Food packaging solutions company Tetra Pak said the government needs to improve the country's waste management infrastructure to help companies execute their sustainability initiatives.
“Governments play a key role in creating an environment where circularity can thrive,” the company said. businessworld In an e-mail.
It says, “A key area is infrastructure – from improving collection and separation facilities to supporting transport networks that make recycling more efficient, especially in areas outside major cities – followed by implementing processes to ensure maximum results.”
Compared to its regional counterparts, the Philippines is still developing systems that support recycling on a large scale.
“Unlike some neighboring countries where infrastructure is more centralized, the Philippines’ archipelago setup means we need strong local partnerships to connect collection points, recyclers and communities,” Tetra Pak said.
“That's why collaboration is at the heart of how we work here – it's the only way to create access across islands and regions,” it added.
In its sustainability report for 2024, Tetra Pak said it has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% across its value chain since 2019.
Within its operations, the company has achieved a 54% reduction in GHG emissions since 2019, while it is aiming for net-zero GHG emissions by 2030.
Meanwhile, the company said the government can also help companies with their sustainability initiatives through data and coordination.
“Continuous waste-management data across local government units allows us to see where cartons are being recovered and where we need to create new capacity,” it says.
It adds, “We stand ready to share our learnings with local governments that want to integrate carton recycling into their solid-waste programs.”
According to Tetra Pak, the direction of packaging materials today is to increase renewable materials while reducing the carbon footprint.
“Consumers are aware enough to take action and take the lead in finding improvements and solutions, based on a study commissioned by Tetra Pak in 2023,” it added.
“With this strong pull, food and beverage companies as well as packaging companies will need to secure the sustainable architecture of their product offerings,” it added. , Justin Irish D. Tabile
