Coca-Cola and Eco Rangers improving communities with Blastik Project

The Philippines’ plastic recycling rate stands at only 28% according to a 2018 report by the National Solid Waste Management Commission. Of the 2.7 million tons of waste generated annually, a staggering 9,000 tons end up in landfills or at sea due to a lack of recycling facilities and improper disposal of waste. 

 

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to use disposables and rely more on ecommerce to get their essentials, the use of plastic became even more prevalent. To mitigate an impending waste crisis, improved collection and recycling of plastic have become even more critical. 

Reducing the amount of plastic that reaches the landfills and the oceans is a key priority for Coca-Cola Philippines as aligned with its World Without Waste vision, where they aim to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle they sell by 2030. 

The Blastik Project began as a component of a project launched in 2019 by the Philippines-based NGO Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI). The project piloted a village-scale plastic recycling center funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the international philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, with the aim of boosting environmental awareness, providing livelihoods and financial assistance, and recycling more plastic. 

 

After the project’s successful pilot run, Coca-Cola Philippines – through its social investment arm Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines – took over the financing of the partnership with a grant that runs from 2020 until 2023 with PeacePond – an organization that advocates solid waste management, organic and natural farming, education, culture and the arts, livelihood opportunities, and women and child empowerment, taking the lead in sustaining and expanding the project. The continuation of the Blastik Project hopes to unlock and share this value to more people both in cities and in the countryside.  

 

A Vehicle for Change 

 

The PeacePond Farmers Association (PFA) in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, is the main proponent of the Blastik Project in communities. These farmers’, or as they call themselves, the Blastik Eco Rangers, main responsibility is to educate and empower the community about proper waste segregation, recycling, and livelihoods through community workshops/webinars and ensure the proper implementation of the project. PeacePond, through the Blastik Project, aims to educate and empower the communities on proper waste segregation, recycling, and livelihood.

 

Among the beneficiaries of the project are Jo Guanco, a 53-year-old solid waste management advocate and the secretary of the PeacePond Farmers Association, and Junjun Gantes, a 54-year-old PeacePond farmer. 

 

Jo and Junjun have been part of the Blastik Project since 2019. The initiative helped them understand the value of collecting and recycling used and clean plastic bottles. As Blastik Eco Rangers, they look at these used recyclable plastic bottles not as trash but as materials that can be used over and over again. Recyclable plastic bottles, as they have seen in the past years working on the Blastik Project, are seen as a versatile, lightweight material and, therefore, can be collected, recycled and used repeatedly. With this new way of looking at used collected plastic bottles as a valuable resource material, Blastik Project was able to open more livelihood opportunities for the people in their community – ultimately, giving them another source of income and way of putting food on their tables. 

 

“Sa Blastik Project po, itinuturo namin ang importansya ng segregation at recycling sa aming mga kapitbahay at kalapit na mga barangay. Kami po ang naka-assign na mangolekta at nakipag coordinate sa mga barangay para sa schedule ng pagkolekta at kung minsan ang mga offices na ng barangay ang kumukontak sa amin para kunin ang plastic bottles dahil alam na po nila ang tungkol saBlastik Project,” shares Blastik Eco Ranger, Jo Guanco. 

(With the Blastik Project, we’re able to impart our knowledge and educate our neighbors and people from nearby barangays on the importance of waste segregation and recycling. As a Blastik Eco Ranger, I manage and assign the schedule of recyclable collection per area. There are also instances where the barangay proactively contacts us to schedule the pick-up in their area.)

 

Through the Blastik Project, plastic bottles and caps are collected and upcycled into wall tiles, desks, chairs, kitchen cabinets, bowls, plant pots, home décor and more. Some PET bottles, mixed with sachets and plastic bags, are turned into pavers for footwalks and garden footpaths. Other PET bottles were transformed into free-standing walls for six structures in PeacePond while some are used for bottle gardens in the organic farm. Plastic labels are turned into handcrafted wallets, purses, bags, gadget pouches, laptop sleeves and even face mask cases. 

 

“Malaking tulong rin po ang Blastik Project (at Coca-Cola) sa aking pamilya, lalo sa pang araw-araw naming pamumuhay. Dahil dun sa organic garden, nakakakuha kami ng gulay na maaaring ipakain sa aming mga pamilya at binabahagi rin namin ito sa aming mga kapitbahay at kapwa Eco Rangers.” shares Blastik Eco Ranger and PeacePond farmer, Junjun Gantes. 

 

(The Blastik Project [and Coca-Cola] greatly helped my family, especially in supporting our daily needs. Through the organic garden in our backyard, we’re able to get fresh produce that we can cook for our family, and we also share the excess vegetables to our neighbors and other Eco Rangers like us.)

 

The Blastik Project is rapidly expanding because the program is effective and easy to replicate. In fact, the initiative is being replicated in several communities including, but not limited to, over 600 beneficiaries from Bakyas Community in Oringao, Kabankalan, Ellite Ads Corp. Paranaque, and Ellite Ads Corp. Carmona. The Blastik Project also has active partnerships with Seda Hotel in Bacolod City and Southland College in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.  

 

A Promising Future 

 

Even with the challenges presented by the pandemic, the Blastik Project has collected, processed and recycled approximately 15,422 kilos (or a little more than 17 tons) of mixed bottles, bottle caps, sachets, and plastic labels.

 

Coca-Cola is a company known for its innovation, whether in product development, brand building, or facilitating positive change in the community. As the world evolves and modernizes, opportunities for environmental protection and innovation also arise. With projects like the Blastik Project and over 40 more zero-waste communities supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, communities are increasingly seeing the value of plastic waste segregation and recycling. 

 

 “We are happy and excited about the Blastik Project’s initial success,” shares Cecile Alcantara, president of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines. “The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines will continue to partner with like-minded organizations and communities, supporting initiatives towards a world without waste.” 

 

Read more about the World Without Waste vision of Coca-Cola and their initiatives here https://www.coca-colacompany.com/reports/business-environmental-social-governance-report-2020 and watch the Coca-Cola and Blastik Project partnership HERE. To get updated on what Coca-Cola is doing in the Philippines, follow the Facebook official page.

 

Coca-Cola is reappropriating ‘Kababae mong tao…’ by re-telling and re-casting the narrative in an inspiring way

For most Filipinas, the phrase ‘Kababae mong tao…’ is a statement that they have probably heard at least once in their lives. It’s a seemingly harmless remark that aims to put them in their place, a reprimand that tells them what they should and should not do. And while society has over time become more progressive, we still have a long way to go in addressing this deeply-ingrained and unconscious discrimination – one that inhibits women from realizing their full potential.

Sari-sari store owners, one of the featured women in Coca-Cola Philippines’ Kababae Mong Tao film, represent the women micro-retailers whose efforts are seen as small and invalid. These women are supported by Coca-Cola Philippines through STAR program, as aligned in the 5by20 global initiative, that aims to economically empower more women through livelihood and financial assistance

 

Coca-Cola Philippines believes that the place of a woman is anywhere and anything she wants to be. And this Women’s Month in the Philippines, Coca-Cola is reappropriating ‘Kababae mong tao…’ by re-telling and re-casting the narrative in an inspiring way. Coca-Cola’s simple yet powerful online film advocates for uplifting women and fighting against gender biases. The film features women from different walks of life who choose to challenge societal norms by showing how their perceived ‘faults’ are actually their strengths. As such, the film celebrates the very traits that make them who they are whether it is a ‘brusko’ drummer, a ‘palaban’ photojournalist, and more. 

One of the women in the story is the ‘loud’ carinderia cook, a woman who tirelessly calls to passersby as she sells her dishes to provide for her family. The carinderia owner represents many other women with untapped entrepreneurial potential whose ventures are sometimes seen as small and insignificant. Within their homes, they are also oftentimes relegated to the role of housekeeper and caretaker because of the outdated belief that it’s their duty as women. 

 

Contrary to common assumptions, businesses like sari-sari stores and carinderias actually make up a whopping 88% of the total MSMEs in the country, with women contributing to 35%-40% to the Philippine economy.

 

Recognising the important role of women in society and in the economy, Coca-Cola set a decade ago its ambitious “5by20” global goal of economically empowering 5 million women entrepreneurs by 2020. Localizing this goal to the needs of Pinays, Coca-Cola Philippines partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to create the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program – a comprehensive program designed to unleash the potential of women micro-entrepreneurs.

 

The STAR Program begins with a gender sensitivity module designed to help women understand that they are free to go beyond the roles placed upon them by society or by their families. This important module shows them who they can be beyond ‘mother’ or ‘wife’ and inspires them to pursue their ambitions and aspirations.  

 Coca-Cola Philippines has always been a key mover of women empowerment, from providing more economic opportunities to micro-retailers to providing growth opportunities to its associates. Recently, Coca-Cola Philippines was awarded with the Gender-inclusive Workplace and Community and Industry Engagement Award during the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards. This award giving body recognizes exemplary business practices for gender equality aligned to the UN Women, UN Global Compact’s WEPs, and the Sustainable Development goals. 

 

Once this seed of confidence has been sown, the trainees flourish further with modules that tackle simple yet effective practices that allow their businesses to grow. 

 

The 5by20 initiative of Coca-Cola also goes beyond the STAR Program, with off-shoot programs like Women’s REACH, a program created to assist overseas Filipino worker (OFW) women in their economic reintegration upon returning to the country; and STAR Rebuild, an initiative that focuses on supporting the rehabilitation of micro-enterprises in disaster affected areas. 

 

With the pandemic’s impact on businesses and livelihoods across all sectors, Coca-Cola also launched its OFW Re-Integration through Skills and Entrepreneurship Program or OFW RISE  program which equips repatriated overseas Filipinos with entrepreneurial skills and capital necessary to start their own businesses, and its Rebuilding Sari-Sari Stores Through Access to Resources and Trade or ReSTART program which provides safety educational materials, products and much-needed capital to help them recover and restart their businesses in the new normal.

 

Coca-Cola’s commitment to gender parity also extends to its own associates. Since 2019, Coca-Cola Philippines achieved its goal of 50-50 gender parity across all levels of management, with 57% of the local senior leadership roles held by women. At the same time, an increasing number of women have been taking on previously male-dominated positions and departments in its manufacturing plants. This increase in female plant managers, engineers, logistics officers, and leaders is a testament to the commitment of Coca-Cola Philippines in enabling women empowerment, diversity and inclusivity in the Philippines. Recently, Coca-Cola was awarded with the Gender-inclusive Workplace and Community and Industry Engagement Award during the UN Women 2020 Asia-Pacific Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards. This award-giving body recognizes exemplary business practices for gender equality aligned to the UN Women, UN Global Compact’s WEPs, and the UN’s Sustainable Development goals. 

 

To further its commitment to gender and diversity, Coca-Cola also recently signed the United Nations’ Women Empowerment Principles that offers guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace, and the community.

 

Since 2010, Coca-Cola Philippines has believed in the dreams of women and the company’s various 5by20 programs have helped to positively transform the lives of 244,207 Filipina entrepreneurs in 81 provinces. With Coca-Cola having now met and exceeded its 5by20 goals locally and globally Coca-Cola Philippines aims to go beyond and empower even more Filipinas in this new decade and beyond.

 

Join in the celebration of Women’s Month with Coca-Cola Philippines and see how these empowered women choose to challenge the #KababaeMongTao statements in society. Watch the film here and share your own story of how you broke away from unconscious gender bias.

 

To learn more about the women economic empowerment vision of Coca-Cola, visit https://www.coca-colacompany.com/shared-future/women-empowerment. 

US Government presented Award for Corporate Excellence to Coca Cola Phils.

In photo: U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg (center) turns over a plaque of recognition to representatives of The Coca-Cola System, Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications (right) and Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Director of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines (left) for the U.S. State Department’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), 12 December at Sofitel Philippine Plaza.  ACE is presented in recognition of the company’s exemplary corporate citizenship, innovation, and distinguished contributions to the overall growth and sustainable development of the local economy in the Philippines.

In a ceremony held December 12, 2014 United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg presented the Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) to Coca-Cola Philippines for its efforts in the relief and rehabilitation of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Receiving the plaque of recognition on behalf of Coca-Cola Philippines is Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications.

ACE, which began in 1999, was created by the State Department to recognize the role businesses play as a ‘positive force in the world’ and further corporate social responsibility, innovation, exemplary practices, and democratic values worldwide. Companies from the US are nominated by Chiefs of Mission worldwide and chosen based on the consensus of the Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs, a representative of the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Global Affairs, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

The award was presented to the Coca-Cola Philippines for its holistic and sustainable approach in responding to communities impacted by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  In November 2013, Leyte and nearby provinces in Central Visayas suffered major damage from the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Coca-Cola was one of the first companies to respond to the crisis by donating $2.5 million from its global office for various relief and humanitarian efforts. The following month, it suspended all advertising for Christmas and rechanneled the resources towards the same cause. Coca-Cola also launched partnerships with the Philippine Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity for a nationwide call to raise donations and pool volunteers.

In addition to providing disaster relief services, immediately after the typhoon Coca-Cola realigned its core sustainability programs that can positively impact the lives of affected families to help them get back on their feet. These sustainability programs are focused on addressing basic community needs such as water, nutrition and education.

Chief among the Coca-Cola sustainability programs implemented in affected areas are the Agos Ram Pump water project, which is installed and operational in 50 communities nationwide. Coca-Cola was able to help improve water quality and increase the number of families with access to safe water, especially those families in relocation sites.

To help address malnutrition among school children, the NutriJuice program was implemented, a total of 35,000 school children from various public elementary schools were provided with iron fortified NutriJuice for a continuous 120 days.

While in order to help restore access to basic education, more than 300 classrooms were also built in remote rural areas through the Little Red Schoolhouse project. The recently turned over Little Red Schoolhouse in Marasbaras Elementary School, a six-classroom, two-story building will be used by more than 300 students in grades five and six.

In addition to addressing core community needs, Coca-Cola also provided mechanisms to address the need to revive the livelihood of families. This was done by dovetailing rehabilitation efforts to their 5by20 Program – a Coca-Cola global program designed to provide an enabling environment to economically empower women micro-entrepreneurs. Right after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Coca-Cola immediately deployed kiosks, coolers and product bundles to its partner sari-sari stores in order to help restore and jumpstart their livelihood, reaching about 1,000 stores in the provinces of Leyte and Samar. Likewise, Coca-Cola joined forces with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other private sector in a bid to rehabilitate livelihood of another 1,000 women micro-entrepreneurs by rebuilding their sari-sari store structure and providing them to access to product inventory in order to restart their small businesses.

While in partnership with the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Coca-Cola implemented a Bridge Loan program to 3,000 women who have lost their sari-sari store livelihood to the typhoon. A total of 5,000 women with their families benefitted in the 5by20 Program, this initiative have been able to help ensure that there is a steady flow of consumer goods in the community – a very crucial aspect in disaster stricken communities.

These initiatives were implemented through Coca-Cola’s partnership with the USAID, Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., Department of Education, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and local government units, among others.

“By realigning our core community programs in areas impacted by Haiyan and through partnerships with equally passionate organizations, we believe we can make these initiatives sustainable. Our call has always been to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities because we believe that we can only be as sustainable as the communities we proudly serve,” said Atty. Adel Tamano.

The Coca-Cola Company, a member of the US-Philippines Society Board of Directors, is one of three companies to win the Secretary of State's 2014 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). The ACE is given to exceptional American companies for their leadership and commitment to innovation, responsible practices, and positive contributions to local economies where they do business. The ACE award this year had nine finalists that included Chevron Corporation in Burma, Contour Global in Togo, GE International, Inc. in Tunisia, GlassPoint Solar in Oman, and The Linden Centre in China. The other ACE winners are EcoPlanet Bamboo Group in Nicaragua and Wagner Asia Equipment in Mongolia.

Bon Appetit for The Best Food Forward now on its 4th year at the Rockwell

For the food lovers like me, get ready for the bustling food scene as the Best Food Forward brings you the best food fair happening this coming October 11-12 at the Rockwell Tent, Makati.  Prepare your palate and camera for you will get the best of both, bite after bite, post after post.  This fair is worth instagramming believe me as they launched the Best Food Forward  on its 4th year at The Blackboard last September 27, 2014, and presented to the media some of the best newcomers in the food industry and the best thing is that we get to taste the food that they offered, and we came home satisfied. That is why I encourage everyone to go and take a bite, as this food fair marks its 4th year at its new venue, with celebrity chef appearances, celebrity guests and many more.

Indeed, there is more to food than meets the eye at Best Food Forward.  It has the power to continue bringing kith and kin together, convert strangers into friends, gather the food industry’s who’s who, and at the same time, happily give newcomers an avenue to be discovered in the bustling food scene. And from a meager 2-day attraction for a few hundred people during its very first staging in 2011, Best Food Forward is sure to surpass its attendance of over 6,000 food-lovers for its 4th year! With various specialty food stalls, innovative cooking demonstrations,  family attractions,  and many more, its vibe and atmosphere will definitely make this event the most memorable to date – one that surely can’t be missed!

Best Food Forward is co-presented by Carnation and Kewpie. It has also partnered with Coca-Cola Philippines, Center for Culinary Arts Manila, Marmalade Kitchen, Good Life, Clara Ole, Lee Kum Kee, San Remo, Tabasco, Elba, Sun Cellular, E-Plus, Make Believe Productions and Grab Taxi.  Media partners include Appetite, Food, Breakfast, BusinessWorld, ClicktheCity.com, WhenInManila.com, Herword.com, Crossover 105.1, Nuffnang, and Outcomm. This year’s beneficiaries will be various flood victims. For more information, please call 0917.8871933, 0920.9148175 or 701.1398, and like Best Food Forward on Facebook.