Photo shows (left to right): Mr. Ernie Carlos, Chief Sustainability Officer for APC, Atty. Angela Edralin-Valencia, ecoloop Director of Republic Cement, Mr. Jan Vincent Mercado, Senior Vice President for Business Development of Basic Environment Systems and Technologies Inc., Mr. Marcelino Fronda, Manager for Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc., Mr. Rudi Ramin, Commercial Director for Plastic Credit Exchange, Mr. Koichi Ozaki, APC Group President, and Mr. Hironori Aoki, APC Group Director for Sales, Marketing, and Public Relations.
Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) has forged new alliances with four leading Filipino waste management companies as part of its most recent effort to comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 (EPR Law). At a Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), Envirotech, Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), and Republic Cement last September 1, 2023, at APC Makati headquarters, the food industry giant formally reaffirmed its dedication to a more sustainable future.
The EPR Law requires businesses to assume greater responsibility for the post-consumer waste management component of product disposal and recycling throughout their life cycle. Obligated businesses like APC are required to make sure they contribute to the recovery, diversion, and recycling of plastic waste produced by the usage of their products. These regulations seek to reduce and control the overall consequences and environmental impact of post-consumer plastic trash.
APC saw the enactment of the EPR Law as an opportunity to supplement their current environmental stewardship projects. The company immediately sought partnerships with organizations that would not only help make their sustainability efforts more feasible, but also inspire new initiatives for a more environmentally sound future for the Philippines.
To aid with the collection of post-consumer packaging, APC tapped BEST, a waste management consulting company established in 1999. BEST founded the Trash-to-Cashback program operating in different parts of the Philippines and the MyBasurero App that encourages waste collection through an incentivized system.
Since 2010, Envirotech has built multiple materials recovery and processing facilities nationwide, with facilities that turn low-quality soft/flexible plastic waste into construction and furniture grade materials.
PCX is widely known for pioneering the Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard, which allows for the management of pledges from companies and institutions to clean up their plastic footprints and be awarded Plastic Neutrality Certifications for their efforts. Their aim is to protect the ocean by collecting and processing solid waste found in our waters, while providing livelihood opportunities to women in vulnerable communities through their Aling Tindera Program.
Completing APC’s new set of collaborations is Republic Cement, who launched the Ecoloop program that encourages waste recovery and processing from collecting, segregating, and shredding of viable solid waste to be used as Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).
(From left to right): Mr. Jan Vincent Mercado, Sensior Vice President for Business Development of Basic Environment Systems and Technologies Inc., Mr. Marcelino Fronda,Manager for Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc.,Mr. Koichi Ozaki, APC Group President,Mr. Rudi Ramin, Commercial Director for Plastic Credit Exchange,and Atty. Angela Edralin-Valencia, ecoloop Director of Republic Cement.
During the ceremony, Mr. Ernesto Carlos, APC’s Chief Sustainability Officer further assured that APC, alongside its partners who signed the Memorandum of Agreement, will put up unwavering efforts for future generations of Filipinos.
“We encourage all companies to embrace the EPR Act and take a proactive approach to managing their plastic footprint,” Carlos said. “By working together, we can make a positive impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future for all.”
APC has been actively looking for ways to reduce plastic waste in order to achieve its aim of minimizing environmental impact by 2030. The AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning 45g, which is created from natural and renewable paper that can be planted, grown, harvested, and replanted, is the first seasoning product ever to be sold in paper packaging. While the company has developed programs that were made easier by their production processes, it has also incorporated sustainability education through the #IlabasAngSustainAbilidad campaign, which makes use of the social media following of Ajinomoto Philippines.
The adoption of APC Group’s sustainable practices and the promotion of eco-friendly lifestyles are now being done on a broader scale toward creating sustainable communities thanks to the expertise of their four new partners.
To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com.
No Comments