Seminar “Sustainability in Latin America”
Initiatives that global leading companies have implemented in Latin America. A great example for other emerging markets.
The impact that management sustainable approaches can represent for the economically, socially and environmentally for the Latin American local communities can be of high relevance not only for the local societies but also for the companies’ innovation and discovering of business models.
Zurich, September 20th 2016. The LATAM BUSINESS NETWORK hosted a successful event while pursuing one of their main objectives: “To motivate Swiss SME’s to increase their business activities in Latin America”.
The goal of the event was to obtain a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainable management and to provide our qualified audience a deeper knowledge of the sustainable initiatives that leading companies have implemented in Latin America.
We had the honor to welcome Dr. Robert Ruttmann, Head of Competence Center for Sustainability from the University of St. Gallen who explained he importance of Sustainability Management underlying the importance for companies to not only considering the use of sustainable raw materials, reduce CO2 emission, but also the each time bigger importance of the customer’s opinion and interests.
Melanie A. Wilneder is Key Account Manager Consumer goods and sustainable supply chains at The south Pole Group (SPG) presented the interesting projects such as: Carbon compensation projects in Panama, clean energy in Mexico. Allowing us to also understand the opportunity for both regional and global business regarding green finance, carbon, and the deforestation challenge and Latam’s role.
Later on, we learned about the interesting approach of LafargeHolcim as well as the importance of Latin America for the global group. Bernard Mathieu, Senior Vice-President Sustainable Development at LafargeHolcim with more than 20 years of experience in Sustainability, presented the interesting activities that has been implemented such as: the Barroso Cement Plan extension in Brazil, The Mexican Tecoman Plant, recognized in 2016 as “Excelencia Ambiental” by the SEMARNAT, the reconstruction Fond “Juntos por Ecuador”, etc.
We also had the opportunity to play, and learn. Diego Adame, Senior Program Manager from the Lego Foundation. Talked about the importance of playing for the development of the kids’ intelligence while empowering children’s to become creative and engage. The Lego foundation supports poor communities in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.
The sustainable activities are of main importance for companies to not only create image, and customers’s positive image, but also to assure secure supply for high quality cocoa, as those that Lindt requires for its delicious chocolates. Dr. Piera Waibel, Managing Director Lindt Cocoa Foundation and Sustainability Manager Lindt & Sprüngli presented “Engagement for the Future of fine flavor cocoa in Latin America”. Latin America accounts for aproximate 15% of total global cocoa production, but 80% of worldwide fine flavor cocoa beans (Ecuador being the largest) therefore to preserve this delicious raw material is of high importance for Lindt.
Theproactive and enriching panel discussion with several interesting questions, in which H.E. Ambassador. Gonzalo Salvador from the Embassy of Ecuador and H.E. Ambassador Julio Simòn Castaños, from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic pointed out interesting issues regarding developing countries.
During the networking àpero, the participants have the opportunity to further discuss this wide topic with the speakers and participants whereas included representatives of the different Latin American Embassies, Swiss Administrations and Managers of international companies.
The event obtained very positive evaluations as to the quality of the presentations, speakers and overall organization of the event. Our next event is due to take place next April of 2017 whereupon we are preparing interesting topics that will further promote your business relationships with Latin America. If you are interested sponsoring our next event or have any further suggestion, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will be glad to have a personal meeting to further discuss your ideas.