??One of Mexico’s leading glass manufacturers, Vitro, recently published its 2010 sustainable development report, which provides information on the company’s contribution to recycling. ??In 2010, the company collected 181,438 tons, of which 107,466 tons corresponded to glass containers, while flat glass reported 73,972 tons. This means that 362,866m3 of landfill space destined for final disposal was liberated.?
“These numbers exceed the objectives set for 2010, resulting from years of dedicated work and effort from very committed teams; yet we know we can do more! Glass recycling projects help us to improve our cost structure as well as reduce the impact of our activity on the environment,” says Hugo Lara García, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vitro.??The report also highlights that in 2010 the company carried out 26 different projects for product redesign, focused on reducing the weight of glass containers to achieve an estimated cutback of 2905 tons of molten glass. This translates into direct energy savings and a consequent reduction of indirect emissions into the atmosphere. ??“An example of it, Neutralux Zero, is a product released last year in Europe by Vitro Cristalglass,” says Roberto Riva Palacio, Manager of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility for Vitro. “It presents a double-glazed low-emissivity glass, which significantly increases thermal isolation. This allows for great savings in the use of cooling and heating systems that protect houses from the cold of winter as well as the heat of summer.”
??The presentation of the report comes months after the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy (CEMEFI) granted the corporate social responsibility (CSR) seal to the Vitro container and flat glass business units, Clínica Vitro and the corporate offices, for successfully achieving the standards set out in the strategic areas of corporate social responsibility.