Pepsi Philippines sees sustainability efforts as effective business strategy
Amid the environmental challenges the country is facing, local
bottling firm Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) has strengthened its
commitment to running a sustainable business through internal solid waste
management efforts. Throughout its 70 years of serving Filipinos world-class
refreshments, PCPPI has acknowledged the importance of these measures not just
in perpetuating the business but also in ensuring its generational service to
the country.
“We strengthened our core commitment to sustainability as we
acknowledged that the natural resources we have are limited. Our business and
surrounding communities depend on these resources so we resolved to make sure
they will continue to be available now and in the future though internal
programs we’ve set for ourselves,” said PCPPI Senior Vice President for
Operations Allan Frias II.
One of the measures PCPPI initiated within its business was driving a
circular economy—minimizing waste at its source through its internal 5-year
Luntiang Yaman program focusing on environmental conservation and development.
Under this program they launched a three-pronged approach to solid waste
management: Packaging innovations, Recycling, and Partnerships.
Innovative packaging solutions
PCPPI has ensured the recyclability of its entire product
portfolio—with the bigger share comprised of Returnable Glass Bottles (RGB) at
71%, and the rest comprised of 20% special packaging of pre-mixed beverages for
soda fountains, 8% high-value recyclable PET and 1% aluminum can.
"Our product portfolio historically has always been hinged on the
returnable glass bottle (RGB) as there continues to be a demand among
consumers, and RGBs are a lot sturdier than plastic bottles,” Frias said. “We
focus on RGBs because very little needs to be done for their re-use. Our
partners return our glass bottles for a fee and all we need to do then is wash
and sanitize them.”
Through years of developing RGBs, PCPPI has optimized packaging by
reducing the materials in other containers apart from glass bottles by making
them lighter, successfully diverting tons of solid waste from landfills. As a
result of their packaging innovations since 2014, PCPPI has collectively reduced plastic resin
used in its PET containers by 863.4 MT, glass material by 6,467.5 MT, and
carton material usage by 921.35 MT.
“Lighter packaging in no way compromises the durability of these
containers. The same quality of our products is retained but with added benefit
of lessening waste being generated,” Frias explained.
Effective recycling efforts
The Filipino bottling firm also tightened its enforcement of recycling
within all of its 13 plants across the Philippines. According to Frias, since
the implementation of their Luntiang Yaman program, PCPPI has successfully
recycled 81% of in-plant solid waste, putting them right on track to reach
their 85% goal by 2020.
“PCPPI embeds recycling even in our community volunteerism projects,”
Frias said. “In the past we transformed PET bottles into sustainable sources
for light in war-stricken Marawi and recently, in our Brigada Eskwela efforts
this year where we turned over a greenhouse made of upcycled PET bottles to one
of our beneficiaries.”
Strong Industry partnerships
As sustainability isn’t a competition for PCPPI, the company also
leveraged on their industry partnerships to help address solid waste challenges
outside their plants.
The company has been a long-time partner of the Philippine Alliance
for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) alongside other industry
movers among Fast-Moving Consumer Group enterprises . "We do not have
control over post-consumer wastes, but we try to address this by engaging with
our brothers in the industry to help the community have a common recycling
facility for all of their wastes,” Frias said. "Here, we segregate our
wastes, as well as our partners’ for recycling.”
Further, PCPPI has recently partnered with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya
to donate its used industrial oils, and car in exchange of proceeds that will
be remitted to the ABS-CBN foundation to help fund its projects. The project
will not just help divert and properly dispose these harmful leftovers, but
aims to help alleviate as well the lives of the beneficiaries.
“When it comes to strengthening business continuity, sustainability
must always be a key component. By being more conscious of our responsibility
to the environment, we benefit not only our business but the communities that
surround and support us well into the years to come,” Frias concluded.
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