51³Ô¹Ï

Welcome to the 51³Ô¹Ï
Language:
  1. Home
  2. Meet the Paraguayan company embracing sustainability to offset the high costs of operating in a landlocked country

Meet the Paraguayan company embracing sustainability to offset the high costs of operating in a landlocked country

 

¡°±õ am sure that any company that is not following sustainable business practices will go out of business in the next few years,¡± says a confident Abhishek as he escorts us into his office downtown Asuncion, the bustling capital of Paraguay. Abhishek's family moved from India to Paraguay in 1987, establishing Indopar, a thriving textile company in the landlocked South American country.  

 

Abhishek, says businesses like Indopar, operating in the constraints of a landlocked country, face numerous operational challenges. ¡°±õt takes 15 extra days to reach Paraguay, and costs escalate as goods transition from seaborne to river transport, increasing manufacturing expenses and resulting in costly transportation and prolonged delivery which made us less competitive globally¡±, he adds.

 

Indopar started to focus on sustainability practices not only to save costs but also to stand out from competitors.

 

 

A person looking at clothes from a rackDescription automatically generated

Abisheck Shah inspecting garments in the factory. He has become a member of the UN Global Compact,

a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles.             

 

Yet, instead of succumbing to these challenges, Indopar did more than adapt; they transformed. 

Indopar started to focus on sustainability practices not only to save costs but also to stand out from competitors. ¡°±õf you are more sustainable, you are going to save costs,¡± says Shah as he explains how they focused on recycling, managing to recycle 97% of their waste and turning it into profit. They also reduced electricity use significantly by applying special paint to their factory roof. Today, Indopar¡¯s dedication to sustainability goes beyond certifications; it is embedded in its corporate culture. They encourage their staff to cycle to work, promoting a healthier lifestyle and a cleaner environment.?Starting in 2018, Indopar obtained the LEED Platinum certificate, becoming the first in Latin America.  

Indopar stands as a testament to what support, dedication, innovation, and audacity can achieve for small businesses in landlocked economies.?