Ontier and Trascendent lead Impact Day 2024

The law firm Ontier, alongside sustainability consultancy Transcendent, spearheaded Impact Day 2024, a pivotal event aimed at inspiring business leaders to adopt more ambitious and transformative approaches toward sustainability. The event featured renowned figures, including Sir Ronald Cohen, the “father of impact investing,” and Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, who emphasized the need for companies to create a net positive impact on society and the environment.

Addressing over 300 attendees, Cohen and Polman underscored the importance of moving beyond conventional sustainability efforts. They advocated for a shift from profit-maximization models to approaches that measure and enhance a company’s impact on stakeholders and the planet. Cohen announced the release of a new methodology and database by the International Foundation for Valuing Impacts (IFVI) to assess and monetize environmental impact, marking a significant step forward in impact accounting.

Both leaders highlighted that while progress has been made, it is not enough and urged companies to embrace a “net positive” mindset, returning more to society and the planet than they extract. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring key industry figures who explored the strategic role of businesses in driving sustainable and responsible growth in an increasingly complex world.

Global leaders call for net positive Impact

The event, moderated by Pedro Rodero, president of Ontier Spain and vice president of the Impact Observatory, and Ana Ruiz, partner at Transcendent, concluded with a panel discussion led by Alejandra Kindelán, president of the Spanish Banking Association (AEB). Panelists included Elena Valderrábano, global sustainability director at Telefónica; Teresa Parejo, sustainability director at Iberia; Sara Ramis, customer, marketing, and sustainability director at Barceló Hotel Group; Manuel Rua, sustainability director at Amadeus; and Ángel Pérez Agenjo, managing partner at Transcendent. They discussed the critical role of companies in demonstrating leadership and commitment to an economic model that promotes sustainable and responsible growth.