Mondelez Philippines in partnership with social enterprise Plastic Flamingo or "The Plaf" aims to expand the capacity of its plastic recycling operation to 40 metric tons this year.
Started in 2020, the partnership between the two organizations has expanded from a previous 1 metric ton collection agreement to a new commitment of collecting and recycling 40 metric tons of post-consumer plastic packaging in 2021.
This translates to some 40,000 kilogram of waste to be collected from designated pick-up points and processed into recycled eco-lumber. The eco-lumber will be used to create disaster relief shelters or huts for use during typhoons and the like.
Joseph Fabul, Mondelez Philippines country manager for corporate and government affairs, said “One of our global goals is to help minimize our climate change impact by addressing the collection and recycling of plastic packaging. This means investing in waste management.”
“Plastic is a highly efficient material for food packaging that provides the right levels of safety, quality, product protection, and preservation. Simply put, there are no available replacements for food plastic packaging yet to ensure the contents remain safe, high quality and affordable,” adds Fabul.
“However, we do support eliminating unnecessary plastic, or items which have viable replacements that do not harm the environment.”
Fabul also highlighted that at the core of this much-debated issue is proper waste management. He ends, “Inconsistent collection and not enough recycling facilities means that plastic as well as other waste often end up in landfills, communities, or oceans – whether they are recyclable or not.” Through this partnership with The Plastic Flamingo, the company aims to promote proper waste segregation and recycling, goals which anyone can contribute to.
“The Plastic Flamingo commends Mondelez Philippines’ continuing commitment to ensuring that proper collection and recycling of plastic happens in the country,” said Francois Lesage, CEO of The Plastic Flamingo.
“We believe that a world without oceanic waste is possible with collective effort from different members of the community. We encourage everyone to segregate waste in their homes, and to find recycling centers in their communities so that waste is properly disposed of depending on its kind. For plastic waste, the simple step is to ensure it ends in the trash rather than disposing it just anywhere.
These are things we all can do. And for those who can, we encourage investing in collection and recycling activities to make a greater impact together.”
The Plastic Flamingo, or more commonly known as “The Plaf”, is a social enterprise launched in 2019, with its pilot project in Manila. Plaf tackles marine plastic pollution by collecting and recycling ocean-bound plastic waste.
Plaf collects all types of plastics - washed, cleaned, and dried at its Eco-Lumber Factory. These plastics are made into up-cycled products, known as the eco-lumbers - planks and posts.
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2020 net revenues of approximately $27 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum.
In the Philippines, Mondelez has been providing consumers with delicious snack products for the past 58 years - since 1963. Its product portfolio includes Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, mayonnaise and sandwich spread, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, Tiger energy biscuits, belVita breakfast biscuits, as well as Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. The company employs about 450 people in the Philippines, with a manufacturing facility in Parañaque City.