Grupo Bimbo 100% sustainable challenge is proposed
As consumers of products and services become more environmentally aware, the need for companies to reduce or even eliminate their impact on the environment also increases. Nowadays, companies seek to shift their operations toward a more sustainable future.
In this sense, Grupo Bimbo has committed to forging a sustainable path toward a better world by investing in technology and innovation to reduce its environmental footprint and by undertaking one of the most ambitious projects in its history: to have its plants in the 32 countries in which it operates supplied with clean electric energy through various schemes of energy solutions. This is easy to say, but meeting the challenge of reducing the environmental footprint of a global business requires fixed goals, agreements with all actors involved, and clear commitments — a challenge for the worlds largest baked-goods company.
SOCIAL IMPACT AND CORPORATE REPUTATION
“At Grupo Bimbo, we have established sustainability as the cornerstone of our strategic decisions, recognizing the essential value of seeking convergence among our current social, environmental and economic objectives, to meet the needs and development potential of future generations,” underscores Daniel Servitje.
The sustainability strategy of this Mexican company is focused on various courses of action related to the environment: the reduction of its carbon and water footprints, waste management, and natural capital.
In addition, for several consecutive years Grupo Bimbo has led the food sector, as revealed by Merco in the 2018 Edition of its ranking of Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance, a list that consults with various stakeholders and experts on the topic.
THE GROUP’S WORK IS REFLECTED IN FIVE SCENARIOS:
1. SOLAR BIMBO
Through 71 distributed power generation systems totaling 25 MW, the company will prevent the emission of more than 21,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to discontinuing the use of more than 23,200 barrels of oil or planting more than 1 million trees. “With the incorporation of this technology into our operations and in the corporate building, we at Grupo Bimbo are taking another important step in our firm commitment to sustainability and the planet,” says Daniel Servitje.
The solar roof on the corporate building comprises 308 solar panels and provides 20% of the energy consumed by this facility. In addition, Grupo Bimbo’s Metropolitan Distribution Center will have the largest solar roof in Mexico and the company will also have one of the largest solar roofs in Chile.
2. PIEDRA LARGA WIND FARM
Constructed in the municipality of Union Hidalgo, in the state of Oaxaca, Piedra Larga meets one of the company’s goals by significantly reducing its carbon footprint and permanently incorporating sustainability into its operations.
With the inauguration of the Piedra Larga Wind Farm, Grupo Bimbo now supplies green electric power to nearly all of its facilities in Mexico.
Annually, this farm prevents the emission into the atmosphere of approximately 180,000 tons of CO2. This figure is equivalent to the CO2 absorption capacity of close to 5 million mature trees or 12,000 hectares (46.3 square miles) of forest, a little more than seven times the area of the “La Marquesa” Park in the state of Mexico.
3. SANTA RITA EAST WIND FARM
Through a 100 MW wind power purchase agreement in the United States, Grupo Bimbo will acquire the equivalent of 100% of the electric power it consumes in that country, thus preventing the emission of 260,000 tons of CO2, and generating social and economic benefits in Santa Rita East, Texas.
As part of its emission reduction goals, Grupo Bimbo will acquire the equivalent of 100% of the electric power it consumes in the United States.
4. SUSTAINABLE FLEET
The company currently has a sustainable fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles that use natural gas and more than 500 electric vehicles developed by its subsidiary, Moldex. Manufactured with 100% Mexican technology, these electric vehicles are run by wind power, from the Piedra Larga wind farm, and contribute toward caring for the environment by reducing CO2 emissions by 3.4 tons per year.
By 2019, the company plans to add more than 100 green vehicles to its fleet.
5. GLOBAL INITIATIVE RE100
The baked-goods company announced its commitment to using 100% renewable energy globally by 2025, thus becoming the first company in Mexico and Latin America to join RE100, a global, collaborative initiative of The Climate Group with CDP (cdp.net). Through this initiative, the most important companies in the world are committed to using 100% electric power generated from renewable sources.
By 2025, all Grupo Bimbo products will be manufactured using renewable energy.
CURRENTLY, GRUPO BIMBO IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST BAKED-GOODS COMPANY, WITH A PRESENCE IN 32 COUNTRIES.
Via: Forbes Mexico
