Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 6
Grupo Bimbo leads by example
by Joshua Sosland Advocates often assert that embracing sustainability helps lower rather than add costs. At Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV, Mexico City, Mexico, it was the urgent need to cut costs that led to the discovery that sustainability, done properly, makes significant contributions to a company’s bottom line. In an exclusive interview with sister publication Milling & Baking News, Daniel Servitje, CEO of Grupo Bimbo, reviewed the evolution of sustainability at the world’s largest wholesale baking company. He said Bimbo is regularly recognized as a sustainability leader in the Mexican business community. Late in 2011, the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (the Mexican Stock Exchange) chose Grupo Bimbo for inclusion in a new Sustainability Index, which helps investors identify companies that stand out on the basis of their environmental stewardship, social responsibility and corporate governance. Mr. Servitje said his own background in the subject readied the company to support the issue. “My first entrepreneurial initiative was a solar energy company when I was 18,” he said. “It floundered, but I had a real interest in renewable energy and energy conservation that I have never lost. I also enjoy the forests and hiking, and as a company, we’ve worked on a reforestation initiative in Mexico.”
Opportunity from struggle
The chance to turn this interest into action for Grupo Bimbo occurred at a time 10 years ago when the company was struggling financially. “We had an economic crisis in the country and needed to reduce our engineering staffing or move many of them to new areas,” Mr. Servitje said. “We asked some engineers to try to find some energy savings, which they did. Their discovery quickly proved profitable and showed high payback ratios. “Since then, we’ve had a small team of engineers developing and testing ways for us to be more efficient in our energy gas and electricity usage, and to improve efficiency in our distribution routes,” he continued. “It has been
In December 2010, Grupo Bimbo began partnering in the construction of a wind farm in Union Hidalgo, Mexico. The initiative will allow the company to reduce gas emissions by the equivalent of 17 million gallons of diesel and 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide — roughly 15% of current emissions, excluding Sara Lee acquisition.
Grupo Bimbo
6
www.bsimagazine.com
•
September 2012
•
Baking & Snack International Global Intelligence Report
http://www.bsimagazine.com
Baking&Snack International - September 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baking&Snack International - September 2012
Baking&Snack International - September 2012
Global Intelligence Report - United Biscuits’ split offers opportunities for buyers
Editorial - Monopoly’s end signals huge wheat change
Bimbo - Grupo Bimbo leads by example
Bimbo - A glimpse of Azcapotzalco
Bimbo - At the forefront of baking technology
Food security, obesity affect US and Mexico
Diverse products fragment German bread market
Tech showcase: Ingredient handling systems
New Products
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Global Intelligence Report - United Biscuits’ split offers opportunities for buyers
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Editorial - Monopoly’s end signals huge wheat change
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 3
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 4
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 5
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Bimbo - Grupo Bimbo leads by example
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 7
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 8
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 9
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Bimbo - A glimpse of Azcapotzalco
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 11
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Bimbo - At the forefront of baking technology
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Food security, obesity affect US and Mexico
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Diverse products fragment German bread market
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 15
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - Tech showcase: Ingredient handling systems
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 17
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - New Products
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 19
Baking&Snack International - September 2012 - 20
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2012_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2011_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2010_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2010_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2010_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2010_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2009_11_02
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2009_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2009_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2009_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2008_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2008_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2008_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2008_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2007_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2007_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2007_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2007_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2006_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2006_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2006_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2006_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2005_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2005_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2005_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/bsi/2005_02_01
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com