Background on Camilo Restrepo and P&G’s Commitment
Camilo Restrepo, the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at P&G Mexico, highlighted the daily struggle with water scarcity in Mexico. In response, P&G aims to restore more water than it uses across its six Mexican plants and the consumption of its products in Mexico City by 2030.
P&G’s Water Restoration Strategy
Restrepo explained that P&G will achieve this goal by supporting long-term projects focused on improving, managing, and protecting water resources. Key areas of focus include increasing groundwater recharge, reducing subterranean water extraction, and enhancing wastewater treatment.
Partnership with Pronatura and Walmart
During the presentation of “Litros de Ayuda” (Water Helps Liters), a collaboration with Pronatura and Walmart Mexico and Centroamérica, Restrepo emphasized the importance of consumer involvement in water conservation.
Litros de Ayuda Initiative
This initiative encourages consumers to participate in a promotion that offers rewards while promoting water conservation. The collected “Litros de Ayuda” (Water Helps Liters) will support the “Acciones de Conservación de Agua y Suelos en la Microcuenca 6 del Parque Estatal Sierra de Guadalupe” project, aimed at improving the water resilience of Mexico’s Greater Mexico City region.
Project Details
The project focuses on restoring 18 hectares using nature-based solutions such as installing live barriers and filter dams to enhance water infiltration, reduce erosion, and mitigate flood risks. These efforts protect vital natural resources in the Sierra de Guadalupe.
P&G’s Water Reduction Efforts
In addition to restoration projects, P&G is committed to reducing water usage in product manufacturing. At plants like Alce Blanco, Mariscala, and Milenio, P&G has already achieved a 35% reduction in water consumption per unit of production and recycles 5,000 million liters annually.
Walmart Mexico and Centroamérica’s Water Initiatives
Ksenia Portnova, Subdirector of Sustainability at Walmart Mexico and Centroamérica, stressed the severity of water stress affecting various regions in Mexico. Challenges include limited infrastructure and water contamination, emphasizing the need to view water as a valuable, limited, and shared resource.
Walmart’s Water Management Actions
To address these issues, Walmart has implemented various water-related actions in its operations. These include rainwater harvesting, efficient water technologies, wastewater treatment plants, and reusing treated water for landscaping and sanitary purposes.
Call to Action
Portnova urged stakeholders to move beyond scientific and engineering solutions, focusing on transformative projects like acquifer and ecosystem restoration.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is P&G’s commitment regarding water restoration in Mexico? P&G aims to restore more water than it uses across its six Mexican plants and the consumption of its products in Mexico City by 2030.
- How does P&G plan to achieve this goal? By supporting long-term projects focused on improving, managing, and protecting water resources, including increasing groundwater recharge, reducing subterranean water extraction, and enhancing wastewater treatment.
- What is the Litros de Ayuda initiative? A collaboration between P&G, Pronatura, and Walmart Mexico and Centroamérica that encourages consumers to participate in a promotion promoting water conservation.
- How will the collected Liters of Help be used? The collected Liters of Help will support the Sierra de Guadalupe water resilience project, focusing on restoring 18 hectares using nature-based solutions.
- What are P&G’s efforts to reduce water usage in product manufacturing? P&G has achieved a 35% reduction in water consumption per unit of production and recycles 5,000 million liters annually at certain plants.
- What water-related initiatives has Walmart Mexico and Centroamérica implemented? Walmart has implemented various water-related actions, including rainwater harvesting, efficient water technologies, wastewater treatment plants, and reusing treated water for landscaping and sanitary purposes.
