5 companies in Mexico with sustainable practices
Restoring our Earth must be a priority for everyone to stop and reverse the degradation it has suffered. The interest in sustainability is not a fad; it is our opportunity to rebuild the environment and is a movement that is moving towards a long-term investment strategy and that in 10 or 15 years will be completely commonplace in global markets. Being a company with Sustainable Development strategies has several benefits. Incorporating these strategies benefits our companies, as it demonstrates transparency, creates financial value, improves our organization's reputation, promotes continuous improvement, helps manage regulatory compliance, strengthens risk management and stewardship, improves the management system and decision-making, attracts and retains key talent, attracts long-term capital with more favorable financial conditions, and improves our competitive position in the market. Below, we show you different sustainable actions that some of the most important companies in our country are implementing. At GDI Uniforms we are your suppliers and strategic partners to work together to reduce our environmental impact. The company has PetStar in Mexico, the world's largest recycling plant, and IMER, the first recycling plant built in Latin America. Together they can process more than 85,000 tons of this material per year, which is equivalent to filling the Azteca Stadium three times. This investment includes initiatives for recycling plant infrastructure, collection and recycling in a three-year plan and strengthens its commitment as the main recycler of food-grade PET in the country, IMCC (The Mexican Coca-Cola Industry) detailed in a statement. They have a joint work plan with their Private Label suppliers to achieve several milestones. Among these, the following stand out: 100% recyclable packaging, certification of the use of palm oil and its derivatives, as well as certification for the use of paper, cellulose and wood in the manufacture of its packaging, as well as the objective that all products containing soy or those derived from the meat marketing chain are produced without risks of deforestation. With a focus on tackling environmental problems, they also announced their commitment to drastically reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in their operations by 2040. The Sustainable Barley Innovation Program (PICES) offers support to farmers to provide them with the best technologies available in the sector and thus seek to achieve the best yields, income and obtain a higher quality barley grain for Heineken beers. This initiative for the countryside seeks to sustainably impact the agricultural sector in Mexico. It has a Sustainable Uniforms program, through which uniforms for its employees were acquired that are made of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent recycled PET fibers. These uniforms, when they reach the end of their useful life, are transformed into rags and other products; in 2020, 16,657 pieces were collected, equivalent to 5,552 kilograms of fabric. We have sustainable programs such as regenerated garments, sustainable garments and uniform destruction, each of them aligned with our strategic pillars of: At GDI Uniforms as your strategic partner, we take care of your brand and we take care of the environment.
Latin American companies are committed to sustainability
In a survey of 450 CEOs, 60% said they have a strong affinity for issues such as gender equality, circular economy, climate change, and the workforce of the future. Sustainability and the circular economy, which a few years ago were almost ignored practices, quickly climbed among the priorities of the most prominent companies in Latin America and the world, and came to be among the aspects that receive the most attention today. Furthermore, 45% of business leaders in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico said they already have a sustainability strategy in their organizations; and 22% said they are working on one, placing this issue as a priority agenda among corporations in the region. The CEOs' responses suggest that sustainability is not seen as a "standalone program" but as a cross-cutting or multidisciplinary issue, a way of approaching business. Today it is difficult not to associate a company's profitability and economic development with its sustainability policy. Not only because a sustainable business is one that will be able to sustain itself in the long term, but for several other reasons: customer preference in choosing products and brands, talent attraction, and regulatory compliance. In all these areas, a sustainable company will have advantages over one that is not. In the case of the textile industry, which is the second most polluting industry in the world after the oil industry, achieving a balance between nature and textile production is paramount. The current trend is to develop textiles and materials that come from organic waste. In addition, textile companies are adopting new practices such as considering the life cycle, avoiding animal testing, and aligning their daily operations towards a sustainable lifestyle and collaborating against climate change. In Mexico, textiles are recycled at a rate of only 0.5% per year; on average, each person throws away 3 kg of clothing, of which only 15 grams would be recovered. This is why it is important to innovate with organic fabrics that reduce the pollution rate. At GDI we have sustainable projects that seek to reduce the environmental impact of our company and that of our business partners. Recycled Garments Program: They are made with fabrics manufactured from PET bottles, which is one of the most convenient ways to recycle plastic bottles. Furthermore, at practical levels there is no difference between traditional and recycled polyester. During the recycling process, the fiber is reconstituted at a molecular level, and therefore recycled polyester is just as strong, durable, and has the same properties as virgin polyester. The two polyesters differ in their environmental impact; PET has a much lower environmental impact than traditional polyester. Regenerated Garments Program: They are made with fabrics made from recycled textiles; That is, they are made from regenerated waste from post-consumer cotton garments. Natural fibers such as wool and cotton can be mechanically recycled, but the process decreases the length and quality of the fibers, which is why it is necessary to add virgin fibers. These latter serve as a supplement, since it is not currently possible to include 100% recycled materials in garments. Controlled Garment Destruction Program: With this service, we prevent post-consumer uniforms from having a negative impact on the planet and on our client's corporate image. The intention is to prevent our clients' uniforms from being discarded, polluting the environment, or from falling into the hands of someone outside the company, damaging its corporate image. The program begins with GDI collecting the uniforms or the Client sending them. Afterwards, a process of destroying garments begins, ensuring that the misuse of obsolete uniforms is avoided. Customers are given photographic evidence and a document certifying the destruction of all the garments. The resulting material is reprocessed to generate new by-products, which are used as carpet fabrics, upholstery yarns, among other things.
Do you know the difference between Sustainability and Sustainable Development?
According to their root meanings, "sustainable" and "sustainable" do not mean the same thing, but they are two words we often use as adjectives to describe environmentally friendly processes and activities. Unfortunately, they are not synonyms, and using them interchangeably is incorrect. The difference between "sustainable" and "sustainable" is not that complicated to understand; each has characteristics that make them distinct. Below, we explain their respective characteristics. SUSTAINABILITY. The dictionary of the Spanish language defines sustainability as "that which can be supported or defended with reasons." Sustainable development is making proper use of current resources without compromising those of future generations. This development includes sustainable processes to preserve, protect, and conserve current and future natural resources. It does not take into account the specific cultural, political, and social needs of human beings. Herman Daly, an American ecological economist, professor, and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) in 1996, defined some principles of sustainability. Daly also states that we should promote technologies that increase the productivity of natural resources (greater benefit from resource use) and reduce those that require a greater quantity of natural resources to produce the same output. SUSTAINABILITY refers to the pursuit of social and economic progress that ensures a healthy and productive life for human beings, but without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Based on the global importance of natural resources and the need for their rational use according to Daly's principles, sustainability seeks social development that contributes to improving the quality of life, health, education, and culture of all people. At GDI, we are convinced that by implementing these types of actions, the world will be more inclusive, improving the quality of life for everyone. Therefore, both concepts are put into practice at GDI because we care about the future of the ecosystem and strive to make proper use of all natural resources. We seek the appropriate way to perform our work under the corresponding human processes, taking into account constant innovation, without neglecting the care of the environment, trying not to generate waste and seeking alternative inputs that are environmentally friendly.
An idea that could revolutionize businesses
Over time, companies have embraced the idea that resources should not be used faster than they are replenished and that waste generation should not be excessive. Sustainable innovation is driven by concern for resources and the environment. Sustainable innovation changes our perspective on how we use the Earth's natural resources. With climate change, sustainable innovation becomes, in itself, a reason to support it. Reasons to support sustainable innovation: The Earth demands a change in our consumption and production habits. Sustainable innovation faces the challenge of changing the status quo and creating entirely new business models. Innovation requires collaboration, especially when it comes to sustainable innovation. Meeting standards and finding new ideas will require multidisciplinary teams. Best of all, when developing a sustainable solution, people will seek to unite because sustainability creates a noble and necessary purpose for the world. Consumers are increasingly demanding that companies develop their products and services sustainably. The Business of the Future: A company or venture can benefit in many ways, including: Phases to Achieving Innovation. The first step to becoming a sustainable entrepreneur is complying with your country's and industry-specific environmental regulations. Following these regulations will require changes. Environmental issues are becoming part of a global and business challenge. Addressing these issues will bring multiple benefits to your business. Consumers prefer eco-friendly products and services, and you can capitalize on this trend by being among the first to develop or redesign your product. Creating a new business model goes beyond simply revising your value proposition. An ingenious business model will provide new ways to capture revenue and deliver related services. At GDI, we have explored ways to redesign our products to be more environmentally friendly and incorporate recycled materials. We have also strived to comply with legal regulations to become a sustainable company, implementing various strategies to improve and protect the environment. We want to innovate to improve our service and serve as an example for other companies.