Building a greener future: HBX Group’s Environmental Management System takes root in Palma
Following the presentation of our Environmental Policy and the establishment of the Environmental Management System (EMS) as a key pillar of our ESG strategy, we are now moving forward with its implementation. The system is already operational and is beginning to be integrated into our operations, starting with the Palma headquarters and with plans for gradual expansion to other areas of the business.
To better understand the journey behind this initiative, we spoke with two key contributors: Todor, our ESG Specialist, who believes that sustainability - at its core - is a change in human habits, and Miguel Ángel, Health & Safety Coordinator, who defends that sustainability hads to be part of our identity—not just as a corporate value, but as a daily practice. We thank them both for taking the time to share their insights and experiences.
Empowering through training
A cornerstone of the EMS has been employee training. A bespoke online course was developed in-house and is now part of the onboarding process for all new hires.
“It’s not just about compliance—it’s about building a shared culture of sustainability,” explains Miguel Ángel. “We’ve complemented the training with awareness campaigns, monthly challenges, and visual reminders around the office.”
Facing sector-specific challenges
“We must help our partners reduce their environmental impact and adapt to climate risks,” says Todor. “We also have a role to play in making the sector more sustainable—through our sourcing practices, our products, and our influence.”
As a traveltech company, HBX Group faces unique environmental challenges—from the energy demands of data centres to the carbon footprint of global tourism.
A cultural shift
The EMS is already having a positive impact on workplace habits, with more employees switching off devices, choosing hybrid meetings, and engaging in sustainability initiatives.
“Our goal is for sustainability to become second nature—not something extra, but part of how we work and make decisions,” says Miguel Ángel.
The approach is inclusive and inspiring, encouraging employees to take ownership of small actions that collectively make a big difference.
“We hope this project will have a positive and gradual impact on our workplace culture. We see it as a starting point—a first step toward a deeper transformation that will take shape over time.” says Miguel Ángel.
Why Palma de Mallorca?
“The EMS helps us organise and structure the environmental practices we were already implementing—such as waste management, energy use, and emissions tracking,” explains Todor. “It also ensures compliance with regulations like the European CSRD Directive and supports our broader climate goals.”
This helped us to identify key impacts such as energy use, paper consumption, employee mobility, and supplier practices.
Palma was the natural starting point for the EMS rollout. As our largest office and global headquarters, it provided the ideal setting to pilot the system and achieve ISO 14001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for environmental management.
From strategy to implementation
The EMS rollout in Palma began with a comprehensive environmental assessment.
“From there, we defined an environmental policy aligned with our values and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This policy was key to setting the direction and internally communicating the leadership’s commitment.” explain Miguel Ángel.
While the certification currently applies to Palma, many of the processes—such as energy monitoring and sustainable procurement—are already being applied globally, with the aim of expanding and harmonising environmental controls across all HBX Group hubs.
“Adapting the system to a tech company was a challenge,” says Miguel Ángel. “Many of our environmental impacts are digital and less visible, so we had to be creative in how we measured and addressed them.”
The team developed tailored procedures, set up a monitoring system with key performance indicators (KPIs), and conducted internal audits to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
“It was a collective learning process that wouldn’t have been possible without the proactive involvement of all departments,” he adds.
Miguel Ángel Gómez
Health & Safety Coordinator
Todor Radostinov
ESG specialist
What´s next?
“We’ve laid the groundwork,” concludes Todor. “Now it’s about evolving the system, improving data quality, and empowering every team to contribute to our environmental goals.”
This is just the beginning. The EMS provides a solid foundation for continuous improvement and global expansion.