– Snacks Company Partners with HOPE Philippines to host inaugural coastal clean-up
– The effort aims to support the Extended Producer Responsibility Law
LEADING snacking company Mondelez Philippines held its first-ever coastal clean-up volunteer program at the picturesque Las Pinas-Parañaque Wetland Park as part of its commitment to sustainability.
In partnership with the non-profit HOPE Philippines, the initiative is a part of the company’s efforts to support the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, promoting environmental consciousness, and helping minimize marine debris. The initiative also supports its goal of achieving 100% plastic neutrality, which it committed earlier this year.
A number of employee volunteers participated in the joint endeavor, which aims to create an impact on the marine ecosystem inside the Wetland Park. The activity included Mark Allen Besa, the head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Parañaque City; Caitlin Punzalan, the Corporate and Government Affairs Lead for Mondelez Philippines; and Meg Anne Santos, Senior Sustainability Campaign Manager at Plastic Credit Exchange, Mondelez Philippines’ partner in plastic waste diversion.
Leading The Future of Sustainability
“As a company deeply invested in the well-being of our communities and environment, Mondelez Philippines is proud to participate in this coastal cleanup,” Punzalan said, expressing enthusiasm for this endeavor. “Our mission is to promote sustainable snacking in our community in addition to helping address the pressing problem of marine litter by highlighting the importance of proper waste management.”
In its quest to promote sustainability, Mondelez Philippines has taken steps to use less packaging, better packaging, and help improve waste collection and diversion systems in the country. This year alone, Mondelez Philippines has pledged to collect and divert 100% of its post-consumer plastic packaging, ahead of the requirements of the EPR Law. It has also established a plastic recycling facility within its home City of Paranaque in celebration of its 60th year in the Philippines.
“We believe that group efforts have great power,” Punzalan continued, “Working with HOPE Philippines and PCX, as well as our local City Government enhances our influence by uniting like-minded people and organizations to generate positive change.”
A Collective Civic Responsibility
The cleanup effort in Las Pinas-Parañaque Wetland Park helped collect 184 kilos of waste, including mostly plastic packaging. This activity helps demonstrate Mondelez Philippines’ commitment to helping create a circular economy where plastic is viewed not as waste but as a valuable resource, and should be collected properly and diverted through recycling or upcycling. The company is working with numerous partners to help create a cleaner, more sustainable future, and this coastal clean-up is only one of them.
