Femete Launches InduCES for Canarian SME Sustainability

Businesses in Spain are facing increasing pressure to be sustainable, both from new rules and customer demand. This is changing how well companies can compete and survive. To help with this, Femete (the Provincial Federation of Metal and New Technologies Companies of Santa Cruz de Tenerife) has started the InduCES Project. This project aims to help small and medium-sized industrial businesses (SMEs) use environmental impact measurements to become more efficient and innovative. The program officially began with a launch event at Femete's offices, held both in person and online.

InduCES stands for "Canarian INDUStry for a Sustainable Economy." It was created to help SMEs meet environmental standards and adopt greener business practices. The project is fully funded by the Canary Islands Government's Ministry of Economy, Industry, Trade and Self-Employed Workers, specifically through its General Directorate of Industry. This shows the government's strong commitment to making the islands' industries more environmentally friendly.

At the launch, Femete president Juan Antonio Jiménez Arranz stressed that sustainability is no longer just about a company's image; it's essential for growth. He explained that InduCES will give industrial SMEs practical tools, expert help, and opportunities to think strategically. He believes that measuring a company's environmental footprint can lead to better energy use, improved waste management, and more efficient operations. Jiménez Arranz also pointed out that working together – public and private sectors – can turn following environmental rules into a chance for innovation and access to funding based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Ana María Zurita Expósito, the Canary Islands Government's General Director of Industry, added that the shift to a greener industrial sector in the Canary Islands is supported by specific tools designed for SMEs. She noted that projects like InduCES help bring government policies in line with industry needs, making sustainability a core part of business strategy. The General Director confirmed the regional government's dedication to building a stronger industry that can handle the challenges of climate change and move towards a circular economy.

Rocío Jara Rodríguez gave the technical presentation for the InduCES project. It will run for twelve months, ending on November 30, 2026. The project targets fifty industrial companies in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, including those in metal and new technologies, whether they are Femete members or not. The project's approach involves a full assessment of a company's environmental footprint, looking at carbon, water, and materials. This is done using Life Cycle Analysis and international guidelines. By measuring these, companies can pinpoint their biggest environmental impacts and plan ways to reduce or offset them. This includes a special section for the carbon footprint related to employee travel (known as scope 3 emissions).

InduCES has four main areas of work: designing digital tools, offering tailored technical advice, running awareness campaigns, and coordinating the project. It fits with the Canary Islands Industrial Development Strategy 2022-2027 and the Canary Islands Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. The goal is to boost the industry's role in driving economic and social growth across the islands.

The launch event also included talks from María Dolores Rodríguez De Azero, CEO of Senda Ecoway, who discussed measuring carbon emissions from work travel (scope 3), and Cristina Rocha Sánchez, a sustainability consultant, who spoke about why understanding a company's environmental footprint is crucial for responsible business. Companies interested in joining the project and assessing their environmental impact can find more information on Femete's website.