Latest news with #Coca-ColaPhilippines
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola announces game-changing new program that could bring cash rewards: 'Underscores our shared mission'
Coca-Cola Philippines is now rewarding small business owners with cash rewards for recycling plastic bottles. Palawan News reported that Coca-Cola Philippines is building upon its sustainability efforts through its expanded rollout of the "Tapon to Ipon" PET bottle collection program. Tapon to Ipon is helping to increase the infrastructure for local bottle collection and advancing PET bottle recovery in the area. The project "underscores our shared mission to empower communities," Gareth McGeown, CEO and president of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), told Palawan News. Tapon to Ipon now includes store owners, customers, government agencies, and local governments in the effort to recover post-consumer clear PET bottles. The program allows consumers to exchange any brand of used PET bottles — not just Coca-Cola — for Coca-Cola product rewards. There are designated collection hubs located in retail stores and at pop-up booths at local events. Despite this initiative, Coca-Cola has consistently come under fire for its environmental impact. It has been named the world's worst plastic polluter several times in a row in recent years, and the company has also been accused of greenwashing, which is when a company's environmental policies and statements do not align with its actual practices. While Coca-Cola has announced plans to increase the amount of recycled plastic in its bottles and is making efforts to produce more eco-friendly packaging, it has not always met its prior commitments toward sustainability. Yet the company is making some efforts to be more environmentally friendly and has announced a broader strategy, with this program in the Philippines being one example. The PET exchange program is in over 170 cities and municipalities in the Philippines and has been recognized for promoting sustainable practices and responsible waste management. Should companies be required to help recycle their own products? Definitely No way It depends on the product They should get tax breaks instead Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. CCEAP also incentivizes community recycling efforts, allowing retailers to earn points based on the volume of recyclables they gather. Points can be redeemed for cash or products. The larger goal is to make recycling more accessible and engaging. While Coca-Cola's environmental record is not perfect, it is important for companies to make progress. By supporting companies that make sustainable choices in their manufacturing, product materials, and operations, we can illustrate to businesses that environmentally friendly practices are good for the planet, can draw more customers, and positively affect their bottom lines. McGeown appreciates the support he is receiving for the post-consumer PET bottle recycling program and hopes that it will continue to expand. "We are grateful to all our partners who continue to support collective environmental action," he told Palawan News. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Coca-Cola Philippines Expands PET Bottle Collection Program to Help Strengthen Recycling Efforts
3 June 2025, MANILA, Philippines — Coca-Cola Philippines builds on its ongoing sustainability efforts with the expanded rollout of its 'Tapon to Ipon' PET bottle collection program, marking an important step towards supporting local bottle collection infrastructure and helping accelerate PET bottle recovery efforts across communities. The expanded Tapon to Ipon program consolidates Coca-Cola Philippines' various bottle collection programs including the Tindahan Extra Mile (TEM) initiative into one program. With over 6,000 collection hubs now in operation nationwide, the initiative aims to make recycling drop off points more accessible to communities across the Philippines. The initiative was officially relaunched with a community activation event on April 29, 2025, at Terra 28th in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), highlighting the importance of strong local engagement. 'Coca-Cola Philippines continues to innovate and improve our recycling systems to help address plastic waste,' said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines. 'By expanding Tapon to Ipon, we are increasing collection and recycling access and reinforcing our commitment to partnerships that help deliver positive impact in local communities.' Originally launched in 2021 by Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), formerly Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), Tapon to Ipon has engaged sari-sari store owners, customers, government agencies, and local governments to recover post-consumer clear PET bottles. 'We are grateful to all our partners who continue to support collective environmental action,' said Gareth McGeown, CEO and President of CCEAP. 'Strengthening collection and recycling infrastructure has always been a key goal of Tapon to Ipon, and its expansion underscores our shared mission to empower communities and create a more sustainable future for Filipinos.' Coca-Cola's expanded initiative officially kicked off with a Tapon to Ipon booth activation on April 29, 2025, at Terra 28th in BGC, showcasing the importance of strong community engagement. At the Tapon to Ipon activation in BGC, attendees dropped off their empty PET bottles and joined the 'Dunk, Not Junk' shooting hoops game for a chance to win Coca-Cola merchandise, refreshing products, and other exciting prizes. The aim is to bring the collected bottles to PETValue Philippines, the country's first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility located in General Trias, Cavite. PETValue Philippines, a joint venture between CCEAP and Indorama Ventures, plays a critical role in turning post-consumer PET bottles into new food-grade recycled PET (rPET) packaging. To date, CCEAP has reached over 170 cities and municipalities nationwide. The program has also been recognized at the FMCG Asia Awards, Quill Awards, and Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, underscoring its significant contribution to promoting more sustainable practices and responsible waste management. Incentivizing community recycling systems As an expanded part of the program, which now incorporates the Tindahan Extra Mile program, sari-sari store and carinderia owners will also become empowered to be rewarded for their recycling efforts. Implemented in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO), participating micro-retailers collect PET plastic bottles and other recyclables from their communities and can earn points based on the volume of materials they gather. They can use these points to redeem cash or products through the bXTRA app. Tapon to Ipon underscores the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability. By partnering with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), retailers, private organizations, and local government units, the company continues to build a strong network of collection hubs that make recycling more accessible and engaging for communities across the country. Hundreds of collection points have been established across the Philippines to make recycling more accessible to communities. To find the nearest collection point, visit the interactive map at: The article above is a paid press release from Coca-Cola Philippines.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola hosts groundbreaking ceremony with 2,000 attendees: 'Making a positive difference in our communities'
Coca-Cola operates in more than 200 countries and territories, and the brand's impact goes far beyond its iconic beverages. In February, one of the soft-drink maker's longtime partners in the Philippines hosted its first Hybrid Mass Graduation Ceremony for women entrepreneurs. As Punto! Central Luzon detailed, the groundbreaking ceremony took place in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, on Feb. 1, with 2,000 graduates of Coca-Cola's iSTAR program attending the event put on by the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, or NWTF, either in person or virtually. Established in 2020, iSTAR is a free training initiative that empowers women to launch and manage retail businesses through digital platforms. Last year, Coca-Cola Philippines expanded its vision — made possible in collaboration with the country's Technical Education and Skills Development Authority — to create seven hubs for sustainable business development. "The iSTAR program has been incredibly beneficial as it empowers women like me to run a sustainable business, allowing us to earn a living and enhance our quality of life," said Catherine Gallano, an iSTAR graduate and owner of a bakery. With the ceremony complete, Ivanna Dela Torre — senior director of public affairs, communication, and sustainability at Coca-Cola Philippines — is encouraging entrepreneurs to continue growing at their nearest hubs, dubbed Centers for Entrepreneurship. "To our graduates, your journey does not end here," Dela Torre said, per Punto! Central Luzon. "The CFEs are your 'go-to' spaces for continuous learning, business mentoring, and exploring new opportunities for innovation. As graduates, you are always welcome to visit the NWTF CFE, where you'll find support and guidance to help you grow and sustain your businesses." As one of the world's top plastic polluters, Coca-Cola has taken plenty of heat for its negative impact on the environment. Despite its efforts to rectify that image, the criticism hasn't disappeared. Recently, for instance, consumers criticized Coca-Cola for using AI in its holiday commercials, arguing the result was a soulless and energy-intensive campaign that took jobs from creatives. However, the company's iSTAR program is a shining example of what brands can accomplish when they commit to using at least a portion of their immense power for good. "For over 112 years, Coca-Cola Philippines has been refreshing the lives of Filipinos and making a positive difference in our communities," Dela Torre said, per Punto! Central Luzon. Which of these groups has the biggest role to play in reducing food waste? Grocery stores Restaurants Individuals The government Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
