In Mexico’s energy sector, under pressure from climate change and ever-increasing electricity demand, Valia Energía seeks to position itself not only as a reliable electricity provider but also as a player that publicly embraces its environmental responsibility.

The company’s 2024 Sustainability Report , which presented its results and strategies in this context, confirms that sustainability has ceased to be an afterthought and has become a key parameter that will shape the direction of its operations.

The emphasis on measuring and reporting on polluting emissions appears to be a starting point. Paulina Chávez, Deputy Director of Sustainability at Valia Energía, stated in a press conference that “we are a two-and-a-half-year-old company, and during this time we have worked hard to ensure accurate measurements and traceable and transparent regulatory compliance. We are on the right track to ensure our reports are verifiable.” The company reported 8.8 million tons of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with an intensity of 419 kilograms (kg) of CO₂e per MWh , figures aligned with methodologies verified by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) .

The sustainability narrative is also supported by reduction and offset projects: from reforestation initiatives and community fire prevention training to rainwater harvesting schemes in water-stressed areas like Atla, State of Mexico. According to Chávez, these actions are complemented by an effort to incorporate the company’s suppliers into the decarbonization process , a key point given that many electricity supply chains lack measurement of their own emissions.

In economic terms, Fernando Suárez, Director of Finance, revealed that in 2024, Valia Energía achieved revenues of $1.198 billion and a direct economic value of $114 million . Sixty-nine percent of its purchases—equivalent to $49 million—were allocated to local suppliers, with 227 of its 257 suppliers located in states such as Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, and the State of Mexico. “Every contract and every input purchased in Mexico generates regional economic development, especially for SMEs, which are an essential driver,” Suárez emphasized.

The logistics of supplies, transportation, and services is extensive: from industrial equipment for plants to basic inputs such as water, gardening, and waste disposal. Paulina Chávez emphasized: “All of this is integrated into the large value chains that are transforming our local suppliers.” The challenge, however, is ensuring that this network also adopts verifiable environmental practices, a still-incipient aspect of the strategy.

Regarding operations, Jonathan Pinzón, Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Business Development, stated that in 2024, Valia delivered 20.6 TWh (terawatt-hours) to the National Interconnected System, which represented 6.4% of national demand and covered the consumption of more than six million homes, one in five in Mexico . 66% of this energy was allocated to basic supply, guaranteeing electricity to homes and small businesses with stable prices despite international volatility, while the remainder was channeled into contracts with qualified users in industrial sectors. In the regional breakdown, its plants cover approximately 17% of demand in the center of the country and 18% in the northeast, critical areas for the Mexican electricity system.

The availability of its seven combined-cycle plants reached 89.5% during peak demand in the second quarter of 2024 , a performance above the system average. This reliability margin was crucial in the face of the 2024 heat waves that put pressure on the national electricity grid.

Valia Energía’s technological commitment focuses on natural gas as a transition fuel, which generates between 29% and 45% fewer emissions than fuel oil and coal, respectively. Pinzón explained this pragmatically: “Natural gas provides competitiveness and flexibility, but also allows for better integration of renewable energies.” This position recognizes the temporary nature of gas in the face of the urgent need to promote a cleaner energy mix, but at the same time reflects the current storage and reliability limitations of renewable energy in Mexico.

The 2024 Sustainability Report goes beyond the numbers. It includes circular economy projects to reduce waste—495 tons in 2024, largely recycled by authorized contractors—and strict water management, with 5.7 million cubic meters (m³) extracted and reused in multiple cycles before discharge. It also documents zero incidents of environmental and labor noncompliance, as well as a strengthening of human capital: 50% of the 2024 hires were women, and 100% of employees have permanent contracts.

On the financial front, the report highlights the issuance of a $530 million, 15-year bond, a milestone that the company says reflects the international market’s confidence in its business model, which is based on six strategic pillars: health and safety, integrity, energy transition, social investment, diversity and inclusion, and transparency .

Narcís de Carreras, CEO of Valia Energía, summarized the company’s philosophy: “We understand sustainability as a competitive advantage, a differentiating factor, and a responsibility as a primary player in the Mexican energy sector.” Since its founding in 2022, the company has submitted two sustainability reports, something unusual in a market where most independent producers do not report with such frequency.

However, a critical analysis shows that Valia Energía’s progress is still anchored in a natural gas-intensive model and faces significant challenges in terms of Scope 3 emissions related to suppliers and customers. The company itself acknowledges that it still lacks robust metrics for this sector, although it promises to move forward by 2025 with clearer goals .

In a country where the electrical infrastructure is facing increasing pressure from heat waves and consumption spikes, Valia Energía’s commitment to combining reliability with sustainability opens a necessary debate: Is it enough to compensate and mitigate while continuing to rely on gas, or is a more radical acceleration toward renewables required? The next report will determine whether the company manages to translate its narrative into a structural change that encompasses its entire value chain.

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The  Heineken México company , one of the largest brewing groups, has established a series of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact in its supply chain , ranging from agriculture to final distribution.

These efforts focus on sustainable practices and improving operational efficiency throughout the entire value chain, according to its 2023 Sustainability Report .

Daniela Rosen, Sustainability and Manufacturing Manager at Heineken Mexico, explained that the processes include agriculture, production, packaging, logistics, refrigeration and last mile , which are always executed with the benefit of the environment in mind.

For production , the company worked closely with local farmers and suppliers. Farmers supplying barley and other raw materials were assessed through social and environmental responsibility audits, focusing on the origin and handling of ingredients.

Likewise, of the total barley used for beer production , 28.21% came from certified producers, of which 3.4% operate in areas with water stress.

Also, the company collaborated with more than three thousand 058 suppliers, of which 95.4% were national. All new suppliers passed selection filters applying social criteria.

Likewise, the company promoted conservation agriculture , promoting sustainable practices that minimized environmental impact and improved the health of ecosystems.

This strategy included certification of the barley used. The company collaborated with 38 producers for the development of farmers, lands and communities, covering six thousand hectares, which resulted in 50% less emissions in this sector.

Another production achievement in environmental matters is that 100% of the electricity used in its seven brewing plants and one malt plant came from renewable sources.

Likewise, they took advantage of the biogas generated in their wastewater treatment plants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

In 2023, 5% of the technical demand will be covered with captured and used biogas. The company also achieved a 25% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Regarding the packaging used for the products , Heineken worked on designs that reduced its carbon footprint, using lighter and more recyclable materials, as well as increasing returnability.

However, this process continues to be a challenge ; packaging currently represents 48% of the company’s carbon footprint.

Claudia de la Vega, vice president of Corporate Affairs at Heineken Mexico, highlighted that “in the last mile and in the packaging part we can say that it is like a hybrid, it is a balance, we are lightening the materials, our packaging, we are also doing the content integration. It is not only about supplying, carrying, producing a beer, but how it reaches consumers, that is something that is a challenge for everyone.”

De la Vega also highlighted that the company has electric vehicles for supply and that they are also looking for different alternatives to motivate their suppliers to work towards applying best practices.

Likewise, the company designed an efficient refrigeration cycle , installing variable speed motors and compressors that reduced energy consumption by 30 percent.

These data were revealed during the 2023 Sustainability Report , where Heineken highlighted its goals and results for Mexico, including:

• Achieve net zero emissions in scopes 1 and 2 by 2030.
• Reduce 21% of scope 3 emissions by 2030.
• Achieve net zero carbon emissions across the value chain by 2040.
• Reduce emissions by 30% throughout the value chain (scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2030.
• 100% of barley purchased from sustainable sources by 2030.

While in 2023 they achieved a reduction of 29.69% in scope 1 and 2 emissions, and 7.8% in scope 3 compared to 2022 . Likewise, they seek zero waste sent to landfill at all production sites by 2025, as was done in 2023. In addition to valorizing waste and closing material cycles throughout the value chain by 2030.

Finally, regarding water protection , during the sustainability report they reported that they carry out reforestation, conservation and resource reuse initiatives. Currently, Heineken uses 2.42 liters of water for every liter of beer they produce, with the aim of reducing this figure to 1.70 liters. The Meoqui plant, in Chihuahua, stands out as the most efficient, using only 1.71 liters of water per liter of beer.

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El cargo These Are the Sustainable Processes Heineken Mexico Implements in Its Supply Chain apareció primero en T21.