• This partnership represents another step in Microsoft's commitment to making the best use of technology to help build a more inclusive, ethical and sustainable world.
• Digitalization and sustainability are the two axes on which to reimagine Spain and sustain the growth of our economy, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft has joined Forética, the leading business organization in sustainability and social responsibility in Spain. This alliance represents another step forward in Microsoft's commitment to ensure that the proper use of technology helps build a more sustainable, diverse, inclusive, responsible and ethical world.

Microsoft sees digitalization and sustainability as the two pillars around which to reimagine Spain and its mission is to enable and encourage everyone to have access to technology and have a job opportunity or improve it thanks to it. Therefore, joining Forética represents a strategic alliance with which Microsoft reaffirms its commitment to socially responsible and sustainable development.

In the area of sustainability, the company works on four fundamental pillars: carbon, water, waste, and ecosystems, and around three major themes. The first of these is the management of environmental sustainability within Microsoft itself. The company has announced that it will be carbon negative by 2030 and by 2050 it will have removed more carbon from the environment than it has emitted since its founding. In addition, it aims to achieve 'zero waste' in direct operations, products and packaging by 2030.

Second, Microsoft works to be a trusted partner in the development of its customers' sustainability strategy. Among other things, the company has a $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund that invests in developing technologies to eliminate, capture and reduce polluting emissions. These investments have led its cloud platform, Azure, to be up to 98 percent more carbon efficient than on-premises solutions.

Beyond cloud services, Microsoft is responsible for all phases in the creation of its hardware products, such as Surface devices or the Xbox console, from the original conception of the product, to its design, development, manufacturing, packaging and distribution. The company complies with all regulations in each country and is committed to increasing sustainability throughout the process, from the supply chain itself. In this regard, Microsoft has a strategy for 2030 under the slogan "Healthy Design, Healthy Planet".

On the other hand, through its AI for Earth initiative, Microsoft puts Artificial Intelligence tools in the hands of experts who work to address the greatest environmental challenges, improve ecosystems and, ultimately, save the planet. Thanks to this initiative, it has made possible the viability of many projects, including five Spanish projects, where Artificial Intelligence is put at the service of the environment to solve the current challenges of the planet.

And finally, Microsoft advocates policies to achieve corporate and social objectives and to be a strategic partner in alliances that promote sustainable digitalization. Joining Forética is a good example to achieve this goal in Spain.

"It is time to reimagine ourselves as a society, as companies and as individuals, putting sustainability at the center of our plan to rebuild. We need new products, help our customers and partners transform across industries, the creativity of our employees and partnerships, such as the one we are establishing today with Forética, that foster and accelerate the pace of change and drive responsible, ethical, accessible, inclusive and sustainable digitalization and innovation," says Antonio Budia, Director of Operations and Marketing at Microsoft in Spain.

Germán Granda, CEO of Forética, adds: "The addition of Microsoft to our network of more than 200 partners allows us to move forward in building business alliances that enhance ambition and accelerate action on sustainability, with a special focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) management. In addition, the incorporation of Microsoft will reinforce the work we are doing in the area of technological and digital transformation, putting people at the center".

Learn more about Microsoft's commitment to sustainability here.

Acerca de Forética

Forética is the leading organization in sustainability and corporate social responsibility in Spain. Its mission is to integrate social, environmental and good governance aspects into the strategy and management of companies and organizations. It currently has more than 200 members.

Forética is the representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in Spain and leads the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development, made up of 25 Presidents and CEOs of leading Spanish companies. Furthermore, in Europe, Forética is a national partner of CSR Europe, and forms part of the Spanish CSR State Council.