The Circular Economy is Built with Concrete Actions
The circular economy and recycling represent a strategic opportunity to optimize resources and foster innovation. By extending the lifecycle of materials, we strengthen value chains, making them more resilient and sustainable. These practices enhance competitiveness, align with the values of more conscious consumers, and create new growth opportunities. Embracing them means taking the lead in driving positive change.
For years Grupo Bimbo has been committed to building a truly circular economy, aiming to maximize the lifespan of the materials we use and reduce waste. When we talk about packaging, we don't just think about its immediate function—protecting and preserving our food—but about its entire lifecycle, from design and production to its reintegration into the productive system.
This year, we’ve set an ambitious goal to have 100% of our packaging be recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable. We are one step away from achieving this historic milestone, as we have reached 94% progress. Behind this achievement is the work of hundreds of collaborators from Grupo Bimbo's innovation and production teams, as well as univeristy researchers and supplier companies who have collaborated to make significant advancements. In the last year, we have reduced nearly 600,000 kilograms of materials in our packaging thanks to the optimization of thicknesses and dimensions. We’ve also introduced recycled resins to make our product packaging, thus reducing the consumption of virgin resins.
Designing fully sustainable packaging and reducing materials is a great first step. To continue advancing, we work on innovation and recovery fronts, and we do so internationally. Here are some examples:
In Mexico, we collaborate with ECOCE to collect flexible packaging. Additionally, our logistics pallets are made incorporating 100% recycled materials, including at least 20% post-consumer packaging.
We also have additional partnerships in Mexico to promote post-consumer recycling. We collaborate with Ecolana to encourage proper waste disposal; we participate in Plastianguis to rescue plastic waste, and we maintain our alliance with Walmart in Reciclamanía Evoluciona.
In Chile, we actively participate in ReSimple to strengthen local recycling systems.
In Colombia, residual plastic is transformed into reusable bags that we now use internally, thus closing the cycle tangibly.
In Brazil, with the association Dê a Mão para o Futuro, we managed to collect 100% of the plastic from our packaging that we bring to the market.
On this May 17th, World Recycling Day, we hope it will be a time to reflect on the transformative power of collaboration between different public and private actors to encourage a culture of recycling and waste reduction. If we have learned anything, it is that the circular economy is built with concrete actions, and we all have an essential role to play in this common task.
