Member Profile | Spotlight on Ferrovial

Ferrovial is a proud member of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA). Becoming a member allows them to establish a strategic partnership and collaborate with the industry in Australia as well as internationally.

What does sustainability mean to Ferrovial?

Environmental sustainability is a critical element of Ferrovial Agroman’s operations around the world. The company continues to increase its capacity to offer services and infrastructure that responds to global challenges such as climate change, the energy crisis and the loss of biodiversity. We are committed to minimising the environmental and negative societal impacts of our activities and are proud of our contribution to the communities in which we work.

Why did you become an ISCA member?

Ferrovial seeks to offer services and infrastructure that respond to challenges such as climate change, water footprint management, waste reuse, biodiversity loss and the energy crisis, in order to create value by reducing environmental impact and to discover new business opportunities.

Being a member of ISCA further strengthens our commitment to sustainability and allows us to establish a strategic partnership and collaborate with the industry in Australia as well as internationally.

Ferrovial is a member of the EU Corporate Leader Group, which is a group of influential companies working in partnership with legislators with the aim of finding solutions to combat Climate Change in the European Union and globally. We are members of the EU Green Growth Group, an organisation where representatives from civil society, academia and the business world advise the European Commission on the future of the economic and environmental agenda. Ferrovial has also headed the Spanish Green Growth Group (GECV) since 2015.

How have you benefited from being part of the IS Community?

Ferrovial maintains a fluid relationship with its stakeholders, in particular those that are or may be involved in the main climatic risks of the Company’s activities worldwide, those that have regulatory influence, or those that may influence the development of new business opportunities. Being a part of the IS Community allows us to collaborate on innovative projects to create sustainable infrastructure and reduce emissions.

What notable projects are you currently working on?

Current Projects in Australia:

• Toowoomba Second Range Crossing. QLD, Australia
• Pacific Highway Upgrade Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads. NSW, Australia
• Pacific Highway Upgrade Harwood Bridge. NSW, Australia
• Northern Beaches Hospital Connectivity and Network Enhancement. NSW, Australia

 

Global innovation Projects:

Ferrovial’s Innovation Strategy is defined and driven by an Innovation Committee, comprising of the company’s CEO, its CIIO, the CEOs of the Business Units, the Head of Human Resources and the Head of Corporate Strategy. It is coordinated by the Global Innovation Steering Council, which is chaired by the Chief Innovation and Digital Strategy Officer and comprises of all the Innovation Officers within the company’s business units. Expert working groups have also been formed to tackle specific agendas.

The Innovation Plan rests on five main pillars: anticipation and exploration; collaboration and transversal approach; focus and impact; globality and ecosystem; and agility and swiftness. A set of transversal targets and related programs have been established in key areas relating to innovation, such as data-based management, mobility, automation and sustainability. It also includes the creation of a Venture Lab to incubate new digital businesses and ideas.

Ferrovial’s focus on innovation resulted in the submission of more than 100 projects of varying scales in 2018, with an investment effort exceeding EUR48 million in Research and Development. 45 pilot projects were carried out, with 17 partnership agreements being signed with universities and research centres.

Research Centres and Universities

• Growing social concern on the subject of climate change has prompted Ferrovial to develop tools and technologies that help improve the climate while also unlocking business opportunities. In partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Ferrovial and Heathrow have developed a device that captures the sound generated by aircraft and turns it into energy.
• Under its partnership agreement with MIT, Ferrovial has undertaken five innovation projects that aim to transform cities and develop the infrastructure of tomorrow.
• In 2018, two new projects were launched to investigate air mobility noise and solutions for reusing sewage sludge. The company also took part in the study titled Mobility of the Future, which addresses future changes in the transportation sector.
• The company helped to launch Madrid Innovation Driven Ecosystem, the first collaborative platform to champion innovation-based enterprise across the region, drawing inspiration from the model devised by MIT.
• An agreement was also finalised with Stanford University to research long-term infrastructure projects through the Global Project Center’s industrial affiliation program.

 

What does the future hold for Ferrovial?

Our Vision is to improve the future by developing and operating sustainable infrastructure and cities, committed to the highest levels of operational excellence and innovation. Creating value for society and for our clients, investors and employees.

Ferrovial’s Sustainability Policy includes six factors to manage the business strategy and in-turn develop sustainable infrastructure and cities.

Our Principles and Values

• Legal compliance and environmental risk management – We comply with international, national, local and sectoral environmental regulations, actively collaborating with regulators and other relevant stakeholders. We focus on pollution prevention as a way of minimising negative impacts, controlling the risks of our activities and if necessary, implementing contingency plans as necessary
• Collaboration with stakeholders – We foster mutual benefits in our relationships with our customers, suppliers and other external organisations to protect and improve the environment. We establish open channels of communication to create synergies and to share experiences and best practices to take advantage of opportunities that allow us to create greater social value
• Security and customer satisfaction – Our goal is to offer secure infrastructure and services whilst providing the best customer and user experience
• Training and Competition – We provide the necessary resources to educate and develop awareness in our employees, suppliers and subcontractors
• Continuous improvement and transparency – We seek excellence in the practice of actively promoting continuous improvement, in our technical capacity and in the efficiency of our processes. We develop performance objectives and indicators that are verified by independent third parties, with the knowledge then shared with relevant stakeholders
• Eco-efficiency – We use natural resources and raw materials efficiently, using recycled materials when possible, as well as reducing waste and the water footprint of our activities
• Climate change – We manage the risks and opportunities linked to climate change in all our activities by offering low emission infrastructure and services
• Biodiversity and natural capital – We follow the principle of “no net loss” of biodiversity as a guideline to mitigate and compensate for the negative impacts of our activities.

To learn more, visit Ferrovial’s official website here.