Sustainability in Mexico: environmental laws, NOM and key certifications

Mexico's environmental framework combines laws (such as the General Law on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection and the General Law on Climate Change), mandatory Mexican Official Standards (NOM), voluntary certifications (Clean Industry, ESR, ISO 14001) and, since 2025, the Sustainability Reporting Standards (NIS) from CINIF. Understanding this set is key to complying with regulation and strengthening the competitiveness of any organisation operating in the country.

In recent decades, Mexico has faced increasingly complex environmental challenges: ecosystem degradation, air and water pollution, deforestation and biodiversity loss. These challenges have driven a regulatory and voluntary framework that ranges from waste management and biodiversity protection to climate change mitigation. This article is a guide to the main environmental laws, standards, certifications and reporting frameworks in Mexico.

Main environmental laws and regulations in Mexico

Mexico has a solid body of environmental legislation designed to protect its natural resources and ensure a healthy environment for its people. Over the years, laws and regulations have emerged focused on preventing pollution, conserving biodiversity and using resources sustainably. Below are the most prominent provisions.

General Law on Climate Change (LGCC)

The LGCC lays the foundations for coordinating action on climate change in Mexico: it sets emission-reduction targets, promotes adaptation and encourages participation by the public, private and social sectors.

It also defines the responsibilities of the authorities and the productive sector, and stresses the importance of incorporating public policies aimed at cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It drives initiatives such as the Special Climate Change Programme (PECC) and the creation of advisory bodies that strengthen citizen participation. Its direction is articulated with the national planning set out in the National Development Plan.

General Law on Sustainable Forestry Development

This law regulates the responsible use of forests and jungles, promoting the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems. It rests on four core pillars:

• Biodiversity conservation: it establishes mechanisms to protect native flora and fauna and to restore degraded areas.
• Responsible use: it regulates the conditions for extracting timber and non-timber resources, promoting certification that attests to a sustainable origin.
• Community participation: it values and strengthens the role of ejidos and indigenous communities in managing their forests, seeking a balance between economic development and environmental care.
• Research and technology: it fosters innovation in reforestation, water management and fire prevention, in collaboration with academic institutions and research centres.

Mexican Official Standards (NOM)

The NOM are mandatory technical provisions that set minimum standards for environmental protection, waste management and pollution prevention. Many are issued by SEMARNAT, the ministry responsible for federal environmental policy.

Notable examples include NOM-001-SEMARNAT (wastewater discharges), NOM-127-SSA1-2021 (water for human use and consumption) and NOM-161-SEMARNAT-2011 (special-management waste). For new projects with a possible impact, the rules also require an environmental impact assessment, which takes the form of the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA).

NMX-AA-164-SCFI-2013 "Sustainable Building"

Although it is not a mandatory Mexican Official Standard, NMX-AA-164-SCFI-2013 sets criteria for the design, construction and operation of buildings with a sustainability focus. It proposes guidelines to improve energy efficiency, water management and the use of materials, aligned with international standards such as the GHG Protocol and the IPCC guidelines.

Environmental certifications in Mexico

Many companies opt for certifications that reinforce their commitment to protecting natural resources. As well as promoting responsible energy use, waste management and impact mitigation, they provide a competitive advantage and a signal of trust for customers, investors and authorities. These are the main ones:

Socially Responsible Company Distinction (ESR)

The ESR Distinction, awarded by the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy (CEMEFI), recognises companies that follow social responsibility practices and contribute to the wellbeing of the community and the environment. It assesses four axes: ethics and governance, quality of life within the company, links with the community and protection of the environment (waste management, energy efficiency and emission reduction).

Clean Industry Certificate

The Federal Attorney's Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) awards the Clean Industry certification to companies that demonstrate high levels of environmental compliance. It involves thorough audits and continuous improvement plans on emissions, waste and resource efficiency. The process comprises:

• Environmental audit: an auditor accredited by PROFEPA assesses facilities, processes and practices, verifies compliance with the rules and identifies improvement opportunities.
• Action plan: from the findings, strategies and objectives are defined to correct deficiencies (emission control, waste management, water and energy savings).
• Verification and follow-up: a second assessment confirms implementation; if the requirements are met, the company obtains the certificate, with subsequent monitoring by PROFEPA.

Environmental Quality Distinction

Also managed by PROFEPA, the Environmental Quality Distinction recognises organisations that, beyond complying with the rules, implement advanced environmental-protection initiatives and adopt cleaner technologies, fostering continuous improvement.

ISO 14001 certification

ISO 14001 is the international standard for environmental management systems. It helps organisations minimise their impact and comply with current legislation through a cycle of planning, execution, review and continuous improvement. Its requirements cover context analysis, top-management leadership, the planning of objectives and risks, support (resources and training), operation (control of emissions, energy and waste), evaluation through audits and indicators, and continuous improvement.

Sustainable Buildings Certification Programme (PCES)

The PCES recognises buildings that incorporate water- and energy-saving technologies, eco-friendly materials and resilience strategies. The process includes registration and submission of technical documentation, a preliminary assessment, verification visits during and after the works and a final ruling, which may award different levels (basic, intermediate or advanced) according to the degree of compliance. Alongside local programmes such as the PCES, international building certifications such as LEED also coexist.

The CINIF sustainability standards (NIS)

The most significant change in recent years in sustainability reporting in Mexico is the Sustainability Reporting Standards (NIS), issued by CINIF (the Mexican Board for Financial Reporting and Sustainability Standards). CINIF published the first two NIS on 13 May 2024 and they entered into force on 1 January 2025. They are mandatory for entities that prepare their financial statements under the Financial Reporting Standards (NIF); the first sustainability disclosure will be made in 2026, with data from the 2025 financial year.

NIS A-1 (Conceptual Framework)

NIS A-1 is the Conceptual Framework of the NIS. It sets out the theoretical foundations and the qualitative characteristics that sustainability information must meet (relevance, faithful representation, comparability, verifiability, timeliness and understandability), so that reports are clear, consistent and useful to investors and other stakeholders.

NIS B-1 (Basic Sustainability Indicators)

NIS B-1 requires companies to determine and disclose 30 Basic Sustainability Indicators (IBSO), spread across three areas: 16 environmental, 6 social (human capital) and 8 governance. These indicators make it possible to measure an organisation's performance, set targets and compare results across periods and across companies in the same sector.

The strategic integration of laws, standards and certifications

Within the national environmental framework, the carbon footprint registry has become a key element for driving the decarbonisation of the Mexican economy and meeting the commitments of the General Law on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Beyond legal requirements, organisations that commit to sustainability gain competitive advantages: they cut costs, improve their positioning and contribute to protecting the environment. To align your strategy with global goals, see also our SDG guide for Mexican companies.

In this context, platforms such as Manglai make carbon footprint management easier through:

• Automated data collection: integration with ERPs, fleet-management tools and travel platforms, among others.
• Automatic emissions calculation: up-to-date emission factors and standardised methodologies.
• Custom analysis and reports: interactive dashboards and audit-ready reports.
• Scenario simulation: comparison of emission-reduction strategies.
• Reduction project management: tools to plan, implement and monitor mitigation actions.

At Manglai we provide the technology and the expertise to measure, manage and reduce emissions, aligning companies with Mexico's environmental requirements. Start by measuring your carbon footprint and build your sustainability strategy from there.