The Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, delivered to Hugo A. Lara, CEO for Vitro, an award for the Containers business unit’s participation in the “Environmental Leadership Initiative for Competitiveness” 2009..

During the event that took place in Mexico City, Dr. Hernando Guerrero Cázares, Coordinator for the Secretary’s advisors reminded those present that “this program is supported by the pilot program in which 146 companies participated with results that save 132 million pesos per year driven by better use of raw materials, the lowering of green house gas emissions into the atmosphere and the reduction in the discharge of contaminants into the water system”.

Receiving the award, Hugo A. Lara García commented; “Since its founding 100 years ago, Vitro has offered quality products and services in balance with the protection of the environment. Our initiative, “For a More Transparent World” has allowed us to progress in our efforts to promote and consolidated sustainable development and for that reason we decided to participate as a leadership company in the Environmental Leadership Workshop for Competitiveness, given by SEMARNAT, at one of our client’s invitation.

“We are convinced of the environmental benefits and the resulting savings from the application of the tools we have obtained as they will allow us to generate a clean supply chain through the development of awareness and commitment to the improvement of the environment among our clients and suppliers”.

Then he reminded that in 2000 the Company instituted Vitro’s Environmental System (SAV) which has allowed to continuously improving efforts for the care of the environment in different company manufacturing facilities.

“As part of our continuous improvement efforts, the Vitro Environmental System has migrated and currently, in our business unit for Containers, we are in the process of implementing ISO 14001. We have generated energy savings and reduced contaminating emissions which has given us a competitive advantage in addition to lowering our operating costs”, he stated.

The Environmental Leadership Workshop for Competitiveness initiative seeks to increase the participation to more than five thousand companies by the end of the current administration which is expected to generate savings for the country in the range of 5.9 billion pesos by 2012 with significant environmental benefits in the savings of water, energy and the mitigation of atmospheric emissions.