• The document outlines the principal initiatives on Social Responsibility and Sustainability

• It shows, through deeds, how the company has actively participated in the development of Mexico as well as the countries where it does business.

• This initiative is on top of the recently received certification by Vitro as a “Socially Responsible Company”.

Vitro, one of the leading manufacturers of glass in the world presented its Report on Sustainable Development 2007 where it summarizes the principal initiatives that it undertook in the area of social responsibility and sustainability.

“Sustainable Development is not something new to Vitro as its practice has been cemented in our culture since our founding in 1909. Ever since we have actively participated in the development of Mexico and the countries where we conduct business by creating economic and social value,” states Adrián Sada, Vitro Chairman of the Board.

He adds that Vitro’s commitment to preserving the environment is part of its roots and its reason to exist; glass, a material that is 100 percent recyclable.

Federico Sada, Vitro Chief Executive Officer, comments that the report includes the 5 key areas of the Company’s sustainable model.

“We focus our efforts on these following issues: on-going investment in order to consolidate our competitive advantage, transparency in the way we administer the business, quality of lifestyles for our colleagues, continuous support for the community and conservation of the environment”, he explains.

Among the most important activities and initiatives the report includes are:

Net annual sales of $2.5 billion dollars.

Competitiveness:

Net annual sales of $2.5 billion dollars.

$242 million dollars invested in productive processes.

$8.8 million dollars for improvements through initiatives in research and development

$576 million dollars in salaries and benefits for our employees.

$1 million dollars in donations to different non profit organizations.

24,442 direct employees with salaries and benefits exceeding the national average in the countries where we operate.

An estimated of 400,000 indirect jobs

More than $2.5 million dollars invested in employee training and development initiatives.

More than $24 million dollars dedicated to retiree benefits.

$10 million dollars invested on the health, culture and relaxation activities of our employees and community.

93 percent of all of our personnel read and attended the Code for Business Conduct and Professional Ethics course.

II Corporate governance

Although the law requires that at least 25 percent of the Directors to be independent, in Vitro more than 50% percent of them are independent.

Vitro was one of the first Mexican corporations to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

93 percent of all of our personnel read and attended the Code for Business Conduct and Professional Ethics course.

A reliable report system for all Vitro employees, as well as our suppliers and clients, to report any deviation or irregularity

We have earned the certification from the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)

More than 1.2 million man hours of training were provided.

Our employees:

• More than 1.2 million man hours of training were provided.
• We invested more than $ 2.5 million dollars in employee development.
• Accident rate by lowering it to 77, a number that is far below the glass industry minimum of 1,340.
• Clínica Vitro provided more than 102,565 medical appointments
• We assisted 1,468 Vitro employees to obtained a housing loan
• 452,000 visits reported at Vitro Club in 2007
• 46,560 visits reported at Vitro Parque El Manzano

In 2007 Vitro recycled 125,946 tons of glass.

Care and sustainability of the environment

All of our manufacturing facilities in Mexico are certified as “Clean Industry” by Environmental Agency

In 1997 we consumed 4.33 MMTBU per ton of glass produced and today that figure has been reduced by 14 percent.

Between 2002 and 2007 our overall consumption of energy and water has been reduced by 21.5 percent and 40 percent, respectfully.

Some of our products include the FIDE Seal that certifies their outstanding contribution in the savings of energy consumption.

Our family of low emissión products increase the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems allowing for energy savings of up to 70 percent.

We secured 30 different projects for a reduction in glass container weight that translated into a reduction of energy consumption

The use of organic paints to decorate our glass containers

In 2007 we recycled 125,946 tons of glass

We participate in the care of the ecosystem, nature areas and species in danger of extinction through Vitro Parque El Manzano, The Chipinque Ecological Park and Wildlife Organization (Organización Vida Silvestre, A.C., OVIS).

1,644 students were enrolled at the 4 Vitro schools.

Community and social commitment:

The Glass Museum was created in 1992 for the purpose of promoting glass as an artistic element and stimulating creative activity.

Ever since 1942 we have supported children’s education at the 4 Vitro Schools.

We join forces with the Tecnológico de Monterrey to create the “Vitro Chair”.

We contributed to the integral development of 296 women through a group of volunteer group called ANSPAC.

969 surgeries were conducted on patients from the community

We were able to gather 13 tons of food that were sent to the Tabasco, a southern Mexican state devastated by huge floods.

In Bolivia we delivered close to 1,500 toys to children from the communities surrounding our manufacturing facilities.

In Colombia we helped the community of Vereda Samaria and Cundinamarca, both close to Bogotá.

In the United States of America we have supported basic adult educational programs and foundations or institutions dedicated to cancer treatment.

In Spain we supported the publication “The Ages of Bierzo”, an exceptional work narrates the history of this region.

 

 

The publishing of this report ratifies Vitro’s commitment to achieve a healthy balance between economic and social development and preservation of the environment. This initiative forms an integral part of the process for the recent award of the certification as a Socially Responsible Company.

“Although we are very proud of our accomplishments over these nearly 100 years  at Vitro and those who embrace these values in our value chain, we are truly committed to continue promoting and consolidating our sustainable development efforts embracing a more transparent world”, concludes Federico Sada.

To review the Report on Sustainable Development Vitro 2007 please click the following link: http://www3.vitro.com/noticiero/boletin/jul08/ENGLISH_VITRO_SR.pdf

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