Equality and competitiveness in the industry: ARANIA is committed to diversity
The decarbonisation of the productive network has become one of the main challenges, as well as an opportunity for the European industry. In this context, Arania played a leading role in the Bizkaia Enpresa 2025 encounter as a result of the company’s innovative strategic proposal— Arania D-CARB, the solution for steel processors to reduce their carbon footprint in a measurable and adaptable way, in line with the most demanding market standards. By taking part in these events, Arania strengthens its role as a top player at the forefront of the industrial transformation of steel, both from a technical perspective and in terms of connecting with companies and institutions.
This 14th edition of the Bizkaia Enpresa 2025 event, hosted by the public business development agency Beaz Bizkaia, brought together more than 400 industrial actors representing the region’s economic universe to exchange views on the green transition and new models of competitiveness.
One of the guest speakers was our colleague Patricia Gabilondo, Director of Market Intelligence & Business Development at Arania, who shared the keys behind D-CARB during a round table moderated by Olatz Goitia, Managing Director at Beaz. This meeting provided an ideal forum for reflection, showcasing how sustainability and innovation are embedded in business strategy as key elements driving the transformation.
Patricia Gabilondo’s comments were focused on Arania D-CARB as a key tool when talking about the shift towards more sustainable supply chains, while not compromising reliability and quality. This mass-balanced solution allows Arania’s clients to progressively reduce their carbon footprint, a process that must be tailored to the technical and logistical constraints of each organisation. At the same time, ARANIA D-CARB drives the continuous improvement of the steel value chain.
As our clients and regular readers know, D-CARB is part of Arania’s industrial decarbonisation strategic plan, launched in 2023 and aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. We are talking about a comprehensive commitment, covering a wide range of areas: in-house photovoltaic power generation (which already provides 8% of the plant’s electricity consumption), energy efficiency policies, electrification of internal logistics, intermodal transportation, LED lighting and a power supply using 100% renewable energy.
On this point, the Arania manager pointed out a fundamental principle: all this process relies on international verification standards. Both the Corporate Carbon Footprint and the product footprint calculation tool have been audited according to ISO 14064 and ISO 14067 standards, and the design of the D-CARB solution adheres to the principles of the GHG Protocol, ensuring transparency and technical quality.
During the Bizkaia Enpresa 2025 event, the report titled ‘Green Transition: new models of competitiveness for companies in Bizkaia’, conducted by Aclima and Beaz, was also unveiled. This paper outlines both the advancements and the obstacles that businesses in the region may face when adapting to the demands of the European Green Deal. The report particularly highlights Arania’s approach to industrial decarbonisation in rolled steel production, commending its holistic and verifiable methodology.
As Patricia Gabilondo highlighted several times in this context, Arania D-CARB represents a strategic advantage for the industry. In a regulatory environment where sustainability criteria are playing an increasingly decisive role in purchasing, tendering, and financing decisions, a scalable solution built on validated metrics becomes vital to uphold a leadership role and meet the expectations of environmentally conscious markets.
Based on its own know-how, Arania delivers a strong message to other businesses: sustainability is not a secondary concern, but a core belief that informs every decision—from strategic planning to investments in processes and innovation.
The event reinforced the collaboration between institutions and companies in this transformation process. Elixabete Etxanobe, Deputy General of Bizkaia, announced a comprehensive tax review designed to stimulate investment, innovation, and sustainable business practices. In addition, Ainara Basurko, Deputy for Economic Promotion, stressed the critical need for immediate action, including forming new strategic partnerships and helping SMEs transition to more resilient, low-carbon business models.
Arania’s participation in this conference underscores the importance of aligning business leadership with institutional support to accelerate a transition that goes beyond environmental concerns: it’s also about structural, economic, and social change.
It is also worth noting the appearance of Leire Barayazarra, Head of Management Systems at Arania, on the radio programme ‘Lau Haizetara’ on Bizkaia Irratia, a local station, where she discussed various topics, including the role of solutions like D-CARB in the group’s commitment to sustainable innovation. Media interventions play a crucial role in raising public awareness of Arania’s dedication to sustainability, while aligning its communication and strategy with the broader goal of industrial decarbonisation.
Arania’s approach proves that a shift to a low-carbon production model doesn’t have to come at the expense of competitiveness. In fact, sustainability becomes a powerful tool for driving innovation, strengthening customer loyalty, securing green financing and staying ahead of the regulatory changes that will shape the industry’s future.
The D-CARB solution delivers value to the end customer while also generating a positive impact throughout the industrial ecosystem, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement while generating shared value among all stakeholders.
In Bizkaia’s industrial landscape, where energy and material-intensive sectors are prominent, these initiatives are especially crucial. As pointed out in the previously mentioned green transition report, shifting to an economic model that meets climate goals involves embedding sustainability at the heart of business strategies, investing in clean infrastructure, and implementing robust methodologies to track, report, and manage impact.
In this context, Arania D-CARB stands as a results-oriented, verified, and scalable solution, in full alignment with major European regulatory frameworks: it proves that the decarbonisation of steel is not simply a technical challenge but a strategic choice shaping both the present and future our industry.