Campeche, Campeche, September 4, 2024.- Bepensa inaugurated the new PetStar Campeche Collection Center with an investment of 8 million pesos, which will collect 58 million PET bottles per year, which will be recycled in the largest food-grade PET recycling plant in the world of PetStar, a 100% Mexican company, world leader in the collection and recycling of food-grade PET containers, with Bepensa being one of its shareholders since 2011 and Bottler of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry.
This investment is part of the 90 million pesos announced in 2022 by Bepensa and PetStar for the Yucatán Peninsula, as part of the progress toward the goals of #WorldWithoutWaste, an operational strategy led by The Coca-Cola Company, of which the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry is a part. The objective is to develop and expand PetStar's operations to recover the equivalent of 100% of the packaging Bepensa puts on the market and to integrate at least 50% recycled material into them by 2025, with Campeche being a key state in contributing to the achievement of these goals.
PetStar is a 100% Mexican company and a world leader in the collection and recycling of food-grade PET containers, having been part of Bepensa since 2011. Today, it has a robust infrastructure with 24 collection units nationwide and the largest food-grade PET recycling plant in the world, capable of processing 3.624 billion bottles per year in Mexico, equivalent to filling the Nelson Barrera Stadium of the Campeche Pirates 100 times over and 7 out of 10 containers that Bepensa puts on the market.
The opening ceremony took place at the PetStar Campeche Collection Center and was led by Angélica Lara, Secretary of Environment, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Energy of the State of Campeche; Andrés Zentella, Director of Corporate Affairs at Bepensa; and Carlos Mendieta, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at PetStar. The presidium was attended by Wendy Magaña, Director of Sustainable Urban and Economic Development; Andrés Lara, Director of Corporate Affairs at Coca-Cola Mexico; and Fernando Gamboa Rosas, Secretary of Economic Development for Campeche.
During her speech, the Secretary of Environment, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Energy, Angélica Lara, said, "It is an honor to represent the Government of Campeche at the inauguration of this PetStar Collection Center, which reflects Bepensa and Coca-Cola's commitment to the environment. The circular economy we promote with this project is essential for the conservation of our planet. This Collection Center is a fundamental pillar for continuing to foster a recycling culture. PET, being one of the most widely used materials in the world, requires proper management to integrate it into a circular economy, and this project will allow Campeche to continue advancing and working alongside the community and institutions to achieve the state's transformation toward sustainability."
Andrés Zentella, Director of Corporate Affairs at Bepensa, stated that as part of Bepensa's 78 years of success as a Socially Responsible Company that maintains a firm commitment to sustainability, this PetStar Campeche Collection Center is being inaugurated, with the goal of continuing to preserve and conserve the environment for the benefit of the communities of Campeche.
“This Collection Center is part of our announced growth in 2022 for the Yucatan Peninsula, which brings us closer to meeting the #WorldWithoutWaste goals as part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry and allows us to continue creating 100% recycled resin to integrate into our packaging, which has a high environmental impact because we don't bring new plastic into the world, reducing our carbon footprint while combating major environmental challenges such as climate change,” he highlighted.
In his speech, Carlos Mendieta, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, emphasized that this investment is yet another example of Bepensa's commitment to continuing to build a more sustainable and circular world, trusting in PetStar's operation as a strategic company to achieve the circular economy of PET packaging, which goes beyond conventional approaches because it is climate-responsible and aligned with a human rights perspective.
Afterwards, the presidium members cut the ribbon and toured the storage facility.
Also present at the event were Rafael Ruíz Moreno, president of the Campeche Business Coordinating Council; Adda Solís Peniche, president of the Campeche National Chamber of Commerce, Services, and Tourism; Sergio Pérez Barrera, president of the Campeche National Chamber of the Manufacturing Industry; and Ángel Pérez Loreto, representative of COPARMEX on behalf of Alejandro Risueño Rivas, president of the business organization.
With this step, Bepensa, through PetStar and as part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry, continues to position itself as a world leader in the collection and recycling of food-grade PET in a circular, climate-friendly and socially valuable economy model for the communities where they operate. This marks the beginning of a new path in Campeche so that, together with the people of Campeche, the State and Municipal Government, strategic allies and NGOs, they can continue building the world we want, one with greater social, environmental and economic value.
To achieve the circular economy for PET packaging, the participation of all sectors is necessary. Therefore, we invite everyone to join forces to properly separate PET packaging in four steps: Empty-Crush-Close-Crush. This will facilitate bottle collection and recycling, benefiting communities, Mexico, and the planet.
When we generate more value from PET packaging, we unite in the world we want, and together, we move toward #WorldWithoutWaste.
