Creating the First Circular Value Ecosystem in Latin America: The Experience of a Multinational Brewery

Circular economy (CE) has become a promising concept for achieving sustainable development, especially in the face of increasing raw material prices, stringent regulations, more environmentally conscious consumers and supply chain disruptions. Through an industrial symbiosis approach, CE provides manufacturing industries with alternatives to overcome these barriers and limitations. Supported by a strong rule of law, adequate infrastructure and more environmentally conscious citizens, documented successful cases of CE in developed countries have been known for decades. Yet, little is known on how to create equivalent circular value networks in developing countries. Therefore, this chapter presents the case of a multinational brewery located in northern Mexico, which endeavoured in creating what has been called the first circular value ecosystem of Latin America. Defined as a synergistic region composed of multiple circular value chains that internalise externalities by designing out waste, this region successfully closed the loop of water, glass and energy among others. Insider action research discusses the main enabling factors for achieving a successful implementation of CE at a regional level, the possibilities envisioned so far and the success cases.