Enríquez García, H. C.
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Vol. 9, núm. 25 / enero – abril del 2024
critical issues that need to be addressed to become a model company in CSR and CSV:
The company still has work to do to create a truly green supply chain, as its CO2 footprint from non- electric vehicles remains large. However, it should be noted that the company has achieved an efficient and sustainable level in its treatment of water, waste, and packaging processes. Perhaps Bimbo should develop new business models and strategies that effectively address its environmental impact while creating value and remaining profitable. The company has already entered into agreements with technology companies to enter new markets more effectively.
There is also a significant lag in promoting the consumption of healthy products, as some contain excessive amounts of sweeteners, including high fructose, which can contribute to diabetes or obesity. This raises questions about whether this constitutes a practice of Corporate Social Responsibility, especially since many of its consumers are children.
4.7. Water use
On the website of the company Grupo Bimbo ’s website (2018) the firm mentions that it celebrates World Water Day with concrete actions to reduce the water footprint:
"In 2017, the reused water that Grupo Bimbo used represented 11% of its total consumption, which is equivalent to the content of more than 215 Olympic swimming pools, achieving a cumulative increase of 25% in the last 3 years".
According to the aforementioned interviewers, there are 38 plants or factories in Mexico and all of them have water treatment plants, practically 100% of the production units, and 9 of these 38 have storage, capture
and use of rainwater in their operations. The company also has 90 arches for washing its vehicles in the workshop area; these automatic washing arches are supplied with treated water, which is part of the company's sustainability policy.
With these actions, Grupo Bimbo is a model to follow in the treatment of water, because in addition to being green supply chain initiatives, they are also creators of shared value, since the company, by reusing and treating water, has significant savings that help it to be profitable and sustainable over time.
4.8. Use and disposal of packaging
The company began using degradable polyethylene packaging in 2008, what respondents said is that Bimbo was the first Mexican company to use this type of material for the production and distribution of its operations, initially the transformation was only in the packaging of boxed bread and subsequently other categories of products were incorporated until completing 100%. This packaging preserves the freshness and quality of bread, crackers, toast, etc.
Previously used packaging used to degrade in 80 or 90 years and now with the new packaging it takes no more than 10 years, there are packages that can degrade in 3 or 5 years, depending on the characteristics of the wrapper. This decision helps to protect the environment and thus results in a CSR practice but not necessarily a CSV practice, as the economic and social development impact it has had is unknown.
5. Conclusions
Companies are social benefactors, this company is a great example of investment and job creation, however, as a society we must point out the factors that these large businesses suffer in order to meet the expectations of the society.