Loly Montesinos
Christian Corro
EGADE Business School Tecnologico de Monterrey
Consuelo Garcia-de-la-torre
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La Casa de las Baterías is a battery retailer chain that has aimed to achieve and maintain an exceptional customer service experience since its beginnings. Management's commitment to the environment is expressed through its Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability programs, which for faster changes are aligned with the company's strategy.
When realizing the potential environmental hazards of improper handling of used batteries, La Casa de las Baterías took an innovative approach that combines its genuine concern for customer satisfaction with their commitment to the environment. Their Devuélveme, or “Take me back”, program encourages consumers to return their used batteries by rewarding them with a discount on new purchases. Through this program, La Casa de las Baterías has achieved a 95% used batteries return rate on store purchases. These leftovers are then sorted, packed, and exported for further recycling by a certified facility.
The “Devuelveme” program was inspired by Juan Octavio Diaz’s realization that improperly handled used batteries are an environmental hazard. He understood that it was the company’s responsibility to improve this situation, so he began to research firms dedicated to the management of used batteries.
A “doing things right” philosophy is the sustainability strategy that La Casa de las Baterías leads. Its main pillars are its task force, customers, suppliers, communities, the environment, and corporate governance. Since 2007, more than 1.3 million used batteries have been collected. Thus, more than 10.2 million kilograms of lead and 2.1 million kilograms of plastic have been kept from polluting the environment.
Through the implementation of the “Devuelveme” program, consumers have been incentivized to return used batteries for proper management and recycling, making them more conscious about La Casa de las Baterías’s commitment to the environment and society in general. This translates into consumer fidelity and sustainability.
Lead can produce serious health risks, ranging from high blood pressure to strokes and even death, if one is exposed to it regularly. La Casa de las Baterías, partnering with a certified battery disposal company, ensures that all processes are safe for humans involved and also for the environment.
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