Sari-Sari, Sama-Sama: Ajinomoto Drives Two Years of Community-Led Impact Through SariCycle

In many Filipino communities, meaningful change often begins in the most familiar settings and starts with small actions—a sari-sari store counter neatly organizing sachets, or a mindful neighbor dropping off recyclables on the way home. When these simple efforts are multiplied across hundreds of people, they grow into more than just a community—they become a movement.

This everyday spirit of bayanihan was highlighted as Ajinomoto Philippine Corporation (APC) marked the second anniversary of SariCycle®, an innovative and adaptable plastic waste collection program that empowers local micro-entrepreneurs, particularly sari-sari store owners, to take an active role in reducing plastic waste and pollution in their communities.

In two years, SariCycle® has grown from a promising pilot into a working model of circularity  at the grassroots level. The program recovered over 27 metric tons or 27,000 kilograms of  single-use plastics (SUPs) in 2025. Overall, that’s equivalent to approximately 54 million  sachets, three times more of what was collected in 2024.

Behind the solid achievement are the more than 1000 SariCyclers across 30 barangays,  supported by APC’s significant collaboration with Basic Environmental Systems and  Technologies Inc. (BEST) and Quezon City’s Climate Change and Environmental  Sustainability Department.

At its heart, SariCycle® is a lifestyle program, as much as it is a sustainability initiative. Turning sari-sari stores into accessible eco-hubs encourages responsible waste behavior  that is convenient and rewarding. When recycling is simpler and incentivized, more  community members are likely to participate, and the continued collective effort is key to  moving communities closer to a sustainable circular economy.

During the celebration, APC honored the best SariCycling Barangays and SariCyclers,  whose consistent efforts essentially formed the backbone of this transformative program.

The top 5 SariCycling Barangays are: Barangay Pasong Tamo, Barangay Baesa, Barangay  Talayan, Barangay Bagong Silangan, and Lunas HOA Litex in Barangay Commonwealth.

Hon. Stephanie Tricia Pilar, Barangay Captain of Pasong Tamo, shared her delight as their  community took the first place, “Maraming salamat po sa Ajinomoto at sa QC government sa  napakagandang programa na ito. Dahil hindi lang po ito nakakatulong sa kalikasan, kundi  pati na rin sa bawat residente at komunidad.”

In addition, the program also recognized Carmen Ladisla as the Top SariCycler with her  consistent dedication and outstanding collection efforts. Completing the Top 3 SariCyclers  were Patria Uchi and Alicia Obedencia.

“Konting sipag lang at kayang kaya natin mag ipon (ng sachet at basura) para iwas baha at  iwas polusyon. Para sa mas ligtas at mas maayos na buhay ng ating pamilya,” Ladisla shared.

As part of the initiative’s success, a new award category was also introduced: the Aji  Packaging Champions. This award recognizes the top collectors of Ajinomoto packaging,  reinforcing the importance of shared responsibility across the value chain. Alicia Obedencia  was recognized as the top Ajinomoto Packaging Champion, followed by Josephine Valdez and Naly Ramos, respectively.

For APC, addressing plastic pollution isn’t a solo effort. The company recognizes it as a  system built through partnerships to come up with innovations that are practical, scalable,  and rooted in real-life behavior.

This collaborative approach strengthens APC’s broader sustainability strategy and supports  its 2030 Roadmap goal of reducing environmental impact by 50%.

“I believe we are on track, based on our numerical records. From our plastic collection,  plastic reduction, even innovation in our packaging. In terms of greenhouse gas, our two  factories, one in Bulacan and one in Cebu are now operating under 100% renewable  energy,” stated Ernie Carlos, Chief Sustainability Officer of APC.

As SariCycle® enters its third year, APC remains committed to expanding its network of  SariCyclers, empowering more store owners, engaging more households, and designing  smarter and accessible ways for Filipinos to keep on recycling.

“For year three, we are very excited to announce that we will be expanding to several cities.  We are hoping to have the same engagement in other communities as well, by applying the  same strategies,” said Ayn Latorre, Sustainability Executive of Basic Environmental Systems  and Technologies Inc.

Sometimes, the most impactful environmental solutions don’t begin in boardrooms or factories—they start at the neighborhood store, among neighbors united by a shared purpose, all working sama-sama (all together) toward a cleaner, more circular Philippines.

 To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com.