According to the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is crucial to ensure the protection of the planet and its natural resources. Aware of this commitment, at Bepensa, as part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry (IMCC), we maintain our philosophy of working the right way through actions that promote the environment and protect nature.
We are convinced that being part of the solution involves setting clear goals, from continuous innovation and business evolution to reduce our environmental footprint, to implementing far-reaching initiatives in partnership with authorities, private industry, and civil society, as well as fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and the preservation and efficient use of resources. To achieve this, we know we must lead by example, and this means taking the necessary steps to surpass the achievements we have already made.
So today, June 5th, in the framework of World Environment Day, we want to share with you what we're doing and invite you to join us and work together for a better world for all.
At Bepensa, as part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry, we want a planet where everything is recycled or reused. For this reason, we're joining and working toward the global goal known as "World Without Waste," with the objective of collecting and recycling all our packaging sold by 2030. Proof of this is that today:
We are the leading recycler of food-grade PET in the country.
Through our PetStar plant, we have the capacity to process more than 80,000 tons of this material annually.
We offer fully recycled and recyclable packaging, such as that for Fresca, Sprite, and Agua Cristal. The latter is created 100% from other bottles, so it can be transformed into new packaging.
43% of our portfolio is made up of returnable packaging.
96% of the waste from our factories is reincorporated into other production chains, and we continue working to reach 100%.
Locally on the Yucatán Peninsula, through our REQPET program, we have more than 360 plastic waste collection points, which are accompanied by talks and activities to foster a cultural shift in solid waste management (especially plastic or PET), as well as promoting environmental responsibility. Since its inception in 2010, we have contributed to this program by collecting more than 12 million PET containers.
In addition to waste, water is an essential element for development, and we know that the scarcity of this resource affects more than 40% of the population, according to the WHO, so we cannot ignore this situation. Therefore, we work daily to:
Reduce water consumption in our processes. In 2018, we achieved this reduction by 36% in our bottling plants, which represents a savings of almost 126 million liters in one year.
Replenish or return to nature more than 100% of the water we use, and we achieved this goal five years ahead of our goal! This is thanks to our National Reforestation and Water Harvesting Program, through which we have planted more than 79 million trees to recharge groundwater.
Reuse the industrial wastewater derived from our processes. We have managed to treat 100% of it and donate it to communities, institutions, and local authorities, in addition to using it for cleaning purposes.
On the Yucatán Peninsula, through our cenote cleanup program, we contribute to the conservation of these bodies of water. Since 2015, we have implemented this action plan consisting of three phases: awareness raising, cleanup, and community engagement, seeking their commitment to the preservation and conservation of these clean spaces. To date, we have cleaned more than 58 cenotes, equivalent to over 195 million liters of water.
This is how, through daily actions, we seek to promote the comprehensive well-being and sustainable development of communities. The planet needs us, let's act together!
