Vitro is once again awarded the Distinction of being a Socially Responsible Company for 2009

These standards cover the areas of: environment, community, integral development of its employees and corporate governance.

As Company representatives accepted the award from Jorge Villalobos, CEMEFI President, Hugo Lara, Vitro CEO commented: “We are honored to receive this certificate for the second consecutive year as a Socially Responsible Company, as it endorses the social and environmental orientation that Vitro has practiced since its founding in 1909; in many cases leading the way before Mexican social security institutions came into being. This nationally recognized certification motivates us to continue working for the benefit of our employees, our community and our environment especially in the current difficult business scenario that all companies are facing and to benefit future generations while supporting sustainable development”.

He then commented that all of the initiatives for social responsibility that Vitro has implemented over the past one hundred years, since its founding, have been sufficient for CEMEFI to ascertain that there indeed does exist commanding evidence that the measures established by the institution are being fulfilled in the area of corporate social responsibility.

“We are very proud of the fact that this year we reach our first century of working with glass, a material that forms part of the everyday lives of millions of people and especially, that it is environmentally friendly because it is 100% recyclable forever” he declared.

To date one of the most important Vitro initiatives is its institutional program for glass recycling. By using recycled glass in the manufacture of other products we consume less energy, reduce costs, lengthen the useful life of physical waste sites for organic waste and contribute to the improvement of air quality through the reduction of atmospheric emissions.

In 2008 alone Vitro recovered 128,000 tons of glass for recycling which converts into the savings of 7.6 million cubic meters of natural gas and eliminates carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by the staggering amount of 15,111 tons.

Vitro’s environmental commitment in México is also reflected in the certification of all of its individual manufacturing plants as “Clean Industry” given by Mexico’s Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA).

The addition of the FIDE Seal on some of our products certifies their energy efficient performance and contribution towards electrical energy savings. One example is DUOVENT, a double glass pane used in commercial and residential construction that provides energy savings of up to 70 per cent in air conditioning and heating costs by reducing the heat and/or cold transfer to the structure’s interior.

Guaranteeing worker safety, their health and well being is fundamental for Vitro to reach its goals. For that reason year after year we focus on continuously improving worker safety and his working environment. Proof of this commitment is the fact that our worker accident rate in 2008 was (825) representing a number that is 40 per cent below the 1,360 minimum required by the Mexican authorities for the glass manufacturing industry.

In 2008 we increased by 36 per cent the number of employee health check-ups versus 2007 by providing 12,188 employee health examinations. In this program we detect diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, among other ailments. In addition Clinica Vitro (the Vitro Clinic), a pioneer health facility in its specialty, carried out 108,318 medical appointments, performed 3,518 surgeries, completed 3 vaccination campaigns and processed 1,314 smear and mammogram studies.

Beginning in 1942 Vitro has supported kindergarten, elementary and secondary educational programs through the Educational Promotion Program A.C. (FEAC) that administers 4 educational institutions. This past year more than 1,600 students were enrolled under this program.

We give support and advice to our employees on the procedures for obtaining mortgage financing through the INFONAVIT, the Mexican government program for buying a home. In 2008 alone 1,569 credit applications were approved which brings the total since the program’s inception to 25,070 successful credit resolutions.

Thanks to the extraordinary results achieved by the Glass Museum (MUVI), a unique and only museum of its type in Latin America, we were honored during the 9a Recognition Award Ceremony for Best Practices in Social Responsibility organized by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI) and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (ALIARSE).

We support the communities where we do business by sharing our sustainable development vision and social responsibility commitment beyond the confines of our installations. That is how we joined the “National Crusade for Clean Beaches, Rivers, Lakes and Gullies” which successfully collected more than one million three hundred kilos of garbage for the benefit of numerous communities.

Also, the decisive participation of our employees stands out as they worked shoulder to shoulder with authorities and the community to control one of the worst forest fires in the history of the township of Santiago, Nuevo León which consumed 4,200 hectares in the month of March.

On many occasions we convert recovered glass into support, “in kind”, of non-profit institutions. One example is the support we gave in diapers to the Casa de la Amistad para Niños con Cáncer (Children’s Cancer Shelter).

Through this certification all of the Vitro companies may use the ESR Seal for a year (which can be renewed) in its corporate image; advertising, facilities, vehicle fleets and products, besides other media for the purpose that all interested parties may recognize and value the company for its commitment to responsible business practices.

Vitro, founded in 1909 on the principles of offering quality products and services to generate economic value in an even balance with the wellbeing and integral development of its employees and workers, is also a pioneer in social responsibility practices and social security values reflected in the nature of its products; that are 100 percent recyclable. Its business model is based on five basic concepts: on going investment to consolidate our competitive advantage, transparency in the way we administer the company, quality of life for our colleagues, continuous support for the community and conservation of the environment.