Sustainability trends

The extensive research and analysis carried out by Caja Madrid suggest the following sustainability tendencies should be addressed from the standpoint of social responsibility:

• It is important that values such as transparency, sound asset management, professional integrity and the ethics of organisations be integrated into their strategies.
• Customers require quality service and ever more personalised attention tailored to their needs.
• Heightening sensitivity to social and environmental issues in organisations is an important challenge, given the generally lower level of social responsibility awareness seen in Spain compared with the rest of Europe.
• The growing takeup of online banking requires investment and development of new technologies to deliver better service to customers.
• Disabled persons are becoming increasingly independent and self-reliant, which should compel us to broaden the channels for using our services and improving accessibility.
• In the environmental area, one of the most important challenges we face in the future is climate change, including the varied other threats it generates, such as desertification, loss of ecological biodiversity and scarcity of water. Companies must get involved in environmental management activities, with projects to promote advanced green technologies that boost energy efficiency.
• Some 95% of Spanish companies are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Supporting these small business therefore stands out as crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of the country's industrial sector and spurring economic development.
• The creation of quality jobs, promotion of equal opportunity and accessibility for all persons is a key element to be taken into account in organisations.
• Support for universities as prime movers in the development of tomorrow's professionals.
• Cultivate the financial literacy of citizens, giving them the tools, expertise and knowhow they need to make their financial decisions.
• Establish investment-selection policies that take into account social, environmental and corporate governance parameters.