Basque industry is accelerating its transition towards sustainability, according to the latest Industrial Ecobarometer 2025 by Ikerfel for Ihobe.

16/02/2026

Basque industry is accelerating its transition towards sustainability, according to the latest Industrial Ecobarometer 2025 by Ihobe, developed with the participation of Ikerfel in the fieldwork and preliminary report drafting phases.

The public company Ihobe, attached to the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government, has recently published the Industrial Ecobarometer 2025 of Euskadi, a study that evaluates the perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of Basque industrial companies in relation to the environment and sustainability. This report, carried out with the technical participation of Ikerfel, is based on 567 interviews with companies in the sector employing more than 10 people, representative of the productive structure of Basque industry.

The Ecobarometer data reveal that the transition towards sustainable practices in Basque industry is progressing steadily. Compared to the previous edition in 2020, companies have significantly increased their environmental actions: whereas in 2020 an average of 3.8 efficiency measures per company was recorded, in 2025 this figure has risen to 5.5. This quantitative leap reflects a paradigm shift, where sustainability is no longer seen as a cost but is integrated as a strategic opportunity for competitiveness.

Among the most widespread environmentally responsible practices are energy saving, implemented by 88% of companies, waste minimisation (87%) and material savings (83%). Likewise, measures such as internal and external recycling and water-use efficiency have become standard practices in industrial management.

The Ecobarometer also highlights that companies have increasingly incorporated green and digital technologies, with an average of more than three technologies implemented. This aspect is particularly relevant among companies subject to the IPPC regime and those engaged in R&D&I activities, which show a higher level of environmental maturity.

Nevertheless, the report identifies structural challenges that still affect the pace of transition. The main obstacles identified by companies include the economic cost of environmental measures, administrative complexity, and the lack of structured training in environmental management and circular economy. In this regard, companies call for greater support in the form of financial aid, simplification of procedures, and specialised training programmes in order to accelerate their sustainability efforts.

The results of the Ecobarometer 2025 not only demonstrate progress in resource efficiency and environmental impact reduction, but also underline how these practices contribute to improving corporate reputation, reducing operating costs, and strengthening competitiveness in increasingly demanding markets.

At Ikerfel, we positively assess these results, which reflect the consolidation of sustainability as a central element of industrial management in Euskadi. The study provides valuable indicators for designing support strategies for companies and reinforcing the integration of environmental criteria into productive activity, in line with the objectives of the Basque Energy Transition and Climate Change Law and public policies on circular economy and resource efficiency.

The Industrial Ecobarometer 2025 is available for consultation and download on the Ihobe website, offering an up-to-date snapshot of the environmental reality of Basque industry and a solid basis for decision-making in both the business and public spheres.

More information here.