Engineering sustainability-oriented transformation in a fast-growing economy

In traditional sari-sari (convenience) stores in the Philippines, a quiet change is taking place.

Every day, customers drop off used clear bottles made from PET plastic, for a chance to win prizes. The nationwide collection programme is run by Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBPI), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the Philippines.

The PET bottles – which can be from any brand – are sent to Coca-Cola’s recycling facility to be cleaned, shredded and remanufactured into new food-grade containers. 

“We work with local government units, agencies, private organisations and businesses to collect clear PET plastic bottles from communities and to make sustainability infrastructure more accessible to Filipinos,” said Mr Juan Lorenzo Tanada, CCBPI’s director for corporate and regulatory affairs.

This initiative is part of Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste vision to close the loop on plastic packaging by collecting and recycling a bottle or can for every unit that it sells by 2030.

Partnering communities and organisations to fulfil this ambitious goal has won CCBPI the title of Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia at the annual Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards 2023 (ACES Awards) in 2023.

The independent and merit-based awards – which are organised by leadership and sustainability advocates MORS Group – honour inspiring leaders, transformative corporations and sustainability advocates in Asia.

SERVING COMMUNITIES WITH PEOPLE-FIRST VALUES

As a proud Filipino company, CCBPI holds dear the essence of malasakit – caring for the needs of others – ingrained in its core values.

“This means championing the people at the heart of our business and responding to the needs of our customers and communities,” explained Mr Tanada. “We aim to embody malasakit in uplifting Filipinos through capacity-building initiatives, outreach programmes and disaster responses. At CCBPI, we always say that we are only as strong as the communities we serve.”   

CCBPI staff programmes also offer growth opportunities. These initiatives aim to identify key priorities, drive robust performance management, and engender insightful exchanges between senior leaders and key talents.

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR STAKEHOLDERS

Another Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia is the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), an early adopter of green practices from the 1990s.

Mr Michael De Jesus, the bank’s president and CEO, noted that climate change and environmental degradation pose substantial financial risks by causing issues such as property damage, supply chain disruption and public health ramifications.

“We can mitigate the risks of climate change and other environmental challenges directly through reductions in resource consumption and proper waste management, and indirectly through our environmental and social development lending programmes,” said Mr De Jesus.

In 2022, DBP expanded its sustainability portfolio by delivering funds to renewable energy and sustainability projects. It also offered support to small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and the agricultural sector. Furthermore, DBP has established policies and processes in response to growing consumer demand for more sustainable services and products.

In addition to increasing climate change resilience, sustainable practices open up new markets, reduce operating costs, enhance brand value, improve access to capital, create jobs, conserve natural resources, and improve air quality and public health, added Mr De Jesus.

PIVOTING TO NEW DIGITAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) is the sole international school in the Philippines offering globally recognised and accredited educational programmes from preschool to graduate school level. Its ability to pivot to new tech-driven growth opportunities secured its recognition at the ACES Awards as one of Asia’s Most Promising SMEs.

Its award-winning Virtual Online Learning and Teaching (VOLT) programme – which was recognised by the Asia Pacific Quality Organisation as an International Best Practice in 2021 – employs digital technologies to engage and motivate learners. SISC students have access to in-person, online and hybrid learning models and can acquire job-ready micro-credentials while working towards their degree.

To better meet students’ evolving needs, SISC staff undergo professional pedagogical and technical skills training, said Ms Genevieve Ledesma-Laurel, SISC’s chief executive mentor.

“SISC recognises the need to take measured risks and design new operating models and programmes in times of crisis and disruption. Whether they be new sources of revenue or new areas of improvement, we continually evaluate how to create value from any rapid shifts and to catalyse these changes,” said Ms Ledesma-Laurel.

The school, which has around 3,000 students in the cities and towns of southern Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Cavite, has taken an active role in developing its economic, social and environmental surroundings.

To advance English instruction in the Philippines, SISC developed a free online-learning resource in conjunction with the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and edutech company Duolingo. It also created the Asian Association of School Human Resource Management and Development Practitioners, which is committed to excellence in people management skills, organisational development, research, innovation, linkages and advocacies.

Said Ms Ledesma-Laurel: “The role of SISC extends beyond being a mere education centre to that of a crucial community hub that can positively influence the development of its constituent areas.”

Send in your nominations for the ACES Awards 2024 and take your place at the ACES Circle alongside other ACES winners from past years.