From 21 to 23 May 2025, our colleague Lorena Dos Santos Merencio from CETAQUA delivered a presentation featuring the SYMBA project at the XXXII EBEN Spain Congress – “Driving Change for a Responsible, Ethical, and People-Centered Future” held in Stantiago de Compostela, Spain. Her presentation, titled “Potential of ecofactories for the circular economy: market analysis and barriers to phosphorus recovery in Spain”, highlighted the role of Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) as Eco-Factories and their contribution to the circular economy. She underlined how, through the SYMBA project, these plants can become key players in the transition to sustainable and resource-efficient models, integrating technological innovation with social and ethical dimensions. The Congress aimed to foster dialogue and reflection on how ethics, sustainability, and digital transformation intersect to shape responsible organizations. It gathered academics, business leaders, and professionals to discuss innovative approaches to ethical leadership, corporate responsibility, and human-centered technology.
Key topics included:
- Business ethics and responsible management
- Social and environmental sustainability
- Human-centered digital transformation
- Ethical challenges of AI and emerging technologies
The target audience included researchers, educators, company executives, policymakers, and students interested in the role of ethics in shaping the future of organizations and society.
Keynote speakers included Carlos Moreno, known for his work on the β15-minute cityβ and urban sustainability; SenΓ©n Barro, who addressed the intersection of ethics, AI, and human-centred innovation; and MarΓa Loureiro, whose talk focused on behavioural economics and sustainable decision-making.
A particularly insightful panel discussion, Promoting sustainable finance through an ethical approach for transformative impact, was moderated by Loreto FernΓ‘ndez FernΓ‘ndez, and featured contributions from Susana Cabada (Triodos Bank), InΓ©s GarcΓa-Pintos (UCM & UNIR), and Mercedes ValcΓ‘rcel (SpainNAB), who shared practical strategies for aligning finance with ethical and environmental goals.
Throughout the event, a recurring theme was the integration of sustainability into business models and governance structures, not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a core organisational value. Discussions explored how innovation, environmental responsibility, and social impact can be aligned, with a focus on areas such as resource recovery, circular economy, and long-term value creation.