Beverage Industry Launch's Unique Watershed Restoration Collaboration
Six global beverage companies invest in socio-environmental project near Guadalajara, Mexico
September 25, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) members have launched an innovative, first of its kind, watershed collaboration addressing shared water challenges in the Municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco Mexico. The project involves restoring 21.5 hectares of land important to improving the region’s water quality and quantity. Key activities include planting native vegetation to increase ground water levels and reduce soil loss, improving water infrastructure, and increasing awareness about the importance of water to healthy communities. Participating beverage companies are:
Nick Martin, BIER Executive Director, said, “Our members have a long history of collaborating to advance sustainability and this extends that commitment to an on-the-ground water stewardship project that will have tangible benefits to a shared watershed and community. We hope this project provides an example to other business sectors that if competitors can come together then all businesses can collaborate in water-stressed areas across the globe.”
Realizing that local stakeholders are critical for successful outcomes of water stewardship projects, BIER members have engaged with the local community throughout 2020. Municipal President from Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Salvador Zamora Zamora, comments, "The local community is key to the success of this project, which is of great importance because it improves water conditions in an area of high cultural and ethnic significance. This project is unprecedented and we acknowledge, and thank this group of companies for sharing a common vision.”
The project is being designed and implemented by a team of individuals from BIER member local beverage operations in the Guadalajara area with technical support from Red Bioterra and public relations support from Bardo Communications. “We’re very excited about bringing together beverage industry leaders to pool resources and technical knowledge in order to address water challenges that will help people, the environment and the business community,” said Carolina Garcia, Regional Sustainability Manager – Middle Americas for AB InBev, who is leading the local team.
About BIER
The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. For more information, please visit http://www.bieroundtable.com
