Economic and Sustainability expert Enrique Lendo puts it clearly: with a career that spans international organizations, the Mexican government, and now strategic advisory to companies, he firmly states that sustainability is no longer a trend or an added value. It has become a basic condition to compete. Companies that fail to understand this in time could simply be left behind.
This isn’t an unfounded warning. Since 2019, the World Economic Forum has placed environmental risks at the top of the list of global threats for the first time—a shift that marked a clear before and after.
From that moment on, climate change was no longer viewed merely as an ecological problem but as a significant financial risk.
Since then, banks, investment funds, pension systems, and corporations have begun to operate under a new logic: if you're not sustainable, you're a risky bet.
Mexico, unexpectedly at the forefront
Contrary to what many assume, Mexico is not lagging in this area. In fact, according to Lendo, it is the most advanced country in sustainable finance in Latin America, thanks to institutions like the Bank of Mexico and the Ministry of Finance, which have incorporated ESG criteria into financial regulations, stress testing, and have even developed a clear taxonomy to define what qualifies as a green investment.
According to the Climate Bonds Initiative, by the end of 2023, Mexico had accumulated over USD 38 billion in green, social, and sustainable bonds, making it the second-largest market in the region for such instruments. This amount represents 21% of the total for Latin America, well above the global average when adjusted for economic size.
Today, more than 60% of Mexico’s large corporations have already adopted sustainability strategies. And by 2025, all publicly traded companies will be required to disclose their environmental, social, and governance performance. This is not a formality—it’s a clear signal of where the market is headed.
The shift is tangible. In 2023, global investment in clean energy doubled that of fossil fuels, and 90% of companies listed in the S&P 500 already operate under ESG frameworks.
Within this landscape, Mexico is not being left behind: companies like Bimbo, Cemex, Femsa, and Bio Pappel are actively redesigning their business models to align with this emerging business logic.
A green foundation for business strategy
For Lendo, the starting point is an honest question: why do it? This is not about following trends or pretending to care about the environment. It’s about understanding the real value that sustainability can bring to a company.
The reasons vary—some do it to attract investment, others to comply with regulation, or simply to respond to a more demanding consumer base that favors responsible brands.
What matters is to set clear goals, a realistic roadmap, and a solid governance structure that drives change from the top. Companies like Bimbo prove the point: when leadership believes in this vision, sustainability permeates the entire organization.
Daniel Servitje, with a long-term approach, has positioned Bimbo among the world’s most sustainable companies, without sacrificing profitability.
Because, beyond the ethical imperative, being sustainable is more profitable, less risky, and far more efficient.
Circular economy: efficiency as a business model
According to Lendo, we’re producing too much and wasting even more. In Mexico, 50% of available water is lost, over 120,000 tons of waste are generated daily, and only 8% of the global economy qualifies as circular.
Far from being another green trend, the circular economy promotes a model of deep efficiency. It’s about keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible while preserving their value, which not only reduces waste but also opens new business opportunities estimated at USD 4.5 trillion globally.
Mexico already has successful cases like PetStar, the world’s largest PET recycling center, though many more could emerge if regulatory frameworks and incentives are strengthened.
With state-level legislation and a forthcoming national circular economy law, the outlook is becoming increasingly promising.
Electric mobility: a transformation underway
Between 2023 and 2024, electric vehicle (EV) sales in Mexico grew by 90%, a figure that, while still just 5% of the total auto market, signals a trend that’s unlikely to reverse.
The current challenge lies in accelerating the development of charging infrastructure and maintenance services to sustain this shift.
But Lendo’s vision goes beyond private vehicles. The real potential, he says, lies in public and freight transport. Initiatives like the electric buses in Yucatán, deployed by ADO through long-term financial schemes, show that sustainable mobility can also be good business.
With global targets pushing toward a full transformation by 2035, Mexico has a unique opportunity to lead not only in EV manufacturing but also in the production and processing of lithium batteries, generating added value from the source.
Nearshoring: a window to reinvent
The nearshoring phenomenon, which is bringing investment and factory relocation, also presents a deeper opportunity: rethinking what we produce, how we do it, and for whom. Today, we assemble cars and flat screens, yes—but create little intrinsic value.
If Mexico bets on innovation, clean technologies, and strategic components like microchips or water treatment systems, it can position itself as a key player in the global green economy.
The talent is already here. The country produces more engineers per capita than many developed nations. What’s missing is a long-term business vision.
For Lendo, this is not about charity or good intentions. Sustainability is ultimately a rational strategy to reduce risks, improve efficiency, and secure long-term profitability.
Even though the world is navigating geopolitical tensions and some uncertainty around climate commitments, this is not a setback—it’s a realignment.
Just like we moved from landlines to mobile phones, or from video rental stores to streaming, change doesn’t stop; it just takes new shapes.
That’s why the final message to Mexican companies is crystal clear: if you want to exist beyond 2030, don’t just think about the next quarter. You need to build strategies designed to last over a hundred years.