Date

28 May 2025

Students designed proposals for new products and services that are both adaptable and scalable in a bid to expand Plant-for-the-Planet’s educational impact, connect with new audiences and industries, and align their actions with SDG 15

Final-year BA (Hons) in Business Design students from IED Barcelona presented their final theses at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce on 15 May. Projects that, on this occasion, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 — which focuses on the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainable forest management — proposed innovative solutions by way of a design and business approach to drive the Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation’s educational mission and increase its impact on a range of sectors.

By exploring new scenarios — both physical and digital, or phygital — and analysing the effects and relationships linked to forest heritage in different industries, students designed proposals for new products and services that are adaptable and scalable, and that recognise the importance of forests in sustaining life; a key aspect for this NGO. These range from the creation of gamified educational kits and reforestation systems with satellite traceability, to circular economy strategies and youth climate leadership platforms.

The event to present these projects included the presence of Agustí Valls, President of Istituto Europeo di Design in Spain; Andrea Marchesi, Director of IED Barcelona; Raffaella Perrone, Head of Design School at IED Barcelona; the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu; and Fabio Palma, driver of the collaboration between IED and Plant-for-the-Planet. Joan Maroto-Sales, Coordinator of the BA (Hons) in Business Design; and Joao Alves, Communication School Scientific Director at IED Barcelona, were also present.

Plant-for-the-Planet is an international network committed to restoring ecosystems and empowering citizens to take action for the planet. In Spain, they have been working to restore forests, foster biodiversity, and train young people, citizens and companies on climate action for over a decade.

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