AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, has published its sixth Sustainability Report, corresponding to the 2024 financial year, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and positive social impact. In a global context marked by major challenges, the center has reached key milestones such as achieving climate neutrality and quantifying a social impact of €832 million, further strengthening its position as a technological benchmark both nationally and internationally.
Image Credit: AIMPLAS
Prepared in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, the report highlights AIMPLAS’s achievement of the “Calculo, Reduzco y Compenso” seal awarded by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) in 2024. This certification validates the calculation, reduction, and offsetting of its carbon footprint. Specifically, AIMPLAS reduced its emissions by 74 % compared to the previous year and offset 100 % of residual emissions, demonstrating its strong commitment to tackling climate change. Additionally, in 2024, the center once again achieved a 40 % reduction in emissions compared to the three-year average activity index, which will also be fully offset, ensuring the renewal of the Ministry’s seal. Looking ahead, AIMPLAS has invested in land in Villargordo del Cabriel, where 500 trees will soon be planted by employees and their families to secure future CO2 absorption capacity.
“Achieving climate neutrality is not just a technical milestone, but a clear expression of our purpose as a technology center: to create sustainable value for companies, society, and the planet,” said AIMPLAS Director José Antonio Costa.
Social Impact Exceeding €830 Million
For the sixth consecutive year, AIMPLAS has calculated its Social Return on Investment (SROI), reaching a total impact of €832 million. Notably, €491 million were generated by activities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and €384 million by initiatives promoting the circular economy. These figures underscore the real value AIMPLAS generates beyond financial performance.
The report also notes that AIMPLAS’s revenue in 2024 exceeded €24 million, marking a 13 % increase on 2023. This growth was driven by R&D&I activities, technological services, training initiatives, and events held throughout the year, reflecting the business community’s trust in AIMPLAS as a strategic partner in innovation and sustainability.
Innovation Supporting Over 3,500 Companies
In 2024, AIMPLAS supported more than 3,500 companies, delivering 299 R&D&I projects—97 of which were international—mobilizing €83.6 million in direct funding for businesses. The center also provided over 7,600 technological services and delivered 218 training activities, reaching more than 3,300 professionals in the plastics sector.
On the sustainability front, AIMPLAS inaugurated a new pilot plant facility built to sustainable construction standards and soon to be certified under BREEAM. This infrastructure responds to growing demand for highly specialized services in areas such as polymer synthesis, robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Image Credit: AIMPLAS
Looking Ahead to 2030: An Impact-Driven Strategy
2024 was also a key year in shaping the new 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, developed under the guiding theme “Boosting AIMPLAS’ Impact. Created in collaboration with five stakeholder groups, the roadmap outlines four major challenges: enhancing stakeholder experience, identifying new markets, fostering talent and organizational culture, and promoting global sustainability. These pillars will guide 17 strategic projects over the coming years.
“Sustainability is no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative. At AIMPLAS, we are firmly committed to being part of the solution, supporting companies in their transition towards more circular, resilient, competitive, and sustainable models,” Costa emphasized.
AIMPLAS’s approach is based on the EFQM Excellence Model, implemented since 2020, and an integrated management system certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and UNE 166002. In 2024, the center also began certification processes for energy management (ISO 50001) and information security (ISO/IEC 27001:2022).
With a workforce of over 270 people—55 % of whom are women with an average age of 37—AIMPLAS continues to invest in talent, diversity, and knowledge transfer. Initiatives such as the new AIMPLAS-UV Chair and the upgrade of the Plastics Academy training platform—now featuring multilingual, on-demand content enhanced by artificial intelligence—further reinforce its commitment to education and university–industry collaboration.
In conclusion, Costa emphasized that the publication of the 2024 Sustainability Report “reinforces the center’s transparency and commitment to all its stakeholders, driving transformation towards a more responsible, innovative plastics industry aligned with the major challenges of sustainable development.”