Vitro receives the CSR Seal for sixth year in a row

Vitro S.A.B. de C.V. (“Vitro” or “The Company”) (BMV: VITROA) announced that, through its Containers, Flat Glass and Corporate business units, it obtained, for sixth year in a row, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Seal granted by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (CEMEFI, for its acronym in Spanish – Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía) as part of the VI Latin-American CSR Summit. Additionally, and as part of the linkage program with suppliers to incorporate Social Responsibility practices throughout Vitro’s value chain, suppliers Magid de México and Agronegocios de Monterrey received this distinction for the second and third year, respectively.“We are very proud of receiving the CSR Seal for sixth year in a row.For Vitro, the generation of economic value only makes sense if it’s balanced with the welfare and the total development of our interest groups. It has been that way since our incorporation more than one hundred years ago and, because of that, our social responsibility has been able to go beyond economic and financial conjunctures, such as we have done in recent years and will continue to do so”, stated Adrián Sada Cueva, CEO Vitro.

He added that one of Vitro’s most important initiatives is its institutional glass recycling program named “Embracing a More Transparent World”, which demonstrates Vitro’s commitment in the responsible development of its products throughout its life cycle.

“Our goal of preserving the environment comes from our roots and reason of being, the glass; an environmental friendly product since is 100% recyclable. In 2012 we collected 191,737 tons of glass to reprocess, equal to 400,000 square meters, enough space to occupy almost 17 times the Mayan pyramid of Kukulkan in Chichen Itza”, he stated.

Javier Uriegas de León, Human Development and Continuous Improvement Director, stated that the Company has carried out strategic investments in sustainable development to strengthen competitiveness, social bonding and environmental development and, due to the latter, “in 2012 we integrated a Sustainability Committee, which is now a unique space to make decisions in these matters at the highest level of the organization, whose first goal for 2013 is to evaluate priority projects in Social Responsibility and implement them in alignment with Vitro’s general business strategy”.

Roberto Riva Palacio, Corporate Communication and Social Responsibility Manager stated, when receiving the prize, that: “The importance and dimensions of Vitro not only affect economic and business spheres, nationally and internationally. This entails numerous responsibilities and commitments which Vitro addresses through the implementation of programs and actions seeking to positively influence its social and environmental contexts, giving back to the community some of the benefits procured by the Company”.

He added that this Seal is part of other awards Vitro has received in the last months such as the “Sustainable Company Seal”, given by the Mexican Stock Exchange, which acknowledges actions taken in favor of the environment, social action and corporate governance; Vitro’s average rating was higher than such of 3,500 international companies assigned by the independent evaluator EIRIS (Empowerment Responsible Investment), same which acknowledged that Vitro’s public information follows the OCDE Principles, the Responsible Investment Principles of the UN and the recommendations of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN).

Also, in 2012, the Company received the certificate as a Great Place to Work; it was distinguished by Expansion magazine as one of “2012 Top Companies”; and it was included in the publication “Leaders among Environmental Leaders” of The Environmental Leadership Program for Competiveness, as one of the 10 companies that have obtained benefits for environmental care (from the 5,243 companies integrating the program, Vitro is the second company having the largest electric energy savings and the third in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions).

Likewise, 14 of Vitro’s exporting plants obtained the recertification granted by the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) programs, by demonstrating that they have the proper conditions to operate safely.

Finally, Riva Palacio concluded by stating that: “This achievements motivate us to keep working to offer products of the highest quality and also commit us to continue the efforts to maintain us as a leader company in our field, a company that generates prosperity and creates value, not only for the Company but also for the society and the environment as a whole”.