Medellin-Based Grupo Familia 2015 Net Profits Rise 25% Year-on-Year
The board of directors of Medellin-based Grupo Familia – producers and marketers of mainly paper-based personal hygiene products in 20 countries throughout South America and the Caribbean – on March 31 approved the company’s full-year 2015 financial report showing net profits rising nearly 25% year-on-year, to COP$202 billion (US$67 million).
Sales volume also rose, to COP$937 billion (US$310 million), from COP$818 billion (US$269 million) in 2014.
The company’s well-known consumer brands include “Pequeñin” and “Fres Kids” (diapers, wipes, shampoos and baby creams); “Familia” (toilet paper, napkins, kitchen towels); “Petys” (pet cleaning wipes, odor-removal sprays and absorbent towels); “Nosotras” (tampons, feminine hygiene towels, cleaning soaps); “Familia Institucional” (hand towels, soaps, antibacterial gels, bath liquids, window fluids); and “Tena” (towels for adult incontinence).
The company simultaneously released its latest social and environmental “sustainability” report. Goals for 2016 include recovering 92% of residual byproducts at its factories, including a 25% reduction in water use at its paper plants. A related goal includes a 57% reduction in organics in water effluents resulting from paper-products processing, according to Familia.
The company also expects to see a further 7% reduction in energy use at its manufacturing plants, along with a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions at those plants.
The 2015 sustainability report – its second, following the first-ever 2014 report — continues to follow the “GRI-IV” international reporting standard, according to Familia. This standard includes a measurement of its net carbon footprint in Colombia operations.
In order to reduce its carbon footprint, Familia earlier converted its factory boilers in Medellin from coal-fired to natural-gas fired, enabling a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Familia also recently achieved “FSC” (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for its “Familia Institucional” line.
“This certification is among the ‘green seals of approval’ of the highest global reputation, and enables our clients to know that at the moment of acquiring our products, they can be assured that these are guaranteed to meet standards that are responsible to the environment — manufactured with recycled and virgin fibers from forest plantations certified by the FSC,” according to the company.
