Team size: 8 people

Can you discuss your or your company’s efforts relating to renewability, sustainability, or other environmentally-friendly activities?

At Bupa, protecting the environment is more than a priority—it’s an essential part of our purpose. That’s why we recently updated our company mission to reflect a broader vision: helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. This commitment to sustainability is reflected in several key initiatives we’re driving both globally and locally here in Mexico.

One of our cornerstone efforts is Mission Zero, our global ambition to become a net zero business by 2040 across all healthcare operations. At Bupa Mexico, this has already translated into tangible results: between 2023 and 2024, we are on track to reduce our CO₂ emissions by 470 tonnes.

Another exciting initiative is Eco-Disruptive, a global talent and innovation programme that brings together Bupa employees, entrepreneurs, and start-ups to co-create sustainable solutions. Through this platform, we aim to find and support scalable start-ups whose innovations can help us—and the wider health sector—tackle environmental challenges head-on.

We are also proud of our Mission Regenerate initiative, delivered through the Healthy Cities programme. This encourages people to develop sustainable and healthy habits in their daily lives, such as walking 6,000 steps a day, while contributing to urban reforestation efforts. Through the app, participants’ actions directly unlock Bupa investment into regenerating green spaces in cities—an approach that connects personal wellbeing with environmental restoration.

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

In-house lawyers are uniquely positioned to influence how a company embraces sustainability—not just through policy, but in practice. We have the ability to embed environmentally responsible thinking into everyday business decisions.

For instance, legal teams can lead the transition to paperless operations by implementing electronic signatures across contracts and corporate documents. While that may seem simple, it has a direct impact on reducing paper consumption and waste.

In-house counsel also serve as the bridge between the company and government or regulatory bodies. Through this role, we have the responsibility—and the opportunity—to build transparent, ethical relationships grounded in strong compliance frameworks, internal policies, and clear guidance. We lead by example.

Beyond that, legal teams can help drive fair, sustainable business practices by ensuring our contracts are reader-friendly, inclusive, and designed to build trust. We’re also well-placed to support training initiatives around issues like anti-bribery, conflict of interest, and ethical conduct—areas that strengthen a company’s social and environmental governance overall.

At Bupa Mexico, I’ve seen firsthand how legal a key driver of responsible growth and corporate integrity can be. When legal teams lean into this role, we don’t just protect the business—we help shape it for the better.