Green Principals

Driving sustainability through business

Sustainability

Earth is a precious resource. We all have the moral obligation to preserve that resource.

Business & Nature

There are profound learnings from nature that can be applied to the world of business

Do Good, Locally

Economic value can be created while also creating social value locally

ABOUT

Green Principals

Green Principals is a business dedicated to driving change towards a more sustainable world through changing business practices. We are ideals-driven pragmatists with a strong footing in business.

Our company aims to offer an authentic destination for sustainability-themed corporate retreats, off-sites and trainings in the rugged north of Spain, in the province of Asturias.

Additionally we’re looking to develop a comprehensive offering of all-inclusive training packages within the areas of Business and Nature, Circular Economy, Sustainability Strategy, Environmental Innovation and more.

We are principals with a green vision.

OUR MISSION

OUR FOUNDERS

Green Principals was founded by a team of successful entrepreneurs and business executives with a diverse, yet complementary career trajectory.

David Cembrero, PhD

David’s varied career path over the last two decades brought him from Financial Controller in a family business, to researching and practicing innovation management around Social Innovation and Sustainability.
The last half decade he has dedicated himself to the public policy side of these topics and he currently works at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. David has an MBA from Basque Country University, Spain and a PhD from Deusto University, Spain. He lives in Bilbao, Spain with his family.

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Fernando Abarquero, PhD

Fernando has worked in National Parks management for over a decade and as such has spent a lot of time outdoors. In 2016 he became an entrepreneur offering visiting tourists a unique glimpse into the natural wonders in the north of Spain. His highly sought-after ability to translate the complexities of ecosystems to concepts everyone understands has become an inspiring success story for all would-be entrepreneurs. Fernando has a Master’s Degree from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain and a PhD from the University of Girona, Spain. He lives in Benia de Onis, Spain.

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Daniel Foppen, MBA

Daniel has 2 decades of experience in B2B businesses, both at start-ups and large enterprises, working in Europe and the United States. Daniel’s exposure to a wide variety of roles and industries has helped create a rich mental model of how business works. The last 12 years Daniel has been in Product and Product Marketing leadership roles, bringing innovative new products to market in different industries and geographies. Daniel has a Bachelor from Saxion University in the Netherlands and an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, United States with his family.

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Projects

Green Principals strives to develop a range of activities and projects that will make a true difference. We’re primarily focused on developing projects in the Asturias region in the north of Spain.

The Circular Project – Villar, Asturias, Spain

Green Principals purchased a beautiful historical building built in 1860 and is currently working on completely reforming the building and transforming it into a premium destination for corporate retreats, off-sites and training.

The reforms will be done using circular economy principles and it will be a sustainable building, energy neutral and supported by the local economy.

Expected Opening: Winter ’24/’25

Our Mission

At Green Principals, our unwavering mission is to drive a positive impact on the world by empowering businesses to change and adopt sustainable practices. We firmly believe that sustainability is not just a trendy term but a fundamental principle that should guide every business decision, leading to a better world for generations to come.

We are committed to equipping businesses with hands-on tools, resources, training, and guidance necessary to transition towards environmentally-sound business practices. Our goal is to make sustainable practices accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes and industries.

As an organization, we are dedicated to supporting the local economy of the Asturias region in Spain and promoting sustainable business practices that benefit both businesses and the environment.

We believe that operating under the principles of the circular economy will reduce waste, conserve resources, and create a more sustainable future for everyone.

We believe that advocacy plays a critical role in driving change in the business world towards sustainability. That’s why we are committed to advocating for policies and practices that promote sustainability and building partnerships with like-minded organizations to achieve our common goals.

At Green Principals, we strongly believe that by working together towards a more sustainable future, we can create a world that is more just, equitable, and prosperous for all. Our vision is to inspire and empower businesses globally to embrace sustainable practices and create a better world.