In the framework of the publication of its Integrated Annual Report 2018, Grupo Bimbo reported a reduction of over 100 thousand tons of CO2e in its operations around the world, as a result of various initiatives and a constant investment in innovation and technology.
To put these data into perspective, this reduction is equivalent to 5 million trees planted, more than 120 thousand barrels of oil, 179 million kilometers untraveled, or the annual electric power consumption of 130 thousand average households.
Daniel Servitje, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Bimbo commented: “For Grupo Bimbo, an important aspect in Nourishing a Better World, is our commitment to the Planet; using 100% of our electrical energy from renewable sources in our operations is a very important step towards our purpose of building a sustainable, highly productive and deeply humane company.”
Among Grupo Bimbo’s main initiatives regarding renewable energy sources, there is the incorporation of a sustainable fleet of 106 vehicles that use ethanol, 430 electric-powered ones, 620 using propane gas and over 1,000 of its vehicles use natural gas, thus contributing to reduce in more than 11,749 tons CO2e emissions.
Moreover, with the implementation of the Bimbo Solar, the Company integrated 71 distributed generation systems that add up 25MW. With this, the Company will eliminate 21 thousand tons of CO2e emitted annually, which is equivalent to stop consuming over 2 billion liters of water, more than 31 million kilometers untraveled, or planting more than 1 million trees annually. Additionally, among these sites, the largest solar roof in Mexico, and the second in Latin America, will be installed at its Metropolitan Distribution Center in Mexico City.
Through the Piedra Larga wind farm, located in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, 90% of the country’s work centers are supplied with renewable electric power: 52 plants, 131 sales centers, 2 distribution centers, 57 El Globo branches and the Corporate Offices. It has the capacity to stop emitting 180 thousand tons of CO2e a year that is equivalent to the annual absorption capacity of close to 9 million forest trees, or the annual consumption of electric power of a metropolitan area with 280, 000 average households.
During the third quarter of 2019, The Santa Rita East wind farm will star generating electric power with which Grupo Bimbo will become the first baking company 100% renewable in the USA. With this initiative, the annual reduction will be of 260 thousand tons of CO2e, equivalent to lighting over 20 million lightbulbs, more than 31 billion liters of water saved, more than 12 million trees planted, and more than 403 million kilometers untraveled.
Through these efforts, the Company expects an annual reduction of 460 thousand tons of CO2e by 2020, thus contributing to the commitment of using 100% electric power from renewable sources in all its operations by 2025.
The carbon footprint reduction is one of the four action lines of Grupo Bimbo’s environmental sustainability strategy, as well as: reduction of its water footprint, waste management and natural capital.
All of the above, are part of the Company’s commitment to contribute to the development of its associates and the communities where it is present, and to invest in technologies and innovation to reduce its environmental impact, taking care of resources and the Planet for present and future generations.