GMA Network and Nestlé Philippines partners to engage more Filipinos in building a movement for environmental sustainability

"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is a popular environmental slogan that encourages people to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment.

By following the three R's, individuals can significantly reduce their impact on the environment and help preserve natural resources for future generations. 

 

The plastic waste crisis has been a longstanding environmental problem in the country largely due to the gaps in solid waste management (SWM) systems, including recovery, segregation, and recycling. According to the World Bank, 2.7 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the Philippines each year. We also have one of the highest rates of mismanaged plastic waste globally, resulting in plastics ending up as litter and in landfills, and eventually leaking into bodies of water. 

 

As a way to help address this, GMA Network and Nestlé Philippines forged a partnership for the planet with the aim to promote proper SWM and engage more Filipinos in building a movement for environmental sustainability through educational content. One of its highlights is the launch of the Kalikasanovela series starring SPARKLE artists.

SPARKLE Artists Allen Ansay, Sofia Pablo, Ruru Madrid, and Bianca Umali, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines Jose Uy III, and Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of GMA Network Angel Javier Cruz answer questions from the media during GMA Network and Nestle Philippines’ Kalikasanovela Launch event.

Through four 30-second videos, GMA and Nestlé PH tapped on the Filipinos’ love of entertainment and storytelling to communicate the importance of the 3Rs—reducing, reusing and recycling plastic waste—and inspire consumers to embrace their role as stewards for the planet.
 

“Today marks a milestone as we launch Kalikasanovela, a fusion of our love for storytelling with our love for the environment. It is our belief in GMA that we need a concerted and cooperative effort to save our Earth and keep it livable. This is why our partnership with Nestle is very significant for us. With our complementary strengths and the same vision, we hope to encourage as many Filipinos to be more responsible in their everyday living and be kinder to our environment,” said Angel Javier Cruz, Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of GMA Network.

@lola_lamon @sofiapablo and @Allen Ansay for #KalikasanNovela #sustainability #zeroemission ♬ original sound - Lou Sv

 

Each Kalikasanovela episode makes use of a well-loved Filipino movie and TV series genre to tell a short story about plastic waste. It also shows Nestlé PH’s initiatives and milestones in addressing the plastic waste crisis, including upcycling sachets into school chairs, reducing plastic in their product packaging, collecting and diverting over 60 million kilos of plastic waste from the environment, and educating its employees to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics in their homes.

 

In celebration of Earth Day, GMA Network and Nestlé Philippines launched the Kalikasanovela last April 17, 2023, wherein– together with Sparkle artists Bianca Umali, Ruru Madrid, and Sofia Pablo who starred in Kalikasanovelaepisodes Katok, Ibaon, and Sirena, respectively talked about their experiences and learnings from participating in the project.

 

“As artists, it’s our responsibility to use our platforms influence for good, especially when it comes to matters concerning the environment. Being part of the Kalikasanovela series is my way of doing this—by helping spread awareness about the plastic waste problem in the Philippines,” said Bianca Umali.

 

For Ruru Madrid, it’s not enough to just talk about these advocacies, you also have to practice what you preach. “Understanding that if all of us will do small acts to reduce, reuse, and recycle can have a big positive impact on the environment. I know we can do it. We just have to start now.”

 

“Instead of using single-use plastics when I eat out or shop, I bring reusable items to reduce my consumption,” Sofia Pablo shared. “There are many alternatives to single-use plastics that are readily available in the market from water bottles and utensils to shopping bags. It’s up to us to make that choice to help our planet in our own little ways.”

 

Other SPARKLE artists who starred in the series include Sanya Lopez for Paalam, and Allen Ansay for Sirena. You can watch all Kalikasanovela episodes on GMA 7 and the digital platforms of GMA and Nestlé Philippines.

 

“We thank GMA Network for sharing our vision of a waste-free future. Our goal for the Kalikasanovela series and this partnership as a whole is to inspire more Filipinos to be part of the solution in addressing the plastic waste problem even in ways as simple as reusing, reducing and recycling plastic waste. We have to remember, tayo ang bida sa ating kwentong pangkalikasan. Together, we have what it takes to create a better world and shape a waste-free future for our children and for generations to come,” said Jose Uy III, SVP & Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines.

 

Last year, 400 GMA employees, including SPARKLE artists, joined sustainability workshops, and volunteered in coastal cleanup and tree growing activities together with Nestlé PH employees and other partners such as the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 

Capturing and Storing GHG Emissions to Mitigate Climate Change

A new report by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) emphasized the need for the world to reduce 45% of emissions within the next eight years in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. Transformational change across industries, governments, and society as a whole is key to making this a reality.

However, rampant deforestation doesn’t help this situation as trees that absorb carbon dioxide and regulate climate are being cut down. In the Philippines, data shows that over the last 100 years, around 10 million hectares of forests were lost due overexploitation, extensive agricultural and infrastructure expansion, and the growing impacts of climate change. As of 2020, the country’s forest cover is at 7.226 million hectares or 24.2% of the total land area, far from the ideal percentage of forest cover for tropical countries which is 54%.

There is no pathway to 1.5°C without a near immediate halt to deforestation and significant restoration of forests and natural ecosystems. 

Carbon offsetting vs. insetting

One of the primary drivers of deforestation and the loss and degradation of habitat and biodiversity is agriculture. As such, stakeholders linked to agricultural and food value chains are uniquely placed to generate change and take action towards reversing these trends in the landscapes where they produce and/or source from. 

One thing that food and beverage companies can do is to initiate reforestation efforts e.g.  tree planting and growing efforts within their own sourcing landscape. Reforestation programs can be classified into two broad categories: offsetting and insetting. With carbon offsetting projects, companies plant trees in a location/s different from where their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originate and unrelated to their value chain to compensate for their climate impact.

On the other hand, companies with carbon insetting projects apply, for example, agroforestry principles and take a forest restoration approach by reforesting areas within their own supply chains and immediate surroundings where their raw materials are grown and harvested to remove GHG from the atmosphere. 

Lanao del Sur Reforestation Project

Fulfilling its role as Kasambuhay ng Kalikasan (partner of the planet), Nestlé has launched the Lanao del Sur Reforestation Project in partnership with One Tree Planted and EcoPlanet Bamboo as part of its carbon insetting efforts. This aims to plant and grow 2.5 million native bamboo seedlings and 1.2 million indigenous forest trees across 5,000 hectares in Lanao del Sur by 2024. The project aims to sequester an estimated 4.1 million tons of CO2e over a 10-year period. 

This reforestation effort supports Nestlé's goal to plant and grow 200 million trees by 2030. It also forms part of the company’s plan to scale up actions in regenerative agriculture and deploy natural climate solutions to absorb greenhouse gases and contribute to achieving Nestlé’s Net-Zero target by 2050.

“We are restoring the natural landscape from both the bamboo side as well as indigenous trees to help bring the forest back," said Sam Wilde, VP of Forestry EcoPlanet.

At the same time, Nestlé continues to help farmers plant coffee trees in Sultan Kudarat province also in Mindanao and train them in the basics of regenerative agriculture. These activities are part of the Nescafé Plan, a long-term program to assist smallholder coffee farmers in growing yields and incomes, and eventually become agripreneurs attaining a quality of life beyond subsistence. 

Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said: “By accelerating and consolidating reforestation actions, Nestlé will contribute to the Philippines' sustainable development objectives through the protection and management of our environment and national resources.”

“Two thirds of the world’s emissions come from the very activity that gives us food - agriculture.  Clearly, regenerative agriculture and reforestation are courses of action we must take to help achieve net zero GHG emissions,” said Nestlé Philippines SVP and Corporate Affairs Head Jose Uy III.

Visit Corporate Giveaways at the SMX Convention Center on July 9-11

GIFT-GIVING STILL A GOOD MARKETING INVESTMENT

Is your PR budget being “realigned?” Before you trim or worse, scrap your budget for corporate gifts, think again.

Shrugging off corporate gift-giving as an unnecessary expense may be one of the biggest branding mistakes you can make. With ever-increasing competition across all sectors and industries, that little token might just be the final push that your brand needs to get its message across.
A restricted budget is simply an invitation to explore your creativity. Rather than just considering the cost, think about the perceived value of an item, anticipate the needs of the recipient, or even re-think the packaging for a more customized look. Most importantly, make sure whatever you’re giving reflects well on your brand.

Sounds complicated? Not really. Simplify your life and find what you need by visiting Corporate Giveaways 2014 at the SMX Convention Center on July 9-11, 2014.

The Corporate Giveaway Buyers’ Show on Business Gifts, Premiums, Promotional Ideas and Merchandise Incentives is an annual event held every July to help companies prepare for holiday and year-round gift-giving needs. This event will definitely be beneficial for Purchasing Marketing, Advertising and PR professionals, along with business owners, event managers, wedding planners, and the like as suppliers of quality and creative gift items will all be gathered under one roof.
“At Corporate Giveaways, the customers come directly to the suppliers.  There is the intent and goal to place and order as opposed to suppliers going on cold calls, interrupting customers’ busy business days, just for a 20% success rate,” explains Raquel Romero, President and General Manager of Worldexco, organizers of CG2014.

No need to travel far and wide to search for unique giveaways for Christmas or other major events.  No need to waste on transportation expense and valuable time that could be devoted to other pressing business matters when you just mark your calendars on July every year for this particular task.  And what’s even better, admission is FREE (but limited to adults ages 18 and above).
“At this business fair, we don’t encourage our exhibitors to retail during the show as this might get in the way of a big order.  We give them tips on how to display their items and showcase to the visitors how their products can be good corporate gifts. More than huge crowds, we would rather focus on getting the right visitors to the show. Quality over quantity “adds Romero citing advantages to exhibitors.

“We understand that not all corporate visitors will make an order right away, though there are  special cases when some companies are in urgent need and ready to place an order on the spot.  Usually, they come to browse, check what’s new, compare prices, products and negotiate with the suppliers. Our loyal exhibitors, some who have been with us for over 15 years, can attest to the event’s results year after year, “explains Bogee Romero, Worldexco Marketing Services Manager.

Now on its 27th year, Corporate Giveaways 2014 will showcase more than 80 participating companies with over 120 booths of advertising specialties, awards, medals and trophies, bags , and wallets, travel and storage essentials, balloon décor, caps and headgear, CEO gifts, Christmas giveaways, corporate neckties and uniforms, desktop accessories, organizers, handcrafted items, houseware, leathercraft, gadgets, mobile accessories, personal care products, food and beverage packages, writing instruments among others. Some of its regular visitors include representatives from the Jollibee Group, Nestle Philippines, Toyota Motors, Smart and San Miguel Corporation.

For more information on the show visit www.corporategiveawaysbuyershow.com or www.facebook.com/CorporateGiveaways.
For inquiries email: cg@worldexco.com or call telephone nos. 855-8341 to 44.