More than 200 Catalan companies have adhered to the Manifesto for an Economy with Purpose that was presented this Tuesday at the Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona, where 250 representatives of the Catalan business sector also attended. The manifesto is oriented towards the creation of shared value, that is, it seeks to promote economic, social and environmental value and to take into account stakeholders when making decisions. The event was promoted by the main business organizations, with the leadership of Respon.cat and the complicity of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
The business ecosystem has a great responsibility towards society. Some companies are already addressing their economic, labor, environmental, social and good governance impacts under an approach of commitment, responsibility, sustainability and transparency. The circular economy, the energy transition, the healthy company, diversity management, gender equality, among many other matters, show the evolution that is being made from the corporate world.
Mònica Roca, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, opened the event by declaring that "the main business organizations have united to proclaim this manifesto." "It is our responsibility to help build a more prosperous future and share the best business practices that are both good for business competitiveness and for society," she added.
The Manifesto for an Economy with Purpose ensures to evolve from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism. "We must work to achieve an economic model that promotes those aspects where we have potential as an economy, while also contributing to building a country with values," explains Mercè Mullor, former president of Respon.cat, the business initiative for the development of social responsibility in Catalonia.
Companies that join the manifesto commit to developing before 2025 the purpose that is most relevant to them and to carry out an action plan to generate impact before 2030.
Rafel Oncins, current president of Respon.cat, states that "change does not happen overnight," but that thanks to the manifesto "a grassroots movement has been made visible, based on new generation business values and with firm commitments for a new way of doing business." The event also appealed to the figure of the businessman and businesswoman, as people with a special awareness of the challenges that must be addressed and committed to the need to do business in a different way, with humanist values, contributing to the well-being of people and to sustainability.
63% of the adhering companies already have a defined business purpose with impact. In 82% of cases, the purpose is social, followed by environmental (71%), cultural (31%), educational (36%), health (36%), mobility (10%) or linked to other sectors (19%). 51% are companies from Barcelona, 19% from Girona, 9% from Lleida and 3% from Tarragona.
The manifesto has been promoted by thirty of the main business organizations, under the impulse of Respon.cat. Some of them are the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Foment del Treball, Pimec, CECOT, FemCat and the College of Economists.