With over 3,000 women trained in the first half of the year and more than 100 million PET bottles collected in Hidalgo, Mexico, Grupo Rica reaffirms its commitment to community development and sustainability through two of its main social initiatives: the Misión de Doña Margarita Foundation and the PetStar Hidalgo Collection Center.
The Misión de Doña Margarita Foundation —Grupo Rica’s social arm— concluded its January–June 2025 training cycle with emotional graduation ceremonies in Cuautla and Pachuca. A total of 387 graduates joined the 3,805 beneficiaries of the semester, solidifying the foundation as one of the most robust women’s training programs in central Mexico. Since its creation in 1999, more than 33,000 women have benefited from workshops, conferences, and productive projects.
Over the past six months, participants completed more than 8,000 hours of training in high-demand trades such as plumbing, baking, amigurumi crochet, fantasy makeup, and business management. Additionally, the 2025 Women’s Week gathered over 1,000 attendees in talks on entrepreneurial leadership, mental health, and digital marketing.
“Training changes lives. Every hour of learning is an opportunity for a woman to transform her surroundings and create positive impact in her community,” said Nancy Leo Porraz, Director of the Foundation and Deputy Director of Social Responsibility at Grupo Rica.
In parallel, the foundation has incubated 17 active productive projects, directly benefiting 120 families. Its mixed financing scheme —with 40% of funds self-generated through cause-driven events and 60% from donations and Grupo Rica’s support— has enabled sustained 6% annual growth in coverage over the last decade. By 2027, the goal is to reach 50,000 cumulative beneficiaries and expand the virtual program to five additional states.
Meanwhile, the PetStar Hidalgo Collection Center, operated by Grupo Rica and PetStar, exceeded its annual goal by collecting more than 100 million PET bottles so far in 2025 — nearly double its initial target of 58 million.
Since its opening in 2022, the facility has generated over 880 indirect jobs among waste pickers and recyclers, benefiting 52 MSMEs and affiliated collectors. The plant not only promotes plastic recycling but also strengthens a circular economy with both environmental and social impact by converting waste into food-grade recycled PET resin for new bottles.
“Recycling is not just an environmental action: it’s a source of dignified income and a transformative opportunity for hundreds of families,” emphasized PetStar, which this year celebrates 30 years as a global leader in inclusive recycling.
PetStar, a 100% Mexican company and part of the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry (IMCC), operates the world’s largest food-grade PET recycling plant and runs eight collection plants across the country. Its circular economy model is internationally recognized for its sustainability and social mobility impact.
Grupo Rica, a Coca-Cola bottler with more than 80 years of experience, operates in Hidalgo, Cuautla (Morelos), and parts of Puebla, and has firmly embraced sustainability within its business model. From incorporating hybrid vehicles into its logistics network to allocating 40% of operational savings to environmental projects, the company is advancing its energy transition and commitment to a circular economy.
These efforts reaffirm Grupo Rica’s role as a positive force for transformation in its communities, where women’s empowerment, the dignification of recyclers, and environmental stewardship are all part of a shared vision: growing with purpose.
