{"id":646058,"date":"2026-08-19T20:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/646058\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T20:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:30:15","slug":"mexicos-small-retailers-push-sustainability-recycling-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/646058\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico\u2019s Small Retailers Push Sustainability, Recycling Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Given their reach within local communities, small retailers are increasingly being positioned as a channel to promote\u00a0recycling,<\/a> responsible consumption, and more sustainable business practices. More than 1.2 million small businesses operate in Mexico, generating about 2 million self-employment opportunities and serving 52% of national demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The issue was highlighted at Expo Trastienda 2026, an event organized by the National Alliance of Small Retailers (ANPEC), where environmental association ECOCE presented initiatives aimed at helping store owners, distributors, and entrepreneurs improve waste separation and recycling practices.<\/p>\n

ECOCE installed an interactive module and held educational sessions designed to provide small retailers with practical tools to identify, classify and properly channel plastic containers and packaging after consumption. \u201cCircular economy<\/a> begins with simple actions that we can all take. Grocery stores interact with millions of people every day and, therefore, have a unique opportunity to inspire habits that promote better waste separation and greater use of recyclable materials. Expo Trastienda allowed us to bring that knowledge closer to those who, from their communities, can become agents of change,\u201d says Carla Gamboa, Communications Director, ECOCE.<\/p>\n

The association’s activities focused on helping retailers distinguish flexible plastics commonly found in consumer products using the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system. ECOCE said the objective is for retailers to apply this knowledge in their stores and share it with customers, facilitating the collection and subsequent reintegration of recyclable materials into recycling chains.<\/p>\n

ANPEC Calls for More Sustainable Retail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cuauht\u00e9moc Rivera, President, ANPEC, says small retailers can play a role in addressing climate change through operational changes and consumer education. \u201cFacing the effects of climate change and global warming requires commitment and concrete actions, and small retailers can be a fundamental pillar in this transformation if they set their minds to it and commit themselves,\u201d Rivera says.<\/p>\n

He adds that the climate crisis affects all sectors of society and that small businesses are not exempt. According to Rivera,\u00a0sustainability practices<\/a> are increasingly necessary to ensure the long-term viability of neighborhood stores in the market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For grocery stores, Rivera said responsible practices can include offering products in bulk where possible to reduce packaging, incorporating local suppliers to lower the carbon footprint of supply chains and promoting products with biodegradable or recyclable packaging. \u201cResponsible consumption not only means buying what is necessary, but also knowing how to buy, choosing products that generate the least possible environmental impact,\u201d Rivera adds.<\/p>\n

Retailers can also encourage consumers to adopt sustainable habits through informational signs and tips displayed in stores. Rivera cites the promotion of reusable bags, including incentives for customers who bring their own bags, as a way to gradually reduce the use of disposable products and encourage reusable alternatives.<\/p>\n

Waste management remains another challenge for small retailers. Rivera recommends separating organic and inorganic waste, using containers that facilitate recycling and establishing partnerships with companies or organizations that collect recyclable plastics, cardboard, glass and metals.<\/p>\n

Energy and Water Efficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n

Energy efficiency can provide both environmental and operational benefits for small retailers by reducing electricity consumption and operating costs. Energy-efficient lighting and using refrigerators equipped with newer technologies that adjust power consumption according to the amount of merchandise being cooled. These systems can consume less electricity than conventional refrigeration equipment. Solar panels are another potential option for stores seeking to reduce the environmental impact of their energy consumption, says Rivera.<\/p>\n

Water efficiency is another area where retailers can make operational changes. Stores use water for cleaning, sanitation and, in some cases, food preparation. Measures such as promptly repairing leaks in faucets and toilets, installing water-saving devices, and using cleaning products that require less water can help reduce consumption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Given their reach within local communities, small retailers are increasingly being positioned as a channel to promote\u00a0recycling, responsible…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":646059,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[74],"tags":[273445,273444,19132,442,273441,273443,273446,18,5223,273442,20936,63156,178954,19,17,273440,388,30993,2375,273437,3439,252,273436,1373,19128,273439,82,3474,273438],"class_list":["post-646058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-anpec","tag-carla-gamboa","tag-circular-economy","tag-climate-change","tag-consumer-education","tag-cuauhtemoc-rivera","tag-ecoce","tag-eire","tag-energy-efficiency","tag-environmental-practices","tag-esg","tag-food-waste","tag-grocery-stores","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-local-communities","tag-mexico","tag-plastic-recycling","tag-recycling","tag-responsible-consumption","tag-retail","tag-small-businesses","tag-small-retailers","tag-sustainability","tag-sustainable-packaging","tag-sustainable-retail","tag-technology","tag-waste-management","tag-water-efficiency"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/117124073224622136","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}