Currently, 80% of Grupo Bimbo's portfolio is packaged with recyclable materials.
The bakery and snack titan said it was “aware of the negative effects inappropriately managed plastic waste can have on the environment” and was therefore “restating its global commitment to reduce the use of plastic along its value chain”.
“Grupo Bimbo, as part of its actions to care for the environment, is committed to continue reducing the plastic in its packages and incentivizing recycling and technological innovation by 2025,” it said.
According to its 2017 annual report, the company had reduced its global plastic use by 2.2 million kilos since 2010 and currently recycled about 92% of its total manufacturing process waste.
Reinforcing a 10-year strategy
Grupo Bimbo said it had been working internally across its global network on improved waste management, innovation and reducing and recycling for around ten years but wanted to reinforce progress, particularly around plastic and packaging.
By 2025, the company said it would ensure all packaging was made from recyclable materials; identify and eliminate plastic surplus in its manufacturing processes; ensure paper and cardboard came from certified sustainable sources; promote reuse and recycling of secondary packaging among suppliers; and ensure post-industrial waste from suppliers is recycled in their processes.
To do this, Grupo Bimbo would continue to design and innovate technologies to reduce plastic usage and also maintain its investments towards environmentally-friendly alternatives for recyclable and compostable materials. It would also promote and participate in recycling programs and partnerships to better engage consumers.
Grupo Bimbo already participated in consumer programs in several countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Portugal and the UK, among others.
Clean energy and food waste
The bakery major has made numerous environmental commitments over the years, including its pledge to use 75% renewable energy worldwide by 2019 and 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
It also recently joined forces with other major brands, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé, to fight food waste across Latin America through a collaborative platform set up by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).