present, the nanocellulose is mainly extracted from virgin raw materials, such as wood pulp or agroforestry waste, making the recovery of cellulose from wastewater treatment a pioneering project in the sector. This initiative by Sorigué is cross-cutting throughout the group’s business and, in this case, it integrates two of the group’s main lines of business: the operation of infrastructure associated with the water cycle and waste management.
 
The commitment to innovation and knowledge management at Sorigué is directly linked to environmental sustainability and the circular economy. Both the innovation projects it carries out in research and the innovation it applies to its products and services are aimed at achieving more energy-efficient processes, as well as reusing waste or creating new products from it.
 
In the context of its 2020 Strategic Plan, Sorigué has bolstered its commitment to innovation, and in 2019, it carried out projects linked to the water cycle, waste, energy and materials, such as asphalts and pavements.
 
All these projects are included in Sorigué’s latest Non-Financial Reporting, which summarises the work carried out by the group in 2019. The report confirms the sustained evolution of the group towards a responsible business model, as established in its 2020 Strategic Plan, the core pillars of which are innovation, knowledge management and sustainability.
 
Among these research projects, Sorigué’s involvement in the Water Mining project in the European Union’s H2020 programme, was notable. This programme seeks to ensure the long-term availability of water. In this study, Sorigué validates the incorporation of a number of processes at the La Llagosta WWTP in Barcelona, to obtain water suitable for agricultural irrigation or ultrapure water for reuse in the surrounding industries. This technology will facilitate efficiency improvements in the purification process for quality water, while making it possible to extract phosphorus and, in turn, generate energy.
 
In 2019, the group also began a specific development and marketing project for single servings of olive oil with biodegradable packaging, with a view to generating solutions to reduce the use of plastics in single-use packaging.
 
Alongside a Hungarian start-up company, Platio, it is also carrying out a project that seeks to replace conventional pavement with paving that collects solar energy in order to convert it into solar energy.
Sorigué is currently developing a pilot test with Barcelona City Council to assess how this new pavement performs in the city.
 
In addition, in 2019, the Sorigué Materials division carried out a pioneering project in the field of asphalts: road resurfacing using sustainable techniques on a section of road in Tarragona, within the scope of the first project of the Public Innovation Procurement programme in Catalonia, promoted by the Directorate-General for Mobility Infrastructure of the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the Government of Catalonia. The improvement to the asphalt introduced several innovative aspects compared to conventional road resurfacing, chiefly in the materials and techniques applied, obtaining much more sustainable and energy efficient results.
 
With the aim of guaranteeing the development of this research, improving the quality of
its products, as well as increasing the competitiveness and effectiveness that society and the markets demand today, Sorigué has created collaboration networks with universities such as the Norwegian University (Norway), Ben-Gurion University (Israel) and national and international technology centres like the Photonic Sciences Institute (ICFO), the University of Barcelona (UB), the Leitat technological centre, Tecnalia and the German Fraunhofer institute, among others.
 
Sustainability and environment
 
In terms of its commitment to environmental sustainability, in 2019, Sorigué certified that 92% of its business volume complies with the international environmental management standard ISO 14001, which certifies its commitment to the prevention and reduction of the environmental impact of its activities.

Also, compared to 2018, there was an increase of 88.5% in financial resources allocated to the environment. In 2019, the group managed to reduce its total water consumption by 31% and its total energy consumption by 5%. It also achieved a 6.34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. And lastly, the Materials division recycled 100% of the asphalt milling material used.

Furthermore, the two new work centres for the green infrastructure and waste management business lines, as well as the new Constraula headquarters, were built and renovated (respectively) in line with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability criteria, achieving an energy rating of A. 

The new waste management centre also obtained the 3-Leaf Green Seal certificate, a sustainability certification for buildings developed by GBCe (Spain Green Building Council), and the Constraula headquarters obtained the BREEAM seal, a sustainability assessment and certification method for buildings, with a rating of “Very good”.
 
Moreover, between 2019 and 2020, the group managed to make its entire fleet of vehicles for urban services contracts in Barcelona and Madrid sustainable, with mostly 100% electric vehicles, and with the Eco label.

Responsible business
 
In terms of its commitment to strengthening its Social Responsibility and Compliance policies, in 2019, the Sorigué business group became the first Catalan construction company to obtain the two leading certifications: Criminal Compliance and Social Responsibility from AENOR, in accordance with the international standard IQNet SR10, the latter having been obtained by the group for the first time in 2017.
 
The UNE 19601 standard on Criminal Compliance confirms that the business group possesses and implements a set of preventive tools guaranteeing that Sorigué's activity is carried out in compliance with legal regulations. The receipt of this new certification, a distinguishing factor in the sector, reaffirms Sorigué's commitment to complying with the legal framework, crime prevention and responsible growth.
 
People
 
Within the framework of the group’s digitalisation strategy, in 2019, Sorigué achieved the digitalisation of 100% of its workforce with Office 365 solutions and managed to renew 100% of the group’s IT equipment, thereby fulfilling another objective in the Strategic Plan.
 
Lastly, talent retention stands out among the objectives established in the Strategic Plan that have been attained. In 2019, Sorigué’s average workforce remained at 3,800 employees, of which 75% are on permanent contracts, among 20 companies audited in the Non-Financial Reporting.
 
Also during 2019, the Sorigué business group received the Bequal certification, which recognises the company’s commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, revising inclusivity policies and improvements with regard to people with disabilities who work within the group.
 
Giving back
 
In line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) established by the United Nations in its 2030 Agenda, Sorigué distributes its social investment according to the purpose of each of the sponsorship projects. The company focuses on sponsorships in collaboration with projects by social institutions or associations that have a positive impact on health and well-being and that promote quality and equal education. Between 2018 and 2019, the group allocated almost half a million euros to sponsoring projects that give back to society.
 
Furthermore, in 2019, the Fundació Sorigué, a foundation that implements the group’s vocation to give back to society through activities in the social, educational and cultural spheres, opened its first exhibition of the British artist Mat Collishaw in Spain.
 
This exhibition, which was on display between March and May last year at the Royal Botanical Garden in Madrid and later moved to the foundation’s museum in Lleida, received a total of 39,847 visits, including 3,851 educational visits.