Chipinque receives the 2007 Ecological Merit Award

• Vitro actively participates in this socially responsible initiative
• This is the 2nd time this institution receives this award

As a result of its environmental education efforts, research programs, natural resources´ management, operations and green areas, the Chipinque Ecological Park received the 2007 Medal of Merit for Ecology in the non-government organizations category.

Such distinction was delivered by Adalberto Madero, Major of the City of Monterrey and the Ecology Department of this City during the Environment Day celebration in the City Hall.

"All of us who form part of the board of trustees, the Citizens Advisory Council, as well as all of the Park´s employees and affiliated staff are extremely proud to receive this recognition from the City of Monterrey. This award motivates us to continue serving the community and protecting this natural habitat for many years to come." Said Federico Sada, President of the Board of Trustees for the park and Chief Executive Officer of Vitro.

The award was received by Lilian Willcockson, Director of the Chipinque Ecological Park, who commented: "The projects for which we are being recognized by this award cover all the areas in which the institution contributes to the park´s conservation, such as: environmental education, investigation and management of natural resources as well as operations and maintenance of green areas".

She added that the proposals in which Chipinque participated in order to receive the award were: "Environmental Education: a tool for the generation of an ecology culture", and actions for the prevention, control and combating of forest fires including restoration of the affected areas during 2006 from forest fires in
the Chipinque Park" leading to the judges important decision to award this recognition to our institution.

Chipinque lectures and work shops are conducted as well as other activities orientated for the family designed to redirect attitudes and values towards appreciation, respect and active participation in environmental protection.

These activities are conducted by professionals from different career backgrounds or university students who are dedicating their social service to this effort as well as volunteers who work in the Park convinced that its visitors should experience an integral involvement during their stay.

Vitro received in 2005 the Ecological Merit Award and Chipinque obtained the State Ecology Award thus being recognized for preserving natural resources and benefiting the community of the state of Nuevo León.

Located in the vicinity of the Eastern Sierra Madre mountain, the Park covers an area of approximately 1,625 hectares and is a social responsibility initiative that Vitro has supported since its creation in 1992.

Chipinque is a protected natural reserve dedicated to: promote ecological culture values in general to our community; preserve and strengthen our ecosystem, develop, promote and sponsor cultural, educational and sport activities; involve the community in promoting the park as well as its investigations in conservation as well as locate, generate and classify data bases to guarantee a sustainable development of the area.

The Park receives each year an average of 320,000 visitors who become aware of the ecosystem conservation and more than 40,000 students thanks to the agreement signed in 1993 with the Public Education government department. More than 42 research studies have been conducted since 1992. Vitro is a founding member and our CEO, Federico Sada, is President of the Board of Trustees for the Park with other members such as Cemex, FEMSA, the Nuevo León State Government, Alfa Cydsa, Imsa, the City of San Pedro, and Pulsar.

Vitro is Mexico´s glass industry leader for manufacturing recognized international quality products, supplying value added services, developing innovative state of the art technology and has consolidated a total focus towards social responsibility since its beginning almost 100 years ago. We are proud to make products that are 100% recyclable that preserve the environment and contribute to leaving a cleaner world for future generations.