GVces/Citi Parternship Launches 2013 Phase of Innovation and Sustainability in the Value Chain Project

São Paulo, April 10, 2013 /3BL Media/ – The Center for Sustainability Studies (GVces) at the Getulio Vargas Foundation's São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV-EAESP), in partnership with Citi and with the sponsorship of the Citi Foundation, has begun the 2013 phase of its Innovation and Sustainability in the Value Chain project.

The project, which has a central theme this year of "Post-Consumer Waste," aims to promote innovative ways for small and medium enterprises to achieve sustainable operations within the value chains of large companies. It provides incentives for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), social economy enterprises (SEEs) and large corporations to develop products, services and business models that contribute to improved processes, cost and risk reduction, and more efficient use of resources.

In March, 12 large companies sent representatives to the project's first workshop this year, "Challenges in Post-consumer Waste for the Business Sector in Brazil." The case study discussed was the partnership between the telecommunications company Oi and reverse-engineering provider Descarte Certo. Since it began collaborating with Descarte Cero, Oi has invested in building six facilities across Brazil for recycling electronic devices.

Two other workshops later this year will address such topics as waste management, reverse logistics, National Solid Waste Policy, industrial ecology and social inclusion. In addition, two working groups will continue in-depth analysis of the project's 2012 theme, Supplier Management.

The organizers plan to publish case studies of innovative examples of post-consumer waste management by small and medium suppliers. A team of GVces experts will select the most successful cases for inclusion in a database available through the project's website and in its annual publication, which will be released at forum marking the end of the 2013 project cycle in November.

Creating spaces for sharing experiences and creating networks is an ever more important priority, said Priscilla Cortezze, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Citi Brazil. "The project's results demonstrate that large corporations have a role to play in raising awareness among their suppliers of the importance of sustainability and its potential for contributing to the growth of their businesses," Cortezze explained. "At the same time, big corporations benefit from the improved processes, cost and risk reduction, and more efficient use of natural resources such initiatives imply."

"It's very good to hear that last year's experiences inspired companies, and Citi itself, to pursue innovation and sustainability in the value chain," commented Assistant GVces Coordinator Paulo Durval Branco, who coordinates the project. "We want companies to incorporate innovation and sustainability into their business strategies."

To be eligible for selection as a case study, small and medium enterprises and social economy enterprises must register at www.fgv.br/ces/inova before May 6. The site also includes information for large companies about how to participate in the project and in the 2013 workshops.

Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

GVces
Created in 2003, the Sustainability Studies Center (GVces) at the Getulio Vargas Foundation's São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV-EAESP) develops and monitors public policies, self-regulatory instruments, and business management strategies and tools for achieving sustainability at the local, regional, national and international levels. The center's activities include: (i) formal and informal education; (ii) applied research and publications; (iii) promoting social debate, mobilization and awareness; (iv) communications; (v) and sharing experiences and information about the concept and practice of sustainability in all of its dimensions. For more information, please visit www.fgv.br/ces.

FGV-EAESP
Founded in 1954, the São Paulo School of Business Administration at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EAESP) was Latin America's first business school and has a long tradition of training leaders in the areas of business, government and academia. Known as one of the most prestigious academic centers for the study of business and public administration, the school is characterized by its constant development of research and pioneering studies and is at the forefront of applied knowledge, which it disseminates through publications and projects at its various research centers. In recent years, several of its programs have been included in national and international rankings. FGV-EAESP is ranked as the Best School of Business in Brazil, with top grades from the Ministry of Education. It is the first institution in Latin America and one of only a few in the world to obtain triple international accreditation for the quality of its instruction from the AACSB, EFMD and AMBA. For more information, please visit www.fgv.br/eaesp.