ENVIRONMENT

Cleaner energy

During 2020, 4 production facilities were integrated into our Green Energy Portfolio, adding a total of 104 sites globally. Thanks to this effort we managed to achieve that 60% of the electric energy we consume globally, comes from cleaner sources such as wind power, high efficiency cogeneration, solar power, among others.

Less plastics in packaging

Through our new packaging strategy, we incorporate principles of the circular economy starting at the first design stages and in the selection of materials to produce packaging. Accordingly, in 2020 alone we avoided using more than 540 tons of virgin plastic, for a total of more than 5,300 tons avoided since 2018. In Mexico and the US, we use up to 80% recycled plastics in our packaging for cheeses and hams. In Europe, we employ 100% recycled plastics in our pizza packaging. In our stirred yoghurt line, individual presentation, we reduced the use of plastic by 25% by improving our packaging with fillers.

Greener vehicles

In 2020, we developed a pilot program to explore ecological technologies in our delivery vehicles in Mexico, including more efficient refrigeration equipment, anti-glare paint, and solar panels. We are currently in the process of analyzing the results of the program in order to explore if it is feasible to employ these technologies in our distribution network. In 2020 we received, for the seventh consecutive year, the Excellence in Environmental Performance award, which is granted by the government of Mexico as part of its Clean Transportation program.

Water harvesting systems

In 2020, we continued to implement initiatives to make water consumption increasingly more efficient across our operations. We expanded the infrastructure for treating and storing water, which enables us to reclaim more water at the end of the production cycle and use it in secondary processes, including condensers, irrigation for green areas, and for washing vehicles and restroom facilities.