During the last two years, Ball Corporation has achieved a satisfactory fulfillment of its objectives in terms of female incorporation, in addition to discovering and promoting the talent of women for their personal and professional growth within the company. The idea is to achieve 25% representation in 2024 throughout the region.
When talking about sustainability, something that for a leading aluminum can packaging company is an essential issue, one cannot ignore such an important aspect as human capital. And in this regard, gender equity and inclusion in the workforce has been one of the major challenges for Ball Corporation since 2022.
Today, women have more than demonstrated that they make an indispensable contribution to the value chain, contributing significantly to the efficiency and success of the company in different areas, demonstrating the relevance of having policies aimed at inclusion, diversity and gender parity in the sustainable growth of companies.
Thus, Ball’s gender commitment in Latin America is 25% representation by the end of 2024, with 22% achieved to date. The plants that have made the greatest progress in hiring women were those in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, with 53%, 43% and 33%, respectively. At the global level, the goal is to reach 30% of women in the labor force, with progress at the regional level graphed as follows: Argentina, 27%; Chile, 18%; Paraguay, 34.7%.
Another way in which Ball is advancing and accelerating its path toward full and inclusive workplace parity is the mentoring program focused on diverse talents to assist in the professional development of women and people of color throughout South America. One of the outstanding cases is that of Teresa López, a graduate in Chemical Sciences, who began her career in 2019 at the Guarambaré plant in Paraguay as a process analyst. She then served as production and process supervisor, and in September 2023 she took over as production manager of the cap factory.
“Women, whether in leadership, management, or operational roles, have demonstrated their ability to lead innovative initiatives, improve processes, and promote sustainable practices. These capabilities to face challenges with resilience, the ability to work in teams, and an aptitude for problem solving are just some of the qualities that enrich the work environment.”Suellen Moraes, Ball’s diversity and inclusion manager for South America, notes.
When you inspire and teach to understand and value women’s participation in the workplace, that’s when you create a better world. At the same time, by being integrated, they develop a high sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. This also involves male staff, so that they can be allies and use their experience and knowledge to inspire their female colleagues in all areas.
“As we continue our mission to protect the environment through can recycling, we are also committed to building a work environment that reflects the diversity and talent of everyone, regardless of gender.”
Moraes concludes.