Bepensa, a Mexican business group with a broad portfolio of high-quality products and services, closed 2023 positively thanks to a wide variety of activities and achievements. The company dedicated resources, effort, and work to various areas to consolidate its position as a socially responsible company with a solid corporate reputation and a vision for business expansion, allowing it to stand out as a leader in environmental stewardship, social development, inclusion, and corporate growth.
Environment
Throughout the year, PET recovery activities were promoted through programs such as "My Business Without Waste," which transforms businesses of various types and small shops into true collection points for this material by providing them with the necessary infrastructure. This program, also included ReQPET, the ongoing PET collection program of the Bepensa Foundation. The program's main objective is to positively impact the improvement and conservation of the environment for future generations through education, culture, habits, and collection infrastructure for recycling in a circular economy model for PET. Recovered waste was sent to PetStar, the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant, in which Bepensa is a shareholder, to give it a new lease of life within the industry.
These projects have provided the Yucatan Peninsula with more than 1,400 collection points and recovered more than 400,000 kilos of PET in 2023 alone. Additionally, seven cenote cleanups and 10 beach cleanups were carried out, recovering more than 4.5 tons of waste from the environment.
These actions allowed Bepensa to obtain various awards, such as the "Environmentally Friendly Company" distinction from the Campeche City Council, thanks to its strong commitment to sustainability. Additionally, the company was invited to participate in the Regional Forum "Good Practices in Solid Waste Management," an initiative of the Mérida City Council in partnership with Konrad Adenauer. The forum aims to share an ecological culture and strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of municipal officials in Yucatán, in order to promote actions that improve practices in municipal governments.
Finally, with the goal of further promoting sustainable projects and actions in Latin America, Bepensa in Mexico and the Dominican Republic joined the Coca-Cola Company's "Aliados" initiative, a collective action platform that manages communication and collaboration between government, civil society organizations, and businesses to enhance the impact of their initiatives in solid waste management, water supply, and the economic empowerment of productive sectors.
Social impact
In terms of well-being and social development, the Bepensa Foundation implemented the Actívate+, Ser Grande, and Regalove programs, among others, dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles to achieve comprehensive well-being, as well as improving the quality of life in the communities where Bepensa operates.
Thus, throughout 2023, Bepensa promoted comprehensive well-being by encouraging exercise with activations, dance classes, and other disciplines in public parks. It also maintained its digital platform with content for exercising from anywhere, accompanied by nutritional assistance from specialists, all free of charge.
Thanks to the support and voluntary contributions of Bepensa employees through the Ser Grande program, scholarships continued to be awarded to low-income children so they could continue their studies at nine schools in five states and Mexico City. Within this area, with the support of Bepensa Motriz employees who participated in their corporate volunteer program, the Bepensa Foundation, and the Cummins Foundation, a fully renovated playground was delivered to the community of Flamboyanes in the municipality of Progreso, Yucatán.
Furthermore, the Foundation donated 5 million pesos to 52 organizations, of which 13 new ones were added compared to the previous year. Their social mission is distributed among orphanages, rehabilitation, shelters, culture, education, the environment, women's support, and health. Similarly, following Hurricane Otis's passage through the state of Guerrero, the Bepensa Foundation, in partnership with the Mérida City Council, the Red Cross, and other organizations, collected and donated 12 tons of humanitarian aid to support affected families in Acapulco.
Bepensa in the Dominican Republic promoted the "Emprendamos Juntos" (Let's Start a Business Together) initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Dominican Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MSMEs) with the goal of training, strengthening, and developing the business capabilities of entrepreneurs there free of charge. The initiative will train 10,000 people by 2023.
Good practices and business growth
Among the company's actions regarding corporate reputation, culture, and best practices, the labor inclusion program stands out, an initiative that strengthens the attraction and hiring of talent with disabilities to provide them with greater and better development opportunities. These actions earned the company recognition from Alianza Éntrale AC, an initiative of the Mexican Business Council that seeks to facilitate the hiring, retention, and development of people with disabilities.
Likewise, the company has stood out for its empowerment and equity initiatives toward its female employees, which has allowed it to be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Women in Mexico, according to the Great Place to Work ranking. Furthermore, this same institution recognized Bepensa leaders in its ranking of Best CEOs and CHROs, demonstrating that the company has strong leadership credentials.
Likewise, the company received the National Road Safety Award for the second consecutive year, thanks to its drivers' safe and responsible driving practices. It also received the "ESR Distinction" from CEMEFI for the 14th consecutive year and was recognized by the Yucatán State Human Rights Commission as a "Company Committed to Human Rights," thanks to its efforts to promote and protect the well-being of the people in the communities where it operates.
In the Dominican Republic, Bepensa was recognized with the National Award for Private Sector Quality; it also stood out in the MERCO (Corporate Reputation Business Monitor, a benchmark in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America) ranking of the Most Responsible Companies in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), ranking first among companies in the Food and Beverage sector in that country.
Complementing all of the above and with the goal of strengthening its Capital division, this year Bepensa added FinBe USA, which will be offering a wide range of vehicle loans in the United States. In Mexico, its Bepensa Spirits division strengthened its e-commerce business with the launch of its "Pídele a Pepe" platform in Mexico City. Meanwhile, the Bepensa Industrial division inaugurated a new production line for 20-liter PET purified water jugs, thus promoting a sustainable production model by introducing a fully recyclable material. Also in this division, in its logistics businesses, it launched operations with Amazon and Mercado Libre with units for final delivery of packages to clients of these companies.
Thus, with last year's experience as a foundation, Bepensa is ready for 2024 with renewed enthusiasm and determination. Committed to continuing to work to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world, guided by its mission to create a positive and lasting impact in the communities where it operates.
