Circular Economy Practices in Mexico: A View From the New Gen Z Era

Abstract

In the growing global awareness context about climate change and the need to address carbon emissions, this study analyses the fundamental role of circular economy (CE) practices in reducing carbon emissions in Mexico. It focuses in particular on the new Gen Z perspective and how their innovative approach could drive a significant shift in the country’s economic paradigms through the leadership of executives belonging to this generation who drive such changes in companies. This chapter begins by examining the environmental and economic challenges Mexico faces in the current era, highlighting the importance of addressing carbon emissions as an integral part of a sustainable development strategy. It then explores the concept of CE in depth and suggests this practice could be adopted and promoted by business executives in Mexico belonging to the Gen Z workforce. Companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) are specifically examined, based on the assumption that, on account of their size and nature, they are most likely to implement CE principles, such as reuse, recycling, and waste reduction and/or resource use. This study contains cross-sectional data collected in 2020 by consulting the sustainability reports of such listed companies.