Shopee Supports Eco-Friendly Brands in Time for Earth Day

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Shopee shares how Messy Bessy, Unilever, and Klean Kanteen Philippines advocate for a sustainable future through different initiatives

Every year, people celebrate Earth Day to raise global awareness and inspire millions of individuals to take action to protect the environment. As part of the international efforts to drive action among the community, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launched Shop Green to encourage Filipinos to support sustainable products through Shop Green, an online sale from April 19 to 25. 

In 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which listed responsible consumption and production, climate action, and sustainable cities and communities as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, most nations are still far from reaching these goals, with the Philippines ranked 99th out of the 166 countries in terms of progress towards achieving these objectives.

Committed to creating a sustainable future, brands like Klean Kanteen Philippines, Messy Bessy, and Unilever are pushing for sustainable operations and actively choosing to  use organic materials as steps towards building a better and healthier planet. Therefore, Shopee launched its Shop Green campaign to support these brands in their advocacy for a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Klean Kanteen Philippines

At Klean Kanteen Philippines, environmental responsibility is an ongoing journey that involves constant research on how to source better and more eco-friendly materials. The brand’s mission is to create durable, versatile, and affordable products for its consumers, and encourage the switch to drinking bottles that are more environmentally sustainable. Klean Kanteen Philippines saw Shopee’s extensive growth as a testament to the platform’s commitment to innovate and adapt to changing consumer needs. Through Shopee,  consumers can easily purchase their favorite Klean Kanteen bottles and join the movement to stop single-use habits. 

According to Klean Kanteen Philippines, “We don't just make bottles. We create solutions for social change.  We work hard to design durable, versatile and affordable products that can last a lifetime and replace mountains of single-use waste. Our partnership with Shopee allows us to tell our story and start important conversations with more consumers.”

Klean Kanteen Philippines is committed to donating 1% of their annual sales to organizations they believe in every single year. 

Messy Bessy 

Messy Bessy is a line of plant-derived home and personal care products. The social enterprise aims to change the world, one sustainable product at a time. By developing eco-friendly products made from organic ingredients, the brand creates sustainable livelihoods for Filipino students, at-risk youths, and abused young adults to help stop the cycle of poverty. All of their products make use of cleaning agents that are found in nature, such as deriving ethyl alcohol from sugar cane. Their surface cleaners, all-purpose scrubs, and liquid detergents also do not have harmful chemicals. 

 

The company is growing at a rapid pace and there is a demand for more convenient access to their products. By partnering with Shopee, Messy Bessy was able to reach more buyers nationwide, especially those looking for affordable, easily accessible, and effective environmentally friendly products. 

Krie Reyes-Lopez, CEO and Founder of Messy Bessy, said, “We believe that being mindful of the environment and its sustainability is important. Partnering with Shopee truly helped us expand our e-commerce business and allowed us to reach people nationwide. With Shopee’s coin cashback and free shipping promotions, our clients find it easier to purchase our refill bottles and this allows us to use less plastic bottles. Currently, we have collection points in our Metro Manila kiosks for these bottles since we are able to recycle and reuse them.”

Unilever’s Love Beauty & Planet
In 2019, Unilever brought its Love Beauty & Planet initiative to the Philippines, in line with its commitment to do small acts of love to make consumers and the planet a little more beautiful, everyday. With Shopee, Unilever could reach more consumers, convincing them to be more eco-friendly and pro-planet with their products. Shop Green is aligned with Love Beauty & Planet’s purpose of enabling consumers to do more for themselves and the planet by providing a convenient platform to make more sustainable choices when purchasing products.

Isab Galang, Assistant Brand Manager for Love Beauty & Planet, Unilever Philippines, said, “Shop Green sheds light on how easy it can be to do more for the planet. Being a part of this campaign solidifies our brand’s commitment for a better, greener and more sustainable planet. Through this initiative, Love Beauty & Planet can reach more Filipinos and help them create #smallactsoflove with just one click.”

Shoppers can also look forward to brands like Forever 21, P&G’s Herbal Essences, and Colgate-Palmolive. To find out more about the campaign and to show your support for sustainable brands, visit  https://shopee.ph/m/shop-green from April 19 to 25, 2021.

To enjoy more discounts on your eco-friendly purchases, you can top up with ShopeePay and get free shipping with a minimum spend of ₱199, while getting 8% cashback with a minimum spend of ₱1,000.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play. 

Disposing e-waste? Globe helps you let go of these safely

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Do you have old mobile phones, excess cables, chargers, broken television sets, DVD players, and other non-working electronic devices that you would like to dispose of without adding up to the piles of garbage in the landfills? Globe helps you let go of these safely!

As Globe continues to provide reliable voice and data connection, it also makes sure to do its part in creating a safe environment for people to live in. It aims to lessen the harm brought by improper disposal of materials, particularly of electronic waste (e-waste).

More than 100 bins under the Globe E-waste Zero program are now placed in different collection points nationwide such as Globe Stores and malls, which the public can easily access. These bins can accommodate mobile phones, IT accessories such as mouse, earphones, and speakers; Internet and WiFi modems and routers; cable wires, batteries, circuit boards, CDs /DVDs and other small electronic devices. Bigger items such as computer sets, IT servers and electronic network equipment (antennas, transmitters, etc.), and home appliances (washing machine, oven, refrigerator, etc.) may be requested for pick up.

“Globe recognizes the importance of taking this extra step in ensuring e-wastes are disposed of properly and can't be harmful to the environment. We would like to enjoin our customers to help dispose of e-waste properly,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

E-waste is made up of different materials that are toxic and hazardous, making the process of recycling risky for those who are not trained properly and who do not have the necessary facilities to do it. According to the UN Environment Programme, it is estimated that more than 50 million metric tons of e-waste is produced globally per year and its continued importation and increased local generation is a cause for concern. Roughly 80% of these e-waste ends up in landfills, pollute the environment and make informal communities susceptible to the hazards of e-waste.

According to a recent study made by UNIDO and EcoWaste Coalition, only 28 out of the 135 registered Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities in the Philippines process e-waste. While the informal sector benefits from these discarded items, their methods of dismantling and recycling e-wastes are unconventional and against approved government standards.

In response to this, Globe’s e-waste program not only promotes proper disposal but also educates people about the potential harm of e-waste to the environment and the overall benefits of e-waste recycling. Proper e-waste recycling conserves natural resources. Instead of extracting raw materials, valuable materials from old electronics can be turned into new glass, plastic chairs, filament for 3D printing, and reuse the extracted alloys. E-waste recycling avoids unnecessary dumps in landfills. It provides proper handling and management of toxic chemical substances and helps avoid possible leakage especially towards water streams. It also prevents possible health hazards to informal communities living near dumpsites and whose main source of income is the manual processing of these disposed devices.

In 2020 alone, the program managed to collect and responsibly dispose of over 250,000 kg of e-waste, bringing the total collection to more than 1.4 million kg since 2014. These e-wastes are delivered to Globe’s partner Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities, namely Total Environment Solutions - Asset Material Management Philippines (TES-AMM) in Pasig City, and Maritrans Recycler, Inc. in Cebu. E-wastes are segregated to recover plastic materials, electronic components, and precious metals but the final recycling process is done in TES-AMM’s facility in Singapore.

“We are thankful to have partners and contributors, composed of more than 66 corporations, private organizations, NGOs, local government partners and schools nationwide that share Globe’s commitment of building a better and safer world for future generations. We encourage more individuals and organizations to join us in this advocacy. Let us all work together in keeping our planet safe from the harm posed by improper e-waste disposal,” Crisanto added.

Visit any of the participating Globe stores nationwide or request for free door-to-door pickup of bulky e-waste items. For the list of drop off areas and and bulk hauling requests, check out E-waste Zero on Globe’s sustainability website https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability/environment.html

Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production, which is about achieving economic growth and sustainable development by urgently reducing ecological footprint. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources.

To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html

Globe, ZSL Philippines partner on mangrove protection for climate resilient coastal communities

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Globe has sealed a five-year partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines for the protection and rehabilitation of local mangrove forests which are being threatened by the conversion of vast areas into ponds for commercial fish and shrimp farming.

Mangrove planting in the Philippines. Photo from www.zsl.org

ZSL Philippines is one of the primary organizations focused on mangrove rehabilitation through abandoned fishpond reversion, green-gray technology intervention, and close collaboration with People’s Organizations (POs). It was instrumental in the establishment of The Katunggan It Ibajay Ecopark in Aklan and another eco-park in Pedada, Iloilo which now serves as ecological tourist spots of Panay island. With an established eco-tourism, proceeds of both eco-parks go to the respective POs for their continuous operation, maintenance, and improvement.

As a long-time advocate of environmental protection and climate change prevention, Globe now focuses on mangrove conservation to step up its carbon sequestration efforts. This is aligned with its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by actively supporting the Race To Zero global campaign spearheaded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP26 Presidency and backed by the GSMA, the global mobile industry body, to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero no later than 2050.

“For several years now, we have been actively protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing our forests to stop land degradation and biodiversity loss and to combat the effects of global warming. We are further stepping up our efforts to lessen the impact of our operations on the environment as we put into action our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

In line with this, Globe decided to partner with ZSL Philippines which has proven expertise in mangrove ecosystems, to help with the conservation efforts starting with Iloilo which is considered as one of the top areas for mangrove rehabilitation programs due to its vulnerability to typhoons. The province also has a number of abandoned fishponds which make it suitable for rehabilitation efforts.

Leganes Integrated Katunggan Ecopark, Leganes, Iloilo. Drone photo by Jason Aguilar,
MBFTC Batch 11

With the addition of ZSL in its list of partners, Globe will be able to further strengthen its reforestation efforts which started with the Cordillera mountain ranges and Arakan Valley and later on moved to Bukidnon and Zambales. The partnership with ZSL will bring Globe’s total forest supported areas to 161 hectares.

“ZSL Philippines welcomes the partnership with Globe Telecom as it provides the opportunity to promote the importance of sustainable mangrove rehabilitation and conservation through the participation of communities, government, business sector, and Globe’s subscribers. The application of ZSL-developed science-based protocols as guidance, the establishment of a long-term carbon off-set mechanism to measure, and the use of existing technology to develop and/or enhance the capacity of coastal resource managers are among the important features of Globe Telecom and ZSL Philippines partnership for conservation and sustainability,” said Godof Villapando, Jr., Country Director of ZSL Philippines.

Mangroves are tropical trees found in coastal saline or brackish water. They are needed for climate stabilization since they can capture and store up to five times more carbon from the atmosphere than terrestrial forests. They also play a vital role in coastal protection, especially during a storm surge. With mangrove forests in place, the damage brought about by strong wind and waves becomes less destructive compared to a coastline with limited vegetation.

Likewise, mangroves are a source of valuable plant and animal products used as food, traditional herbal medicine and other wood and forest products. They also serve as nesting grounds for hundreds of bird species, and are home to a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and aquatic animals.

However, ZSL Philippines stated that since 1980, an estimated 20 to 35% of global mangroves have been lost, with current losses at around 1% per year as a result of human impact and natural disturbances.

As a purpose-driven company, Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 13 which underscores the importance of climate action to save lives and livelihoods to address climate emergencies, and UN SDG No. 15 which promotes the protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Globe joins over 9,600 companies demonstrating a commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing through CDP, a global non-profit organization that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform.

To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html

Out of the net and into the surf

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The olive ridley turtle release was spearheaded by the Chairman of SM Prime Henry Sy Jr.’s eldest daughter, Jan Catherine Sy (4^th from right), with mom, Jasmin T. Sy (3^rd from right).

A real-world turtle tale borne out of Hamilo Coast’s conservation efforts to protect marine wildlife. On one early November Sunday morning, an olive ridley turtle (lepidochelys olivacea) that accidentally got entangled in the snares of a fisherman’s net was turned over to Hamilo Coast’s Sustainability Team. Named for the olive color of its heart-shaped carapace, olive ridley sea turtles contribute to the health of coral reefs, which is the first line of defense against storm surges. 

Later that same day, after some recovery time from the stressful experience, the albeit healthy 1.5-foot long juvenile olive ridley turtle safely was released as it flippered its way through the warm sands of Pico Beach towards the cerulean waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The albeit healthy 1.5-foot long juvenile olive ridley turtle safely flippered its way through the warm sands of Pico Beach, all the way to the cerulean waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The turtle release was spearheaded by Jan Catherine Sy, a staunch animal welfare advocate and eldest daughter of the Chairman of SM Prime Henry Sy, Jr., accompanied by the Chairman’s wife, Jasmin T. Sy. Consistent with Jan’s love for animals, the accomplished equestrienne is an integral voice in the various environmental conservancy measures that Hamilo Coast implements.

The turtle release is part of various marine sustainable and environmental initiatives that Hamilo Coast implements, in partnership with WWF and Bantay Dagat.

The active protection of olive ridley sea turtles at Pico de Loro Cove, one of only five turtle species found in the Philippines, is an initiative of the Bantay Dagat community-based volunteer program, which engages fisher folk in coastal villages to safeguard Marine Protected Areas. Since 2008, Hamilo Coast has been a proud partner of the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines and this turtle release is a simple yet significant testament to Hamilo Coast’s unwavering commitment to practice environmental sustainability and preservation in its operations. 

ABOUT HAMILO COAST 

Hamilo Coast is a master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas. Developed and managed by Costa del Hamilo, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime. It is approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 7945-8000 or visit www.hamilocoast.com. 

WWF Continues to Fight Against Plastic Pollution, Advocates for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme in the Philippines

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WWF-Philippines launched a study about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system that will implement the basic principles of a collective responsibility in waste management, from collection and sorting to recycling and recovery.

Plastic pollution has reached gigantic dimensions worldwide and has caused serious consequences to marine life and the well-being of society. In a recent study, it has been estimated that about 11 million tonnes enter the ocean every year. If no action is made, this can triple by 2040 which is equivalent to 50 kg of plastics for every coastline meter worldwide.

The Philippines, based on 2015 modelling the study has been considered as one of the 10 top countries contributing to plastic pollution, has been continuously challenged with increasing waste generation and the lack of a sound waste management system. This calls for a comprehensive approach among policymakers, corporations, cities, and consumers to ensure that no plastics reaches nature.

Snapshots from a recycling facility in Quezon City, taken during a field visit last February 2020

Photograph ©Czarina Constantino / WWF-Philippines

Building on its No Plastics in Nature initiative, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines releases a report entitled “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme Assessment for Plastic Packaging Waste in the Philippines”. This report, undertaken with cyclos GmbH and AMH Philippines Inc, highlights EPR as a critical and effective policy tool in holding manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life impacts of their plastic products and packaging. EPR as a policy instrument also encourages the adoption of holistic eco-design among the business sector. The proposed EPR scheme has been based on the findings of the first Material Flow Analysis of plastic packaging waste in the Philippines.

The report shows that Filipinos consume the yearly average of 20kg of plastics, from which 15.43kg/cap/year becomes waste. Insufficient recycling capacities for high-value recyclables (i.e. PET, PP, HDPE) and the high volume of low-value plastics (including sachets) are factors that affect the country’s low plastic recycling rate, at 9%. The report further estimates that the Philippines leaks about 35% of plastic wastes into the environment.

These waste reduction and management conditions shaped the proposed customized EPR scheme in the Philippines. It proposes a mandatory EPR scheme for all product packaging with a three-year transition phase for obliged businesses to redesign their product packaging and eliminate unnecessary plastics. For this customized EPR scheme to work, the report emphasizes that the responsibility of implementing the scheme for building high-quality recycling capacity should be assumed by a non-profit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), acting as the system operator, with strict monitoring and control systems carried out by the government.

 “We in WWF believe that a mandatory EPR system is a way for businesses to be more engaged in eliminating unnecessary plastics through eco-design and strengthening waste management by being responsible for the end of life impacts of their plastic packaging. It is a driving mechanism for businesses to transform their models and push for circular solutions to reduce plastic generation including refilling and ultimately to eliminating leakage of plastic in nature. Adopting the EPR scheme in the Philippines is a great driver for us to stop plastic pollution,” says Czarina Constantino, WWF-Philippines’ National Lead for the No Plastics In Nature Initiative and Project Manager for Plastic Smart Cities.

A key first step is a clear, effective, and unambiguous legal framework towards EPR. This can only happen if policymakers take a bold and decisive step to put this globally recognized waste reduction and management scheme in place. A legal framework for EPR should outline clear objectives, responsibilities, enforcement mechanisms, and a timeline for implementation and targets. The effectiveness of the EPR system relies on the active role of the government to regulate and supervise the system and its operator through a legal framework. This is also aligned to the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris that enjoins member states like the Philippines to develop and implement EPR policies and schemes.

Facilitating partnerships among relevant stakeholders, most notably the government and the private sector, WWF-Philippines advocates for the adoption of the EPR scheme in the country to stop plastic pollution.

“Addressing plastic pollution requires both upstream (production/pre-consumption) and downstream measures (consumption and post-consumption). Working on the entirety of the plastic life cycle, stakeholder collaboration is important in both reducing the production and the consumption of unnecessary plastic, and also in managing plastic products and packaging, ensuring that materials are used as long as possible in our society,” says Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines’ Executive Director.

Nestlé Philippines, one of the leading producers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in the country, encouraged fellow stakeholders to do their part for nature by supporting the localized EPR scheme.

“At Nestlé, we believe that tackling plastic waste cannot be successfully achieved by a single or linear solution. It requires the attention and action of different stakeholders. We must look into different options both upstream and downstream, and take a holistic approach as we continue accelerating our initiatives to tackle plastic waste and EPR is a major instrument. We support the creation of a localized EPR scheme that we believe can help increase collection and recycling rates. We cannot achieve this alone, we must work together, to achieve a waste-free future," says Arlene Tan-Bantoto, SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Nestlé Philippines.

The study is part of the No Plastic in Nature Initiative - WWF’s global initiative to stop the flow of plastics entering nature by 2030 through the elimination of unnecessary plastics, doubling reuse, recycling and recovery, and ensuring remaining plastic is sourced responsibly. Through this initiative, WWF-Philippines has been working with cities on plastic leakage, policymakers to advocate for a global treaty on plastic pollution, businesses to transition to circular business models, and the general public to campaign and act.

Take part to #ChangeTheEnding for our planet and help work towards a vision of no plastics in nature.

GCash makes it easier for Green Heroes to digitally plant trees

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What started out in June of 2019 as a special in-app feature in GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, is now a widespread campaign to help save the environment.

GCash Forest, which allows users to plant virtual trees with real life counterparts, has made it easier and more convenient for its users to plant trees through their mobile phones. Now, GCash Forest users, known as Green Heroes, may collect their Green Energy (GE) in App, which are used to plant the virtual trees, within three days instead of the previous 24 hours. This also allows users to collect from your friends if they have not yet.

The amount of GE necessary refers to how much carbon emissions the specific tree species can absorb after a year of growth. Likewise, GCash Forest now includes new tree species to provide a diverse set of trees in the Ipo Watershed within the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

“Despite a year of massive success for GCash Forest, we still want to make sure user experience remains topnotch to maintain or increase momentum when it comes to the number of trees planted. At the end of the day, our goal is to encourage more people to take part in this campaign to save our environment,” GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said.

By improving the features of the in-app gamified tree planting activity, GCash aims to encourage all of its 20 million GCash users to take part in saving the environment through GCash Forest.

In the new normal where digital transactions are swiftly becoming the norm, GCash Forest is sure to play a critical role in propelling the movement to save planet Earth, while users can still observe standard public health protocols like social distancing. Even at the comfort of our homes, we can continue to care for the environment in our own ways.

“These changes will make it easier for our users to plant more trees despite the limits of our current situation. We believe that through GCash Forest, we will be able to make a difference in the environment as we as in our country’s biodiversity” Sazon said.

This June officially marks the beginning of tree planting as it also signals the start of the rainy season in the Philippines. GCash partner World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will start planting again this month, after successfully planting 4,200 trees by the end of last year.

GCash Forest's goal is to plant 365,000 virtual trees that turn to actual trees. Even with multiple partners, this remains to be an ambitious endeavor, but is highly doable through collective effort.

In the Philippines, forest cover is quickly deteriorating at a rate of 52,000 trees per day. GCash Forest is only one of many initiatives to save the country’s natural resources.

“Ultimately, these campaigns can only reach their goal if each and every Filipino does their part in minimizing their carbon footprint and avoiding practices which harm the environment. We believe that GCash Forest will not only benefit this current generation, but also the generations to come,” Sazon said.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com (https://www.gcash.com/)/.

Waste to Energy Summit 2019 : IGT and MPL to provide state of the art waste management to LGUs

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Integrated Green Technology (IGT) thru their founder and co-founder Mr. Michael Coronel-Jimenez and Ms. A. Leilani T. Cruz and CMPL (CNIM Martin Private Limited) based in Chennai India represented by Mr. Denis Bauer, CEO hosted their first “Waste to Energy Summit 2019” on Nov. 15, 2015 at the Grand Ballroom of Seda Hotel Vertis North Quezon City. 

This is to showcase their expertise in Renewable Energy and explain their patented European technology which is manufactured in India to cater the Asian market such as the Philippines. 

The Foreign technology CNIM are based in Paris France using a German Technology (Martin Gmbh) and has a combined 50 years experience in Waste to Energy EPC and FGT (Flue Gas Treatment) who has the highest emission standard that is compliance to our RA 8749 (Clean Air Act) of the Philippines.

(Left to Right) Architect Jesus Aguas, Mr. Michael Gimenez (CEO/President), Ms. A. Leilani Cruz (COO/Executive Vice President), Mr. Denis Bauer (CEO- CNIM Martin Private Limited), Ms. Pam Decal (Interim - Corporate Secretary), Mr. Joel Decal (VP-Business Affairs & Director)

The technology provider have built more than 170 WTE plants in 23 countries and soon 24th country will be in the Philippines. With a combined cooperation of the LGU (Local Government Units), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and DOE (Department of Energy) IGT and CMPL believes this project investments of all stakeholders will come to reality.

It is fully supported by all European funders and back up with debt insurance and bank guarantees which are all in place for the financial support for the first three (3) projects ( 2 Provinces of Cebu and Province of Pangasinan) that has a total investment of $230M USD for the Philippines thru Allied Project Services Limited of London.

IGT and CMPL goal is to provide state of the art waste management, energy sustainability and environment protection per LGU’s. Not to mentioned this will also reduce the rate of electricity to the host Cities and Municipalities and generate employment to the community. “A Clean and Green Country-Philippines”.

WWF-Philippines reinforces battle against unnecessary plastic with “No Plastics in Nature” initiative

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In line with the 1st anniversary of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ #AyokoNgPlastik movement, the leading environmental organization launches the ‘No Plastics in Nature’Initiative, a larger approach that seeks to stop the flow of plastic waste in nature by 2030.

The problem with plastics has been escalating for decades, where the Philippines has been identified as the world’s third largest contributor of plastics in the ocean. Plastic pollution has always been a huge issue in the Philippines with the continuous generation of plastic wastes and poor waste management. 

In 2016, global plastic production has reached 396 million metric tons, which translates to 53 kilograms of plastic per person on the planet. A third of this number has already become land or marine pollution and with a projected increase of 40% by 2030, an additional 104 million metric tons will leak into nature in a business as usual scenario. This poses harmful effects not only to our environment, but to human health as well. It is estimated that on average, people could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week.

Recognizing the threat brought about by plastic pollution, WWF-Philippines rolled out the #AyokoNgPlastik movementlast year in hopes of addressing the issue by creating awareness among Filipinos to reduce dependence on single-use plastics such as straws, bags, bottles, and cups, among others.

This year, WWF-Philippines reinforces their campaign against unnecessary plastics by adopting the ‘No Plastics in Nature’Initiative, a global WWF approach that intends to stop the flow of plastics entering nature by 2030 through elimination of unnecessary plastics, doubling reuse, recycling, and recovery,and ensuring remaining plastic is sourced responsibly. 

“With the ‘No Plastics in Nature’ Initiative, we are hoping to make the Philippines free of unnecessary plastic wastes, but we cannot do this alone, we need the help of everyone. Every individual, company, and institution should be mindful of the amount of plastics they produce and use daily, and take action accordingly, to make this goal a reality,'' said Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines President and CEO.

The initiative is a holistic approach consisting of four main strategies such as lobbying for a global legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, Plastic Smart Cities movement for cities and tourism destinations, Plastic Action (PACT) forbusinesses, and #AyokoNgPlastik for the general public.

The WWF network is continually pushing for a new international legally binding agreement to comprehensively address marine plastic pollution throughout the full life cycle from both production to disposal and recovery back into a circular loop. This is the network’s response to the agreement made at the recent 14th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (COP 14) in Geneva, which stresses that the developing world could no longer be a plastic dumping ground and that any trade would require the prior consent from the receiving country. 

Plastic Smart Cities, on the other hand, is a global movement of cities and tourism destinations that are fighting plastic pollution through improved collection, recycling, reduction of key waste plastics, and landfill management. Currently, the Philippines is working in six cities including Davao City, Digos City, Tagum City, Manila City, Parañaque City, Island Garden City of Samal,and four municipalities including Lupon, San Isidro, Sta. Cruz, and Donsol. 

Meanwhile, WWF-Philippines was able to partner with at least 20 businesses for the sustainable journey movement where programs to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics in their supply chain system, workplace, and business operations were implemented. This program resulted in the prevention of over 1.5 million pieces of plastic waste from leaking into nature. Currently, WWF-Philippines is adopting the Plastic Action (PACT), which is a regional initiative on engaging businesses to take on a circular economy. 

Finally, WWF-Philippines’ successful #AyokoNgPlastikmovement will continue to educate the general public about plastic pollution, its impacts, and how people can help in addressing it through the Facebook community and the recently launched AyokoNgPlastik microsite. Members of the movement have also demonstrated their commitment to this cause by signing the petition to support the call for a new legally binding international agreement on plastic pollution.

“The problem on plastic pollution will only continue to worsen if we don’t do anything about it. We are determined to address this issue to ensure that there will be no more plastic pollution in nature by 2030, and we hope to achieve that through the ‘No Plastics in Nature’ Initiative,” Palma reiterated.

WWF-Philippine’s ‘No Plastics in Nature’ Initiative was launched on the 5th of September at Shakey’s Quezon Avenue. Shakey’s Philippines is one of the newest partners and supporters of the #AyokoNgPlastik movement. 

To know more about WWF-Philippines and the ‘No Plastics in Nature’ Initiative, visit www.ayokongplastik.org or follow /WWF.Philippines on Facebook. To engage in conversations on plastics, join facebook.com/groups/ayokongplastik. 

Help restore our primary rainforests with your Globe Rewards points

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Name your tree when you donate your points by March 31, 2019

All Globe Prepaid, Postpaid, and TM customers have a chance to help restore the Philippines’ primary rainforest cover when they donate their Rewards points to Hineleban Foundation by March 31, 2019.

Hineleban (He-ne-leu-ban) is a Sacred Binukid term literally meaning “Mother Tree of the rainforest that sustains the cycle of all life”. Hineleban Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organisation based in Bukidnon, Mindanao. Their vision is to ensure the nation’s water, food and human security by reforesting the mountain ranges of Mindanao, home to the country’s last watersheds. These ranges are inhabited by Indigenous People (IP’s) and Bangsamoro communities. Hineleban Foundation together with Globe, have partnered in this enormous task by entering into a Sacred Customary Compact with the IP’s and a Peace and Development role with the Bangsamoro People, agreeing to join efforts by identifying steps to fulfil this dream.

“We continue our commitment to environmental sustainability and want to make it easier for our customers and stakeholders to integrate it into their lives. We encourage everyone to spread the word to their families and friends so that more aid could be provided to our country’s primary rainforests. We believe that through small, simple ways, anyone can contribute in preserving and protecting the environment including our rainforests,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

Be part of the rainforestation advocacy by easily donating your Globe Rewards points. Every 100 Rewards points donation is equivalent to one tree. To donate, just download the Globe Rewards app on your mobile device and click the “DONATE” banner. Tap “HELP100” and press “REDEEM”. Upon receiving the confirmation message, tap on the Hineleban site to name your tree. Enter your name, email, mobile number, and tree name, then wait for a confirmation prompt that you have successfully named your tree.

Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s partnership began in December 2016, whose combined efforts are currently reforesting 300 hectares of denuded primary rainforests, a fraction of the 44,000 hectares surveyed and targeted by Hineleban Foundation in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. The program born from the Globe-Hineleban partnership is structured into five phases over a 5-year period, lasting until December 2021.

The reforestation process begins with the planting of calliandra to quell acidic cogonal grass. This is followed by the planting of tree species that are ideal for agroforestry, including brazilian fire trees and Caribbean pine trees. Intercropping then becomes the objective, with 600 indigenous tree species per hectare planted to secure the area as a permanent watershed. Some of the species grown are almon, bagtikan, mayapis, apitong, red lauan, palosapis, white lauan, olayan, katii and nato. Hineleban Foundation’s reforestation methodology is internationally recognized, having received the Grand Prize Award for best project in the forestry sector, from the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development and the French Development Agency in 2015.

Aside from its partnership with Hineleban Foundation, Globe also pursues other environmental sustainability advocacies as part of its responsible corporate citizenship. In 2015, Globe launched its paperless billing campaign to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land–centered on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. Today, Globe customers now have an option to simply receive their monthly billings via email. In 2018, it also spearheaded 2 Marine Biodiversity Conservation Workshops for Sustainable Business Practices in Boracay Island and Siargao. This is in partnership with Save Philippine Seas.

Be an advocate and visit hineleban.org to know more about Hineleban Foundation. 

For more information about Globe and its #GlobeOfGood stories, follow Globe Bridging Communities on Facebook.

Earth Hour Philippines 2019 shines a light on plastic pollution

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On the second year of the global #Connect2Earth theme of Earth Hour that calls for the urgent need to care for the Earth’s biological diversity, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines continues to focus on the issue of single-use plastics and how addressing it can help reverse the loss of nature.

WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado and WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez stand with WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines Climate and Energy Program Head and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay and Youth Programme and AIS Development Executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Yasser Sarona at the Earth Hour Philippines 2019 media launch. 

Photograph (c) Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines

Now on its 12th year, Earth Hour is considered as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. What started out as a campaign to engage people and create significant environmental action against climate change has evolved into a platform that aims to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon.

“The last decade of Earth Hour has contributed so much to the global climate agenda and has paved the way for many conservation wins. Now that we are ushering in the second year of the movement’s new decade, our efforts will still be centered on raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change,” says WWF-Philippines Head of Climate and Energy Program and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay. 

When #Connect2Earth was launched last year, more than 17,900 landmarks and monuments in over 180 countries and territories switched off their lights to show their commitment to and support for raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity. Both #Connect2Earth and #EarthHour trended in 33 countries and garnered more than 3.5 billion impressions worldwide. With these numbers, Earth Hour 2019 is an unmissable opportunity to create an unstoppable movement for nature and WWF-Philippines is anchoring this year’s celebration on single-use plastics, one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. 

Leveraging on the momentum of its #AyokoNgPlastik movement, WWF-Philippines hopes to further create awareness on the dangers of single-use plastics, spark conversations, change mindsets and habits of consumers, urge businesses to operate more sustainably, and influence policy. Adopting the WWF network’s “No Plastics in Nature” Initiative, WWF-Philippines believes that Earth Hour 2019 is the best way to send out a clear message to take a stand against plastic pollution towards its ultimate goal of mobilizing public support for legislations on plastic waste management. 

WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma delivers the opening remarks for the Earth Hour Philippines 2019 media launch. 

Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines

“The Philippines is the 3rd major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation. We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” states WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma as he reiterates the importance of working together to achieve a long-term solution to this environmental problem that significantly contributes to nature loss. 

The kick-off event of Earth Hour 2019 that was held on February 28, 2019 in the Magellan Function Room of the Discovery Suites in Ortigas saw commitments for nature formalized and renewed as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) inked a memorandum of agreement with WWF-Philippines and National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado, as well as National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, renewed their contracts to reaffirm their declaration of support to conserve natural assets to ensure a living planet for future generations. 

 WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Iza Calzado 

 WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez 

The main switch-off event of Earth Hour 2019 is slated on March 30, Saturday, at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5:00 PM to 10:00PM, with the actual switch-off at 8:30 PM. At least 3,000 scouts will be deployed to the public event that will feature booths, activities, and performances that will honor the planet. Meanwhile, everyone from all over the Philippines is also encouraged to switch off non-essential lights from 8:30PM to 9:30PM in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.

Using this year’s official hashtags #Connect2Earth, #EarthHourPH2019, and #AyokoNgPlastik, WWF-Philippines is encouraging everyone to harness the power of social media and help share their commitment to start changing the planet for the better by sharing stories and photos of their sustainable living actions, as well as their pledges to say no to single-use plastics, via Earth Hour Philippines’ Facebook event page – http://bit.ly/EarthHourPH2019 that will go live by March 1, 2019. 

WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado and WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez hosted the Earth Hour Philippines 2019 media launch.

Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines

To engage in conversations on plastics, join facebook.com/groups/ayokongplastik. 

Visit www.earthhour.org to know what’s happening in locations around the world and read individuals’ stories about what they are doing for our planet. 

To share ideas and tools to push for action and change, log in to connect2earth.org, the platform supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety with funding from the International Climate Initiative.