The journey of plastic waste is sometimes perilous in the Philippines. While ideally plastic waste ends up in recovery facilities for segregation and recycling or reuse, this is not often the case. To support the journey of plastic in its community in Parañaque City, snacks company Mondelēz International is partnering with Green Antz Builders, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the City itself to operate a plastic recycling facility. This facility will collect plastic waste from the community and turn it into ecobricks, which are used for creating houses and buildings.
Plastic packaging has often been blamed as waste, and the cause for the destruction of marine life. However, the recent passing of the Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR) bill in the Philippines shows the real solution to avoiding waste: Proper waste management. Plastic is a valuable resource which protects food quality and safety; and which can be reused to avoid becoming waste and reduce the use of natural resources.
Mondelēz International and Sustainable Futures
Mondelēz International has been a resident of Parañaque for the past 59 years, since 1963. Its purpose is to empower people to snack right; with the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way. “We’re committed to grow our business and make our snacks the right way, with positive impact on people and planet,” shares Aleli Arcilla, VP and Managing Director of Mondelēz International in the Philippines. “We call this focus Sustainable Snacking. We strive to create a future where people and planet thrive together. This Plastic Recycling Facility to be built in our community is one of the ways we are taking action to lessen the impact of our packaging on the planet.”
With Mondelēz International being a resident of Parañaque for almost six decades, it was imperative for the Company to partner with the City and other stakeholders in creating a sustainable journey for plastic, while providing livelihood to residents at the same time. This is called the circular economy of plastics. This is a model where plastic remains in the economy through reuse and recycling, and out of the environment. These are the types of projects being funded by Mondelēz International’s Sustainable Futures platform, which incubates, finances, and builds partnerships in the impact investment space through co-funded climate projects. The aim of the platform is to increase the impact Mondelēz International can have on the world and create self-sustaining projects that generate a clear return.
Plastic Recycling Facility: How it works
Partnering with Parañaque City, the facility is located within the City’s waste collection area. There, plastic waste collected from homes and establishments in the City is segregated. Using the technology created by Green Antz Builders, the plastic waste is shredded and entombed together with cement to create ecobricks. These are shaped like hollow blocks, which are used to create houses and buildings. After creation, these ecobricks are then sold by the facility – to anyone wishing to use sustainable building materials in their homes or offices. The proceeds are then used to provide salaries to the facility workers, who are residents of Parañaque, and to fund the continuous waste collection activities of the site.
“We are thankful to be chosen as the site for this facility,” shares Mayor Eric L. Olivarez of Parañaque City. “Sustainability, for clean and green communities is a priority of our government and we are grateful to be working with like-minded organizations in achieving this goal. This site supports our existing efforts for creating a better City for our residents, where they are energized to work and live.”
Adds City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Department Head Mark Allen Besa, “The Parañaque CENRO office is a ready and willing partner for this facility or ecohub. This will help us in further advancing our goal of making our City clean and sustainable, while providing livelihood opportunities for our residents.”
The site can collect and process some 2,000 kilos of plastic waste per month and create 12,000 ecobricks in one month at full capacity. Parañaque residents are welcome to bring their segregated and cleaned plastic waste to the site to contribute to the goal of recycling and waste management.