AmCham Highlights Private Sector Leadership in Sustainability

The American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCham) presented its annual report, showcasing how member companies are advancing sustainability through environmental, social, and governance initiatives across the country.

AmCham’s Shared Value 2025 Report, developed in collaboration with the Center for Research in Social Responsibility (CIRES) at IPADE Business School systematizes and analyzes the sustainability initiatives of member companies, offering an overview of how these organizations are addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues across the country.

During the Sustainability Forum 2025, which brought together business leaders, public sector representatives, and academics, AmCham presented the results of the analysis, which compiled 136 projects from 74 organizations focused on sustainability, institutional best practices, and sustainable business models.

The report found that 54 of the projects are aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being, and another 54 with SDG 13: Climate Action. These are followed by 53 projects aligned with SDG 5: Gender Equality; and 50 projects with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Additionally, 19 projects correspond to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

According to Ana Cristina Dahik and Bernardo Sainz, Directors, CIRES, most projects focus on improving people’s well-being based on local needs in Mexico. They noted that 47% of the initiatives are implemented in partnership with at least one collaborator, whether another company, a government agency, or a business institution. Moreover, 34% are part of a company’s core business strategy or reflect institutionalized best practices, demonstrating a deeply rooted corporate commitment.

“Eighty percent of progress in sustainability comes from the private sector, from its ability to innovate, collaborate, and transform environmental and social challenges into development opportunities,” Dahik said. Supporting this statement, Rodrigo Morales, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), emphasized that the private sector plays a central role in the ministry’s agenda.

One of the most significant public-private collaboration efforts in Mexico this year was the release of the 5th Annual Report of the National Agreement for the New Plastics Economy in Mexico. Key indicators in the report include an average collection rate of 34% for all plastic packaging and 41% for PET, as well as the elimination of 35,000t of plastic through redesign, recycled materials, and material substitution. The report also highlights an investment of MXN$1.2 billion (US$68.7 million) to build recycling and recovery infrastructure.

On the topic of the circular economy, representatives from SEMARNAT, AmCham, Bridgestone, and Procter & Gamble emphasized during the forum that a functioning circular model requires an integrated policy framework that includes infrastructure, incentives, and public-private cooperation. 

“This is the way forward: a legal framework that provides certainty and a clear public policy to guide and anchor projects. We need an integrated framework, not isolated efforts, but a more collaborative intention from different government levels, federal, state, and municipal,” said Franco Fernández, Director General at the Chief of Staff’s Office, SEMARNAT.

Sabo Tercero, CEO, Inventor Studio México, highlighted the shared responsibility between corporate ESG efforts and consumer behavior, particularly among younger generations. “For Generation Z, which makes up about 40% of today’s market, sustainability is the central driver of their choices,” he said.

Finally, amid the ongoing internal review process between the governments of Mexico and the United States for the USMCA update, Julia Ortiz, President of the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Committee, AmCham, invited stakeholders across industries to consolidate their comments and recommendations through the appropriate channels to ensure their input is considered. “Without you, the review would not be the same,” she stated.