Innovation

At the beginning, BÖRSE’s portfolio only included bags made of plastic, but due to the changing market and customer preferences, combined with a concern of the Directive Board of the Company on sustainability, BÖRSE is currently a company recognized worldwide for providing its customers with advertising bags made of plastic, paper, and re-usable textile materials (including non-woven materials), inspired by a zero-residue policy, where all its residues are either a) recycled and used on its own manufacturing processes or b) sold to other companies that recycle those residues and use them on their own manufacturing processes. In cases where the residues cannot be recycled, the company has incorporated strict measures for the proper disposal of those residues, in compliance with all environmental regulations in Mexico. On the other hand, to increase the positive impact on the environment by its bags made of paper, BORSE is currently working to achieve the certification under the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standard, whose mission is "promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests".

Inspiration

As mentioned by Mr. Winsnes, “the inspiration was born by being aligned with our clients”, and by hearing and responding to their requirements and changing preferences, as they are becoming increasingly aware of the need to protect our planet, and are demanding sustainable products and services with increasing speed. This, combined with the vision of Mr. Winsnes, created the opportunity to align their customers’ needs with their offerings, and to incorporate the sustainability at the core of its business strategy. As such, the company started to introduce new technologies and innovations that enabled them to create plastic bags with biodegrading materials, re-usable bags made of textiles and nonwoven materials, and paper bags for which they are pursuing the FSC certification. As Mr. Winsnes notes, “It doesn’t take us more than one month to decide whether we introduce a new technology to offer a new solution to our clients”

Overall impact

By providing a full range of options on advertising bags to its customers under a zero-residue approach, BORSE is making a positive impact on the environment by recycling its residues and reincorporating them into its own manufacturing processes (or, as mentioned before, by selling the residues to other companies who will also recycle and reincorporate them into their processes). This, combined with their ability to respond quickly to the business environment, and to rapidly incorporate new technologies and/or innovations into their processes, such as the utilization of biodegrading materials for the manufacturing of plastic bags, enable the company to offer a complete range of options to its customers, who in return, favor them with their preference and loyalty, which ultimately allows the company to achieve a continuing business expansion, for the benefit of its employees and shareholders, while at the same time providing a positive impact to the environment and to the economic development of Mexico.

Business benefit

According to Mr. Winsnes, the major impact of being a socially responsible company, who creates sustainable products with a sustainable business model under a zero-residue approach, has been keeping the preference of its customers and increasing its base by adding new ones. In other words, by incorporating the sustainability into its business model, BORSE has created a competitive advantage that has enabled the company to grow and to experience a continuing business expansion. As Mr. Winsnes notes, “One of the main responsibilities that a CEO has is to ensure the survival of the company, and survival is closely linked to that you are aligned with the needs of the market”, and “you cannot think long term now if you are not in tune with sustainability”.

Social and environmental benefit

By manufacturing sustainable products such as biodegrading plastic bags, re-usable textile bags and FSC paper bags, BORSE is offering a complete set of choices to its customers for being conscious and responsible with the environment, while at the same time satisfying their practical needs for advertising bags, making BORSE an outstanding example of a company committed with the following global sustainable objectives:

· Objective No. 9: Build resilient infrastructures, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Investments in infrastructure are critical to achieving a sustainable development and empowering communities: to increase productivity and income, and to improve health and education outcomes, infrastructure investments are needed.

All BÖRSE’s processes applied in the manufacturing of their products comply with all the official, national and international, standards for handling and controlling organic, inorganic and industrial waste. In addition, BÖRSE strategy has been to foster innovation by adapting and implementing top technologies to sustain a competitive advantage that enable them to secure a leading position within the industry.

· Objective No.12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Sustainable consumption and production include the promotion of resource efficiency and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure and access to basic services, green and decent jobs, and a better quality of life for all.

The goal of sustainable consumption and production is to do more and better things with fewer resources, to increase the welfare gains of economic activities by reducing resources use, degradation and pollution throughout the life cycle while at the same time, offering a better quality of life.

It is also necessary to adopt a systemic approach and to achieve cooperation between the participants of the supply chain, from the producer to the final consumer.

In this respect, BÖRSE has been producing advertising bags made of plastic, paper and textile materials, which are environmental friendly, under a zero-residue approach, creating a production system responsible with the environment, contributing with lower levels of pollution, less generation of residues and decreased consumption of resources.

· Objective No. 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

Climate change affects all countries on all continents. It has a negative impact on the national economy and the lives of people, communities and countries.

We have at our disposal viable solutions so that the countries can have a more sustainable economic activity and more respectful to the environment.

Changing attitudes accelerates as more people are turning to renewable energy and other solutions to reduce emissions. But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national boundaries.

BÖRSE’s portfolio changed to include degrading, biodegrading and photodegrading advertising bags, inspired by their zero-residue and sustainable production policy.

Interview

Erling Winsnes, CEO