– Bepensa, as a PetStar shareholder, strengthens its commitment to the environment and the circular economy in the Yucatán Peninsula.
– PetStar, the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant, this year celebrates three decades of promoting sustainable solutions for Mexico.
Mérida, Yucatán, May 17, 2025. – In the framework of World Recycling Day, he Bepensa, as part of the Coca-Cola Mexican Industry, has demonstrated a firm commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, reaffirming its leadership in the circular economy through its role as a shareholder in PetStar, the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant, which this year celebrates three decades of promoting sustainable solutions for Mexico.
PetStar, a 100% Mexican company and pioneer in PET collection, has managed to collect more than 5.5 billion bottles by 2025, a historic record equivalent to filling the Estadio Azteca 4.5 times. This achievement is possible thanks to the commitment of its shareholders, including Bepensa, who are expanding the circular economy of PET containers in the Yucatán Peninsula through its collection centers.
Bepensa, as part of this collective leadership, has played a key role in strengthening PetStar, providing not only investment and operational capacity, but also a firm vision of environmental and social responsibility. This partnership has allowed us to scale recycling goals and move toward a more sustainable business model, in line with Bepensa's values of generating well-being for communities and the environment.
Since 2013, PetStar has owned the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant, positioning Mexico with the highest PET collection and recycling rate (64%) in the Americas.
As part of its growth plan, PetStar has opened and expanded collection centers in key cities such as La Paz, Tijuana, Monclova, Colima, Tepic, Cuautla, Pachuca, as well as Escobedo, Tlaquepaque, Umán, and San Luis Potosí. These actions consolidate a national collection network that directly impacts the circular economy of PET packaging and the country's sustainability.
In addition to its environmental impact, PetStar creates more than 46,000 indirect jobs for collectors and waste pickers, and saves up to 90% on water and energy compared to using virgin plastic, without generating CO₂ emissions.
Innovation is another pillar of the model. Examples such as the blue Cristal Purified Water bottle, made 100% from other bottles, and the redesign of Sprite, now transparent for easy recycling, reflect the portfolio's evolution toward a circular economy. Bepensa has promoted this strategy across its brands, promoting lighter packaging with higher recycled content.
With 30 national and international certifications, including the National Quality Award, the Ibero-American Quality Award and Cradle to Cradle PetStar continues to be a global benchmark. Its recycled resin is the first in the world to receive this certification, attesting to its excellence in sustainability.
Looking to the future, PetStar and its shareholders, such as Bepensa, invite citizens to join in integrating circular economy models from home by following these simple steps: Empty, Crush, close and deposit PET containers.
About Bepensa.
Bepensa is a Mexican business group comprised of more than 40 companies grouped into five business units: Bepensa Bebidas, Bepensa Motriz, Bepensa Industrial, Bepensa Capital, and Bepensa Spirits. Together, they provide employment and well-being to more than 14,000 people in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Its dozens of brands, many of them global leaders in their categories, seek to meet the needs of its more than 350,000 registered customers and millions of consumers across these three countries. Learn more at: http://www.bepensa.com/
About PetStar
PetStar SAPI de CV is a Mexican company, a pioneer in PET collection since 1995 and established in 2006 as part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry (IMCC). Its unique model of collecting and recycling PET containers to produce food-grade resin has been internationally recognized. Led by Arca Continental, Coca-Cola de México, Bepensa, Corporación del Fuerte, Grupo RICA, Grupo Embotellador Nayar, and Embotelladora de Colima, PetStar represents a joint commitment to a sustainable future. It has 22 collection centers and the largest food-grade PET recycling plant in the world.
More information at: www.petstar.mx
