A cool approach to One Planet in Mexico

15.07.2011

Imbera, Latin America’s leading company for the design, development, and manufacturing of commercial refrigeration coolers has formally begun a process with BioRegional to develop a One Planet Action Plan with the objective of becoming the first One Planet Company of the Americas and the first of its industry worldwide. 

Imbera, part of FEMSA, has production facilities in Mexico, Colombia and Brazil with commercial and post-sale offices in all the main countries in the continent. Imbera manufactures more than 300,000 coolers each year and provides employment to over 3,000 people.

Imbera has already been leading the industry in terms of sustainability; addressing issues related to design, engineering, manufacturing, product installation, maintenance and final disposal. In the last 10 years Imbera has achieved more than an 80% reduction in the energy consumption of its products.

Imbera wants to go “Beyond Cooling”. The company aims to lead the industry not only by offering the most efficient and environmentally friendly cold merchandisers, but by being one of the most sustainable companies overall.  Their main focus is to increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions within their facilities; ensure equality and fair trade in all operations, and promote sustainability across their staff, associates, investors, suppliers and clients. One Planet Living offers the ideal framework to achieve this, and be an inspiring example of sustainability: helping people lead healthy and happy lifestyles within their fair share of the Earth’s resources and demonstrating that it is possible to be a successful company whilst being green.

As a result, BioRegional and Imbera have started to work on the development of a One Planet Action Plan that will initially encompass Imbera’s operations in Mexico and will be rolled over to Colombia and Brazil. Imbera’s senior executive and operation teams are fully on board and BioRegional staff is already working on site with them.

“Sustainability goes far beyond measuring and reducing your carbon footprint. The ten One Planet principles established by BioRegional propose a comprehensive view on how companies should approach the enormous challenges we face. It is a new approach on how 21st century companies should add value to society. We are committed into leading our industry into this new reality and bring on board our customers, suppliers and our great workforce. This is the new responsibility and mission for industrial firms in Latin America.” Mariano Montero, Imbera’s Director

“We are very excited to be working with Imbera, which is leading the industry to a genuinely sustainable and green way of doing business. We are thrilled that they have decided to use the One Planet principles as a framework to become one of the most sustainable companies in the world -a proud One Planet Company.” Daniel Viliesid, BioRegional Mexico

Some of the current sustainability initiatives at Imbera include:
•    Concluding negotiations to source all electricity from the newly installed 396 MW wind farm located at “La Ventosa” in Mexico, which is being financed and developed by FEMSA.
•    Generating through on-site photovoltaic panels around 50% of electricity required by the offices in Queretaro, Mexico.
•    Creating a “refrigeration cluster” to reduce transportation impact and promote local investment.
•    Using high efficiency components to reduce energy consumption, eco-friendly insulation foam and fully recyclable plastic parts in all of their products.
•    Certifying end disposal processes to ensure materials don’t harm the environment once they complete their life cycle.
•    Extensive R&D in the development of solar-powered cooling equipment and the use of eco-friendly refrigeration gases.
•    Obtaining the “Clean Industry” certificate issued by the Mexican Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA).