CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sustainable Development Goals
TYPSA contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its policies and management systems, its business areas, and the TYPSA Foundation for Development. We are making progress towards the 2030 Agenda through the knowledge and innovation, good business practices and social action of a leading engineering firm, strengthened by the creation of partnerships to bolster sustainability.
‘Contributing to Sustainable Development is a challenge for us all. The UN has recognised the fundamental role of business; we are firmly committed through our work, the solutions we develop and the corporate practices we adopt’
Our contribution to the SDGs
QUALITY EDUCATION
Targets we work towards
Target 4.3. By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
Target 4.4. By 2030, substantially increase the number of young people and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Our commitment
Promote technical education in developing countries.
Achievements
- Gradual increase in the number of students in engineering faculties. The Foundation pays 50 % toward the cost of tuition fees.
- New access road to UNILAC (Lake Albert University, D.R. Congo) from Mahagi
- (3 km), with a sprayed seal.
- Teaching staff residence allowances in Mahagi to encourage staff to settle at UNILAC enabling students to learn without interruptions.
- Boreholes, an elevated reservoir and a distribution network to supply drinking water.
- Geotechnical soil laboratory set up at UNILAC. The basic instrumentation was donated by UPM and TYPSA.
- Permanent high speed internet service.
- Monthly on-line tutorials given by UPM professors.
- Good results in the local talent pool for Civil Engineering and Agronomy graduates in 2021. 80% of Civil Engineering graduates have been able to benefit from Foundation-promoted employment opportunities.
The Foundation’s collaboration with the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in the UNILAC University project in Mahagi, won the 2021 UPM Annual Prize for Research and Innovation in the ‘Public-Private Development Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Madrid’ category.
Good Business Practice 2019: Supporting Education in Africa
TYPSA Foundation for Development reflects the company's sensitivity to the challenges of the African continent and to its commitment to providing development opportunities through education that contribute to the well-being of future generations. The launch of UNILAC University is the company's most sustainable project, conceived to train young Africans in disciplines that will enable them to develop business initiatives locally and discourage talent migration.
Indicator trends:
| UNILAC University, Mahagi (DRC) | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 |
Number of students | 215 | 343 | 368 |
Number of scholarships | 118 | 171 | 163 |
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Targets we work towards
Target 6.3. By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
Target 6.4. By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Target 6.5. By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
Our commitment
Our water management services, one of TYPSA’s main business areas, enable us to contribute directly to improving water availability, management and quality in the countries where we operate.
Achievements
Digitalisation in the WATER sector: BIM-iAGUA
Our work as water engineering consultants helps strengthen efficiency in water management, with a special focus on the whole infrastructure life cycle. BIM methodologies enhance information management, optimise the use of materials and resources and facilitate operation and maintenance. TYPSA’s growth in BIM capability therefore represents a significant milestone on the way to improving our contribution.
The BIM-iAGUA project, now completed, has driven the BIM implementation process in the Water Engineering Department by coordinating standards, identifying leaders in each specialist field, organising digital information and providing interoperability guidelines for information systems.
The project, in collaboration with the subsidiary company ENGECORPS, focused on strengthening BIM uses for treatment plant and drainage system design.
Building dam safety capacity in Spain
Protecting people, property and natural ecosystems downstream of dams forms an essential part of operating system sustainability. The safety of certain dams is being affected by climate change, among other things, while at the same time their role is becoming increasingly important in coping with more frequent droughts and more intense floods. TYPSA Group has made a remarkable effort to expand its technical capabilities in dam safety inspections and risk analysis methodologies, currently working on more than 300 dams in Spain.
Good Business Practice 2021: Analysis and early warning systems to improve water quality
TYPSA has strengthened the analytical capabilities and tools of its environmental laboratories in Madrid, Seville and Murcia. Labs are now better prepared to support water authorities and regional governments in addressing increasing environmental challenges and applying more stringent water quality regulations. In 2020, the company increased the number of laboratory staff by 25% and bolstered training. A data processing and early warning system was developed to detect regulatory parametric value noncompliance immediately. In 2020, the laboratories performed 517,656 tests and renewed their ISO 17025 certification.
Indicator trends:
Teams | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Number of people trained in BIM in the water sector | 28 | 43 | 48 |
Number of people specialised in the management of dam safety and risk analysis projects | 9 | 13 | 23 |
AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
Targets we work towards
Target 7.2. By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Our commitment
Our energy generation business lines back renewable and clean energy.
Achievements
Technology at the service of floating renewable energy systems
The world’s renewable energy sources may find new opportunities at sea, where wind is more readily available than on land. As an international authority in the wind sector, TYPSA has recently been steadily acquiring new technical offshore capabilities, developing innovative projects with gravity and floating foundations. Capitalising on wind energy in aquatic areas, this technology significantly increases the renewable energy that can be supplied to the grid.
R&D projects have helped tremendously to give impetus to these capabilities, by focusing on aspects such as the analysis of mooring systems in floating platforms for the installation of wind turbines in the sea through coupled wave-wind models. TYPSA has been collaborating with Beridi in the ARCHIME3 project, under the European Horizon 2020 innovation programme framework, to install a novel 1:2 scale floating wind platform. In parallel, another self-financed R&D project, FLOATYP-WIND, focused on optimising needed tools and calculation methodologies.
Floating platforms can also perform well as sites for photovoltaic solar energy, located, for example, in artificial lakes and reservoirs, avoiding other areas of land that may be more environmentally sensitive or destined for other uses. In addition, in the case of reservoirs with hydroelectric power plants, they can help to optimise the use of the existing grid connection since there is generally more solar radiation when there is less rainfall, and vice versa.
TYPSA has added skills to anchored floating platform design capabilities by providing technical solutions to ensure buoyancy, secure the anchoring system and make energy production compatible with variations in reservoir levels. Detailed engineering has been delivered for a floating solar park on Alqueva reservoir (Portugal) and basic engineering and permit processing services provided at a plant in a lagoon in the Muntenia region of Romania.
Good Business Practice 2020: PV GRAD: the technology that optimises the design of solar photovoltaic plants
PV GRAD technology requires up to 15 times less earth to be moved and compacted compared to a traditional solar plant design, resulting in a substantial reduction in construction costs and an increase in overall profitability of around 5%. CO2 emissions are 10 to 15 times lower since less heavy machinery is used in the construction phase, which facilitates access to green financing on more advantageous terms. Higher profitability attracts more investment in this type of infrastructure project, and consequently more solar energy in the energy mix.
Indicator trends:
Renewable energy activity | 2020 | 2021 |
Number of renewables innovation projects | 8 | 10 |
Renewable energy we design and install (in MW) | 6.800 | 21.757 |
DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Targets we work towards
Target 8.2. Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
Target 8.5. By 2030 achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
Target 8.7. Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Our commitment
Ensure respect for human rights, ethical corporate behaviour, integrity and equality, as well as diversity and inclusion in TYPSA and its supply chain.
Achievements
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Statement available on our website.
Due diligence automation for partners and suppliers in commercial and operational phases.
Company Risk Map update adopting the corresponding prevention and control measures.
New business integrity and ethics, equality, diversity and inclusion requirements incorporated into our supplier audit system.
Good Business Practice 2019: Branches and subsidiaries opened to be close to our clients
TYPSA’s bet on international office development involves a commitment to its employees worldwide. Satisfactory working conditions are assured by hiring local staff under appropriate terms of employment, providing training, facilitating integration into collaborative working platforms, paying local taxes and ensuring occupational health and safety in accordance with international standards and other applicable labour laws. TYPSA is continuously improving its Quality, Environment and Health and Safety Management System (QHSE), making sure it is in place in the Group’s countries of operation to achieve the necessary certifications.
Good Business Practice 2021: Respect for human rights and integrity across the value chain
TYPSA’s mandatory subcontractor and partner due diligence is now a global requirement with a specific section on human rights, aligning the Integrity System and Integrated Management System with the principle of respect for human rights. Modifications to the model subcontract have introduced specific clauses on complying with the Code of Ethics, the integrity policy, the equality, diversity and inclusion statement and the modern slavery and human trafficking statement. New business integrity and ethics requirements have enhanced the subcontractor audit system.
Indicator trends:
Follow-up on supplier contracts | 2020 | 2021 |
Percentage of contracts that explicitly accept our Code of Ethics | 71% | 75% |
INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Targets we work towards
Target 9.1. Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
Our commitment
Foster innovation and digitalisation to improve the productivity, efficiency, security and sustainability of our services.
Achievements
Digital boost to our services
Three concurrent actions were implemented to boost TYPSA Group’s digital solutions.
The second edition of the Group’s discussion forum on digitalisation, the TYPSA Digital Talks, was held under the theme ‘Digital Acceleration’.
The TYPSA Digital Accelerator was created as a new fast-acting unit located in our subsidiary TEyS, with a mission to provide innovation and digitalisation support to our clients and to the Group itself.
The First TYPSA Hackathon was run both in-person and virtually, to explore the possibilities of combining BIM models with video game programming engines for the construction of digital twins. Six prizes were awarded for the teams’ most outstanding work. In parallel, three round tables were held on Open BIM, digital twins and sustainability, on digital engineering and on the metaverse. An experimental virtual reality room was set up for TYPSA employees, while the Hackathon was broadcast on social media to open up the debates to a wider audience.
The Hackathon has helped form a team specialised in the construction of digital twins, contributing to the promotion of TYPSA Digital Accelerator digital services.
Good Business Practice 2019: CIVIL BIM
TYPSA has worked hard to consolidate the use of BIM in infrastructure design. In 2018, TYPSA BIM Group was created to develop process mapping for the systematic application of ‘BIM dimensions’. This concerted effort has earned it ISO 19650 1/2 Certification for ‘Information Management using BIM’ and international recognition such as Bentley’s ‘Year in Infrastructure 2018’ going digital award in the UK for advancements in rail and transit infrastructure and its innovative BIM approach, for the HS2 high-speed project (lots S1 and S2) linking London with Manchester and Leeds.
Good Business Practice 2021: Training and digital acceleration to drive innovation
TYPSA’s innovation system (R&D) is Spanish standard UNE certified; the BIM methodology implementation strategy to manage information throughout the life cycle is ISO 19650 certified; and information security is ISO 27001 certified, making TYPSA the first Spanish engineering company to achieve the technological triad. The TYPSA Digital Hub, an internal platform for technological outreach, and the TYPSA Digital Accelerator (ADT), have been created to boost digitalisation, speed up the technological development of innovative solutions and improve the performance of existing ones. In 2021, the third edition of the series of webinars on digitalisation and innovation known as TYPSA Digital Talks was held for the entire Group. More than 250 people connected.
Indicator trends:
Innovation projects | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Number of new R&D projects approved | 11 | 13 | 17 |
Number of Digital Accelerator requests completed | – | – | 23 |
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Targets we work towards
Target 11.2. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.
Target 11.3. By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
Our commitment
Our services and capabilities contribute to making cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Achievements
New sustainable mobility tools
TYPSA’s contribution became a reality when three R&D projects were approved to develop new methodologies and tools for the detailed analysis of mobility in infrastructure and cities.
The SIMOV R&D project aims to generate methodologies for the combined analysis of vehicle-pedestrian mobility simulations to provide a holistic interpretation of mobility in shared spaces, addressing the constraints imposed by the use of very different tools and simulation algorithms.
BE-ACCESS R&D project is under development for virtual reality applications that assess and audit public infrastructure and building accessibility and emergency evacuation flows, especially in underground railway and metro stations.
In collaboration with the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium the MICROSIMULATION R&D project is developing new methodologies for mobility simulation in transport interchanges.
Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)
New SUDS milestones have been achieved thanks to the work of TYPSA’s subsidiary, Green Blue Management (GBM), specifically in Spain.
In-house technical growth has been enhanced by the incorporation of new specific design and calculation software and the completion of the SUDS-GIS R&D project, which generated a GIS tool for selecting optimal SUDS implementation sites. Our teams have also reached outside the company, working with various municipal councils to draft Municipal SUDS strategies and Technical Guidelines focusing on standardisation, to help facilitate deployment of these technologies.
Good Business Practice 2019: Sustainable Urban Drainage: GBM
TYPSA has incorporated a Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) start-up into the Group. SuDS offer nature-based solutions that leverage urban soil properties to collect and retain rainwater where it falls. They replicate natural catchment response, helping to strengthen water governance principles that enhance water-body integrity, protecting against floods and droughts, adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts, reducing energy consumption in the urban water cycle, and providing ecosystem services and ecological connectivity and restoration.
Good Business Practice 2021: Strategy for sustainable mobility led by Madrid’s public transport system
TYPSA has signed a Collaboration Protocol with the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) to jointly promote innovation projects in mobility, intelligent transport planning and management, energy sustainability and universal accessibility. As a result, a study was conducted to define a strategic framework and governance models for implementing a Mobility as a Service System (MaaS) in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. Following a consultation process with public and private transport operators and a benchmarking analysis with the participation of 12 cities, TYPSA’s proposal, which includes an app, a payment management system and its own payment gateway, is now being considered for the definition of the CRTM mobility strategy.
Indicator trends:
Sustainable urban infrastructure improvement capabilities | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Number of sustainable city and infrastructure R&D projects | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Number of people working exclusively on SUDS | 3 | 6 | 7 |
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Targets we work towards
Target 12.2. By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
Target 12.5. By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
Our commitment
Leverage our services and capabilities to help extend the useful life of built assets and encourage the use of resilient and low-emission building materials and techniques.
Achievements
New digital infrastructure management tools to extend the lifecycle
Advances have been made in reality capture based on images and digital information processing, essential for the subsequent application of prediction algorithms. Better infrastructure and building condition monitoring using images is crucial for predictive asset maintenance, resulting in improvements in functionality, performance and a longer life cycle.
In this regard, the DRONES2 R&D project aimed at organising and expanding drone capabilities to be able to capture information for the design or technical inspection of buildings, facilities and infrastructure, reducing the carbon footprint associated with these tasks.
Subsidiary company INTEMAC launched two R&D projects: INTEMAC-AC and INTEMAC-IA, focusing, respectively, on applying the IoT and low-cost accelerometers to the structural dynamic behaviour analysis of buildings and bridges. They also leverage artificial intelligence for image recognition as a bridge inspection support tool to endorse maintenance and repair decisions.
Good Business Practice 2020: Innovation in industrial wastewater treatment and components reuse
TYPSA collaborates in the circular economy with EURECAT Technology Centre in Catalonia, through European research projects on industrial wastewater treatment and the reuse of organic and inorganic compounds valuable to other industries. One of the most important projects is SOLIEVA, which demonstrates the feasibility of membrane technology applied to the treatment of effluents from processed table olive production. The new technology shows that clean process water can be generated, and organic waste can be reused in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Good Business Practice 2021:Using less carbon-intensive building materials
The incorporation of the Technical Institute of Materials and Construction (INTEMAC) into the Group in 2018, has strengthened TYPSA’s knowledge and capability for analysis and monitoring and for assessing the durability, environmental performance and resilience of building materials and structures. INTEMAC has a high-profile construction materials laboratory that collaborates with Government agencies and the cement sector in defining the standards that will allow new cements with a lower carbon footprint to enter the market, which could lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 20% by 2025. Since 2020, TYPSA and INTEMAC have been working closely to promote the use of less carbon-intensive materials in TYPSA projects and in the engineering sector.
Indicator trends:
| Infrastructure damage analysis | 2020 | 2021 |
Number of structures analysed for treatment by artificial intelligence | 10 | 550 |
CLIMATE ACTION
Targets we work towards
Target 13.1. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climaterelated hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
Target 13.3. Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
Our commitment
Incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation into our infrastructure, energy and city planning and design solutions.
Achievements
The CEO and senior management approved the TYPSA Sustainability Action Plan to enhance sustainability skills and competencies and incorporate them into engineering and consulting services. The Plan focuses on introducing climate aspects into infrastructure and building design, in particular addressing decarbonisation and resilience. The Action Plan will be in place during 2022-2023 with an initial 0.6 million euros in funding.
The implementation of the Plan includes a first phase of general sustainability training, available to technical staff on the in-house TYPSA Learning platform. In a second phase, people will be trained to obtain sustainability certifications applicable to infrastructure and buildings, and in a third phase, a design guide will be published with a special focus on decarbonisation (NetZero) and adaptation to climate change. It is estimated that sustainable design can deliver a 30% saving in GHG emissions.
Good Business Practice 2020: Designing less carbon-intensive infrastructure
In order to promote and project less carbon-intensive design, a digital twin of the corporate head office in San Sebastian de los Reyes (Madrid) was generated using BIM, making it possible to simulate alternatives that improve CO2 emissions from the operation and maintenance of the building. After this first phase, the alternatives will be applied to civil infrastructure in Spain. Finally, a methodology for both buildings and infrastructure will be defined and disseminated for use in sustainability advisory, capacity building and training services.
Good Business Practice 2019: Planning climate change resilient infrastructure
The methodology incorporates ‘uncertainty models’ based on climate statistics accompanied by public participation processes to enable optimum decision-making. The result is a robust design that allows government bodies to make the right decisions for infrastructure development from an environmental, social and economic point of view after considering different climate scenarios and assigning probabilities to meet stakeholder levels of acceptance.
Indicator trends:
Specialised technical training courses | 2020 | 2021 |
People with professional sustainability qualifications (Envision, Leed, Breeam, Ceeqal, etc.) | 4 | 6 |
PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Targets we work towards
Target 16.5. Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
Our commitment
Lead the way in integrity and the fight against corruption in the engineering and construction industry.
Achievements
- Code of Ethics and Corporate Integrity Policy review and update.
- New Gift Policy.
- Strengthened Compliance Function structure in charge of overseeing the Integrity Management System.
- Second ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System follow-up audit passed and certified by AENOR.
Good Business Practice 2019: Anti-Bribery System Certification
The most important part of TYPSA's Integrity Management System is the Anti-Bribery Management System, which has been ISO 37001:2016 certified by AENOR since 2019. This certification is an important milestone in Integrity Management System implementation, as it ensures all management areas are informed and committed to the prevention of such criminal practices. The Anti-Bribery Management System helps the organisation to prevent, detect and manage possible bribery behaviours appropriately, creating a culture of transparency and good governance with the support of computer applications that enhance information and transparency.
Indicator trends:
Average anti-corruption system self-assessment score (in % correct answers) | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Management | 85,60% | 89,70% | 90,10% |
Other staff | 85,89% | 86,88% | 90,60% |
PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Targets we work towards
Target 17.17. Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
Our commitment
Promote technical education in developing countries.
Achievements
- Gradual increase in the number of students in engineering faculties. The Foundation pays 50 % toward the cost of tuition fees.
- New access road to UNILAC (Lake Albert University, D.R. Congo) from Mahagi
- (3 km), with a sprayed seal.
- Teaching staff residence allowances in Mahagi to encourage staff to settle at UNILAC enabling students to learn without interruptions.
- Boreholes, an elevated reservoir and a distribution network to supply drinking water.
- Geotechnical soil laboratory set up at UNILAC. The basic instrumentation was donated by UPM and TYPSA.
- Permanent high speed internet service.
- Monthly on-line tutorials given by UPM professors.
- Good results in the local talent pool for Civil Engineering and Agronomy graduates in 2021. 80% of Civil Engineering graduates have been able to benefit from Foundation-promoted employment opportunities.
Good Business Practice 2019: Supporting Education in Africa
TYPSA Foundation for Development reflects the company's sensitivity to the challenges of the African continent and to its commitment to providing development opportunities through education that contribute to the well-being of future generations. The launch of UNILAC University is the company's most sustainable project, conceived to train young Africans in disciplines that will enable them to develop business initiatives locally and discourage talent migration.
Indicator trends:
| UNILAC University, Mahagi (DRC) | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 |
Number of students | 215 | 343 | 368 |
Number of scholarships | 118 | 171 | 163 |