From Bottles to Benefits: Coca-Cola Philippines' Recycling and Social Responsibility Initiatives

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 01:02 PM
Amanda Del Signore

CocaCola LogoStevie-winner Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) is a major player in the beverage industry in the Philippines, primarily engaged in the production, marketing, and distribution of non-alcoholic beverages, including Coca-Cola and its wide range of brands.

The company operates bottling plants throughout the country, ensuring that a diverse portfolio of beverages, from soft drinks to juice and water products, is available to meet consumer demands.

In addition to its core beverage offerings, CCBPI is dedicated to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The company implements initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and improve water efficiency in its operations. For example, it focuses on using recycled materials for packaging and actively participates in community programs aimed at promoting recycling and waste management.

CCBPI also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and social responsibility. The company actively supports various local initiatives, including education and health programs, to improve the quality of life for communities across the Philippines. Through partnerships with non-governmental organizations and local governments, CCBPI contributes to the economic and social development of the regions where it operates, making it not just a beverage provider but a committed community partner. 

Nationwide Collection Program CocaCola image
Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo! (“Discard to Earn: If It's Clear, It's a Win!”) is Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc.'s (CCBPI) nationwide collection program for post-consumer clear PET plastic bottles, regardless of brand. This program is in line with Coca-Cola's global World Without Waste commitment—to collect and recycle every single bottle and can we sell by 2030.

“Tapon to Ipon” seeks to strengthen communities’ waste management systems through the establishment of collection and recycling centers for used plastic bottles. It takes its name from a play on Filipino words—tapon means “to throw away” or “discard” and ipon, which can mean “collect” or “earn,” and points to the incentivized nature of the program.

CCBPI taps its own commercial network to promote recycling and packaging circularity. All plastic bottles collected from Tapon to Ipon are diverted to and given new lives at PETValue Philippines – a pioneering bottle-to-bottle recycling facility. PETValue is CCBPI’s joint venture with Indorama Venture – a global leader in recycling and green technologies.

Launched in 2021, the program taps traditional trade outlets or sari-sari stores, to become collection hubs where consumers can drop off (tapon) their used clear PET plastic bottles and get incentives in return (ipon). Coca-Cola leverages its vast network of sari-sari stores to reach more communities— these outlets that serve as community landmarks that help bring Coca-Cola products closer to Filipino homes are now also collection hubs where people can return used clear plastic bottles of any brand. The program has a two-fold effect of heightening recycling education and collection within communities while contributing to the livelihood of a sector integral to the country’s economic recovery. To date, they have almost 700 sari-sari store collection hubs nationwide.

The support of local government units (LGU) has been key in the success of Tapon to Ipon. It has reached almost 170 cities and municipalities and is growing. In May 2021, CCBPI signed with the LGU of Basco, Batanes, to collect plastic bottles that have accumulated in their eco-center. Through this partnership, they collected over 10MT of used plastic bottles.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. won two Silver Stevies and a Bronze Stevie Award for Innovative Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility, the Award for Innovation in Sustainability - Reuse and Recycle, Climate Protection and Sustainability Campaign of the Year, respectively, in the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

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Topics: Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards