Transition Industries LLC, based in Houston, Texas, has outlined its goals for 2025 to uphold its commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The company’s Human Rights Policy, which also applies to the Pacífico Mexinol project—a state-of-the-art ultra-low carbon methanol production facility located in Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico, with a capacity of 6,145 metric tonnes per day—ensures that annual assessments and action plans will be implemented to address potential human rights risks. The policy also emphasizes continuous engagement with local stakeholders, including vulnerable communities, on human rights concerns.
Juan Carlos Franco, Director of National Security at Transition Industries, explained, “Alongside our alignment with the UNGP, we follow the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which guide how we manage security for both our company and projects. Upholding and safeguarding human rights is a cornerstone of our operations.”
In 2024, Transition Industries worked with international and Mexican environmental and social consultancies to conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Pacífico Mexinol project, in line with global standards. The ESIA included a predictive analysis to assess potential human rights risks that could arise once construction begins in 2025.
The assessment highlighted several specific measures for mitigating human rights risks, including the creation of a Community Relations and Indigenous Rights Policy, a Project Safety Management Plan, a Project Community Feedback Mechanism, and an updated Stakeholder Engagement Plan, all of which reflect over five years of community engagement and Informed Consultation and Participation processes. These policies and plans will be made publicly available through the company’s website, the project website, and direct community engagement in 2025.
The company has also developed a draft Community Investment Strategic Plan aimed at improving human rights, incorporating insights from local community members. This plan was informed by data from Community Participatory Studies conducted by social scientists at the Autonomous Indigenous University of Mexico (UAIM). It will be launched in 2025.
Additionally, the ESIA addressed risks related to gender-based violence and harassment. Mitigation strategies include the introduction of a gender equity and inclusion policy and a gender-based violence risk management plan. This initiative is being developed in collaboration with local gender specialists and government institutions, including the Secretariat for Women in Ahome. In 2025, the company will partner with the Secretariat and NGOs to implement the plan, providing training for both the workforce and local communities on legal, psychological, and economic empowerment to combat gender-based violence.
Transition Industries has also conducted a company-wide human rights self-assessment using the Human Rights Compliance Assessment tool developed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights. In 2025, the company intends to seek third-party validation of these results. Furthermore, the company plans to begin assessing the human rights compliance of its business partners across its entire value chain, in accordance with its Supplier Code of Conduct.