The Jollibee Group unveiled its Joy for Tomorrow Global Sustainability Agenda on March 16 of last year with the intention of reaffirming the organization’s dedication to ethical business practices.

Despite having made significant progress over the course of its 45-year history in a number of social and environmental projects, Jollibee Group is now deliberately integrating all of its sustainability initiatives into a more cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including its employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, toward a set of common sustainability goals.

With Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group continues to uphold its commitment to its objective of giving the joy of eating to everyone, while also understanding that this mission extends beyond the current generation of customers and stakeholders. The business is aware that in order to contribute to a more sustainable future for people and the environment, it must make use of its worldwide scope, resources, and experience.  

“Our challenge in Jollibee Group is how to sustain our success while creating positive impact to our society and planet. As one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in the world, and with our vision to become one of top companies in our industry, we recognize that we have a significant role and responsibility in impacting positive change,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.

The Joy for Tomorrow Sustainability Agenda centers on three pillars namely Food, People, and Planet. These pillars consist of 10 focus areas: Food Safety, Food Quality, Nutrition & Transparency, Employee Welfare, Farmers Livelihood, Community Support, Good Governance, Packaging & Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Energy & Water Efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

According to Jollibee Group Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer Pepot Miñana, Joy for Tomorrow serves as the company’s roadmap for achieving the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.

“It’s a call to action for everyone in Jollibee Group, amid the pursuit of our sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet. It is our commitment to future generations to preserve and improve natural resources from which they can benefit,” Miñana said.

Serving food that people trust

Jollibee Group prioritizes food safety and quality to maintain the trust of its customers worldwide.

In 2022, the company conducted over 15,000 Food, Service, and Cleanliness (FSC) Audits across its stores worldwide, while over 125,600 online training hours were devoted to Food, Service, Cleanliness & Condition. Moreover, 100% of its stores, commissaries, and logistics facilities have undergone rigorous Quality Management audits. The group also achieved a global Net Promoter Score of 82, exceeding industry benchmark of 50, showcasing customer satisfaction and loyalty for the various brands.

Helping make people’s lives better

Jollibee Group recognizes the invaluable role in fostering an inclusive work environment for its employees, partners, farmers, and communities.

In 2022, women made up 59% of management positions and 51% of the total workforce. Through training courses on Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and Anti-Discrimination, the company educates its employees on the value and benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. As a measure of high employee engagement, the group achieved the 70thpercentile of Gallup’s Q12 percentile ranking.

Outside of the organization, Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has enabled over 700 smallholder farmers across the Philippines to deliver their produce directly to Jollibee Group. Today, the white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, calamansi, ginger, and other vegetables that the company uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal products come from FEP farmers.

Treating the planet responsibly

In terms of environmental sustainability, Jollibee Group focuses on the key areas of packaging and recycling, energy, water, and waste.

By the end of 2022, Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved 21% reduction in energy use ratio, 23% reduction in water use ratio, and 38% reduction of waste, with almost 50% of waste now being recycled versus the company’s 2020 benchmarks. On the store level, each solar panel installed reduces about 3-7% of consumption form the grid.

Progress over perfection

“We understand that assessing our impact is a continuous process of ambition and refinement. We will track the success of our strategies over the coming years, and periodically review our material topics and stakeholder engagement process. We will set agile goals and targets to help us significantly impact society and the environment in more meaningful ways,” Tanmantiong said.

To make sure that its business operations are in line with the sustainability goals, the Jollibee Group established an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Council in addition to creating a unit devoted to sustainability and adding a Chief Sustainability Officer to its Executive Team.

“Our Global Sustainability Agenda represents our belief system in conducting business more ethically. As a global food company, we are responsible and deliberate with our actions and their impact, and we are making our sustainability measures the way of the future,” added Miñana.

Visit https://jollibeegroup.com/sustainability/ to learn more about the sustainability agenda of the Jollibee Group.

The Jollibee Group continues to honor women by establishing a supportive workplace that enables its female employees to advance and grow all over the world.

Only one Philippine-based business, The Jollibee Group, made Forbes’ initial list of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies in 2021, highlighting the business’ commitment to empowering women and helping them reach their full potential. Women hold the majority of management roles at Jollibee Group in the Philippines.

Numerous female employees have climbed through the ranks and are now in leadership positions within their respective departments, including Cynthia Castro, as a testament to Jollibee Group’s consistent support for women.

As an accountant, Castro joined Jollibee in 1987. She received a promotion to accounting manager for the company’s new ventures after serving as accounting supervisor for the commissary of the company. Before being given the opportunity to advance to the post of Vice President and Finance Head, Castro oversaw the finances for the Jollibee Philippines branch in Northern Luzon.

“I can sum up my professional journey in two words: gratitude and pride,” she said. “Gratitude because they hired me as a fresh graduate in 1987 and they saw my potential to grow in the company, and pride because I work for one of the World’s Best Employers and get to work with the best leaders in the industry. All of this motivated me to do more, be more, and become more.”

In 2022, Castro was among the finalists for the WeQual Awards, which recognizes female leaders in business. She was the sole Filipina cited in the Award’s Asia Pacific-Finance Category.

Thriving in a male-dominated profession

Yoly Chua thrives as a leader in a traditionally male-dominated field: information technology. She is the Vice President and Head of Business Technology for the Jollibee Group’s business in the Philippines and Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEAA).

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Chua was hired in 2016 to help stabilize SAP in the company and led the Information Management Enterprise Business Solutions team. After two years, she was promoted to Information Technology (IT) Head for the Philippine Region. In 2021, Chua was given the task of overseeing and governing EMEAA’s Business Technology function.

“I appreciate the growth opportunities I’ve had in my more than 6 years stay with the company. The values of the people I work with–their unwavering malasakitfor the company, the trust of the management and our teams, and the stewardship of doing what is best for the company inspire me to work harder and continue doing better,” she said.

Chua strongly believes women can shine in any industry or position given the right opportunity. “Women are empathetic and good listeners. Our instinct to protect, care and support our people makes it easier for us to lead effectively,” she said.

Driving culture and engagement

As the human resources manager for Jollibee Worldwide Services, Ruth Angeles started her employment with the Jollibee Group. Later, she was appointed the company’s Red Ribbon and Jollibee business units’ HR director.

Angeles, who is currently Vice President and in her 17th year with the organization, is in charge of the Regional HR Team in the Philippines. She oversees the Global Organization, Leadership and Culture Team at the same time.

Aside from driving culture and engagement in the company, Ruth has also been instrumental in enabling the successful pivot of the HR function and was key in the organization’s transformation, resulting in a much stronger and more resilient workforce post-pandemic. She has likewise been vital in developing and building leaders in boosting organizational capabilities.

“JFC has been helpful in my development as a people manager and HR leader. The company’s devotion to provide career advancement opportunities and inclusive leadership training allows women leaders and employees to excel in their development,” she said.

Castro, Chua, and Angeles are part of a thriving community of female leaders in the Jollibee Group who are helping drive the company’s mission and its journey towards its vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world.

On April 22, 2023, SM Supermalls nationwide joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day along with its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government entities, partner schools, and organizations.

With the slogan “Invest In Our Planet, Invest In Our Youth,” SM Supermalls and SM Cares planned a number of events to educate kids and their families about the value of working together across different industries to protect the environment. 350 employee volunteers and 1700 kids participated in festivities that were timely and meaningful at SM malls across the country. Activities included sustainability tours, coloring, and children’s storytelling. The purpose of these activities was to inspire everyone in the family, especially the children, to appreciate and preserve Mother Earth.

Earth Day is an annual celebration led by the Earth Day Network that puts the spotlight on issues that are affecting the environment. First held in 1970, Earth Day was the result of a need for a unified response against various environmental problems like pollution and resource depletion. Today, the event is considered the biggest environmental movement in the world, with millions joining celebrations every year.

“At SM, every day is Earth Day. However, today we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the planet we live in. We believe that we must all come together and take the necessary steps against this climate crisis and accelerate a greener and more equitable future for everyone,” shared Ms. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment.

SM Supermalls featured the art of multi-awarded Filipino artist, sculptor and illustrator, Manuel Baldemor. His works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and Earth Day poem inspired the Earth Day program at SM, reflecting a long-time partnership on SM Cares programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM’s first eco bags in 2007. 

The storytelling activity featured a special Earth Day story based on Baldemor’s artworks. The story reflected simple ways children can participate in living sustainably on their own and with their families. Meanwhile, kids and kids-at-heart were welcomed at the coloring activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of Baldemor’s drawings to color in. Malls used recycled materials in designing the activity areas.

And to cap off the celebration, a sustainability tour was held wherein everyone participated in a guided tour to one or more of the mall’s eco-friendly facilities such as the EV charging stations, water recycling treatment plants, waste segregation bins, Plastic Waste Collection booths, E-waste Collection bins and various bicycle amenities.

To highlight the role of collaborating with the public sector in driving environmental programs forward, SM City Fairview hosted the DENR Gawad Taga-ilog Awards photo exhibit, which recognized winning local government units who are leading in protecting Metro Manila’s waterways. The agency also further provided 800 tree seedlings to participants and customers through a DENR Community Pan-TREE to encourage at SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City Marikina, SM City East Ortigas and SM Southmall.

The Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department also promoted the city’s Trash to Cashback program to encourage its citizens to be Eco Warriors and promote recycling.

The Earth Day celebration is just one of the numerous ways that SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the company has other programs aimed at helping care for the environment. These are the Trash to Cash Recycling Market held every first Friday and Saturday of the month; daily water recycling systems, and environmental campaigns such as the Green Film Festival, Green Retail Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup Drive, just to name a few.

The corporate social responsibility division of SM Prime Holdings, known as SM Cares, is in charge of programs that advance sustainability and community growth. In addition to its activities on the environment, SM Cares also advocates for women and breastfeeding mothers, people with disabilities, senior citizens, children, and youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative.

Visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares for more details.

The effects of increased urbanization pose a threat to Metro Manila’s predicted status as a world power. Climate change, natural disasters that impair urban infrastructure and city competitiveness, unequal livability, job creation, and poverty reduction are some of the effects listed by UN-Habitat.

Does there exist a solution to Metro Manila’s problems? Chintan Raveshia, an architect and urban designer, and Tony Chan, an urban planner and sustainability consultant at Arup in Singapore, underline that while planning an urban area, citizens’ goals, changing requirements and expectations, and national identity should all be taken into account.

Finding the identity of the city

Raveshia inspires responsible stakeholders to ask themselves first the most fundamental question: “What’s the identity of the city and how do we make its residents proud?”

He quips, “Singapore, a city that is high on everyone’s liveability list, is also working with citizens and grass roots organizations to inculcate a sense of ‘lovability’ for the city. This helps to strengthen the societal bond, increase equity, improve community safety, and exude pride and a feeling of ownership of the city amongst the residents. The balance of liveability, efficiency, and lovability paves the way for a true success of our cities in this climate emergency era”.

For his part, Chan believes that a successful sustainable urban development goes hand in hand with the capability to enhance people’s quality of life.[RKRC1]  “We must develop and harness models of development that have low-carbon targets, which are also of a human scale, thriving and inclusive; models that are also just, secured and enhances the quality of life for all its residents. In addition, we should look at creative ways to increase local citizen participation as well as new technologies or products that can support the overarching vision and development objectives”, says Chan.

If Singapore reclaims lands for more affordable housing and increased integrated city developments and Melbourne builds accessible green spaces to promote social interaction, what plans would best fit Metro Manila’s sustainable and livable future while maintaining its identity? Here are five urban development aspirations Filipinos hope for the country’s main political and economic hub.

1. Accessibility across all social classes

While Metro Manila is the Philippines’ major economic driver – accounting for 32% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – it’s often challenged in sustaining accessible living conditions for residents across all social classes. UK-based The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Metro Manila 105th out of 139 cities in the Global Liveability Index 2022. The increasing population density in Metro Manila has resulted in some inconveniences in daily conditions like vehicular traffic situations, least green open spaces, high carbon footprint, inaccessibility to affordable housing, and unequal income opportunities.

Urban planners and developers suggest mixed-use planning in the metropolis and coastal developments because they are crucial to achieving the 15-minute concept. Here, residents across all walks of life are encouraged to live a healthy, affordable, and sustainable lifestyle because residential, commercial, and office spaces are integrated within a single development.

2. Open green spaces for a healthy and sustainable living environment

Studies shows that Metro Manila has only 5 square meters of green space available per person, this number is well below the 9 square meters set by the World Health Organization.COVID-19 had the entire world reassess their health conditions, lifestyle practices, and environmental situations. The impact was even more drastic in Metro Manila due to population density, crowded space, and insufficient parks and open areas.

Aside from improving air quality and enhancing biodiversity, green spaces also moderate temperatures during the warm season.

3. Enhancing Human health and wellbeing

Cities with sufficient healthcare facilities, access to health coverage, and infrastructures that enhance well-being and promote a healthy lifestyle, produce prosperous societies.

The way cities are planned, designed, and executed has a crucial impact on how people live as it presents opportunities and effects on their lifestyles and overall well-being. While there is evident progress in Metro Manila’s health sector, rapid urbanization continues to pose risks in communities due to challenges in overcrowded neighborhoods, vehicular emissions, heavy traffic, pollution, and flood-prone areas.

4. Resilient community

Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to adapt, survive, and grow in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require it. Relevant dimensions under the City Resilience Index (https://www.cityresilienceindex.org) by the Rockefeller Foundation & Arup, other dimensions include Health & Well Being, Economy & Society, Infrastructure & Environment as well as Leadership & Strategy

As Philippines and Manila grows, we face a dual challenge of adapting to climate change and the need to alter development strategies that are increasingly contributing to global warming. Philippines is among the top 10 countries in the world most affected by climate change in the past 20 years, according to the Global Climate Risk Index As an archipelago, impacts resulting from climate change are immense. In addition, metro Manila’s safety and resilience are endangered by various natural disasters.

Natural disasters persist every season due to our geographical location.

Well-planned and executed urban designs have the power to build safe and resilient communities in Metro Manila.  Infrastructures like proper bike lanes and walkable streets ensure residents’ safety, accessibility, and comfort, whereas science and technology-based solutions that can build flexible structures, multi-use systems, and technologies can help residents adapt and prepare for changing conditions.

5. Global and competitive city

Metro Manila is one of Asia’s premier regions. As the country’s engine growth driver, it has growing investments in infrastructures and multitudes of business investments and developments.

The metropolis’ rising potential can further step up by following global models like Singapore, Melbourne, and Hong Kong which created several integrated cities and coastal developments that ushered in a vibrant economy and paved for a better urban lifestyle. These visions create an avenue to further increase opportunities for jobs, better education, better lifestyle, and bustling economic activities.

These can contribute to the Philippines’ national and local economies by driving tourism and infrastructure development while also creating equitable and inclusive communities. These, in turn, create a wider room of opportunities and, therefore, attracts more talent.

Building inclusive and sustainable growth centers

Communities will be revitalized when introduced to well-designed, master-planned, and implemented initiatives if all stakeholders are heard and taken into account. Because it encourages more inclusive growth and makes the urban environment an extension of their homes, this will have a long-term effect on Metro Manila’s future and its citizens.

A city is moving toward competitiveness and unlocked future potential when it accepts its history, celebrates its landmarks, innovates and adopts for the future, and most importantly, nourishes its citizens and responds to their desires.

How about you? What do you want your city to be like?

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To advance the Philippines’ quest of sustainable development, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) have cooperated.

Through a scholarship grant, SM Prime wants to help select deserving students finish their undergraduate degrees in sustainability-focused courses like Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology (BSHE) and Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF).

The scholarship, which will be given to students from low-income families in Pasay City, aims to improve employment chances and contribute to the reduction of poverty and inequality, two fundamental barriers to sustainable development.

Collaboration for innovation and sustainability

In an interview, UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho, Jr. shared his optimism about the partnership, citing the impact of education, especially sustainability-related fields of studies, in social and economic mobility.

“The scholarship will enable more students to pursue their studies in areas related to sustainability such as environmental science, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. By investing in education in these areas, we are preparing a new generation of leaders who will have the knowledge and skills to address the complex environmental and social challenges facing our world today,” Dr. Camacho said.

“It will encourage research and development in areas related to sustainability. By providing support for students to pursue advanced studies, we are creating a pipeline of future researchers and innovators who can develop solutions to pressing environmental and social problems,” he added.

Aside from enabling students to pursue their education without financial burden, the UPLB chancellor believes that the scholarship can produce competent leaders capable of solving complex environmental and social challenges, and create a pipeline of innovative researchers.

He further stressed how fostering collaborations and innovation in sustainability between the academic community and the private sector can lead to new environmentally and socially responsible products, technologies, and services that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ripples of social good

SM Prime AVP and Head of Marketing, PR, and Communications Rida Reyes Castillo shared that the partnership between SM Prime and UPLB is a testament to the shared commitment of both institutions towards promoting sustainability and creating a better future for the next generation.

By supporting the education of would-be scholars, SM Prime hopes to create ripples of social good within families and communities, ultimately contributing to the development of a more sustainable and equitable society.

“Improving the well-being of its partner communities and investing in people’s growth have long been among SM Prime’s sustainability pillars woven at the core of its business strategies and operations. As such, SM Prime deems it important to create programs that would provide access to quality education for all, and in the long term, create a pool of proactive human resources who can responsibly carry out and balance the economic, social and environmental aspects of a society’s sustainable development aspirations,” Castillo said.

“SM Prime believes UPLB would be the best partner to support its sustainability initiatives in promoting a conducive learning environment while honing new Iskolars ng Bayan leaders committed to knowledge creation and public service,” she also said.

Students from Pasay City enrolled in UPLB’s BSHE and BSF programs having a gross family income of no more than PhP150,000 are eligible for the SM Prime Sustainability Scholarship.

Interested candidates can reach the UPLB OSG by phone at +63 49 536 3209 or email at [email protected] for additional information.