Published: December 7, 2014
The Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) has called on more companies to follow the lead of Smart Communication, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever Philippines and other groups in the campaign to protect the environment.
PBEST said the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, which left 6,300 fatalities, over a thousand missing and P571.1 billion in economic damage a year ago should serve as a reminder to companies that climate change is affecting the country.
“It is clear that businesses in the Philippines are responsible for glaring cases of environmental degradation, due to reckless, if not greedy, operations, on the one hand; and for concrete examples of ingenious environmental measures on the other. In both instances, the effect on the environment is undeniably massive,” said Atty. Ysan Castillo, Secretary General of PBEST.
Castillo, however, said “big businesses are beginning to realize that integrating clean and safe environmental practices in their operations is a positive factor that will have long-term benefits in lifting internal morale, public image and will definitely be good for business.”
“Philippine businesses must take an active role, if not the lead role, in promoting environmental stewardship,” PBEST said in a statement.
Marking its first year anniversary, PBEST was organized by a network of policy experts from the academe and business to actively participate in developmental policy reforms and advocacies that promote effective regulation of Philippine industries and ensure a more responsible stewardship of the environment that benefits all stakeholders.
Dr. CP David, PBEST Convenor, said “several mining companies have voluntarily opened up their operations by committing to the PBEST Environmental Performance Tracking Program.”
PBEST also cited as an example Smart Communication’s solid waste management initiative called Post-Marketing Waste Management Program, which was one of the winners in the Zero Basura Olympics (ZBO) for business, a competition that recognizes local companies with the most innovative practices in minimizing and eliminating waste.
Under the program, Smart recycles tarpaulin materials used for advertising and publicity purposes nationwide and taps communities in its adopted Gawad Kalinga villages to craft the would-have-been non-biodegradable waste into well-made and designed usable tarp bags.
PBEST also cited Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s plan to invest in a pilot waste-to-power project. While in the pilot stage, the plant will generate an estimated 2 megawatts of energy and 10,000 liters of biodiesel a day and can be expanded to 6 megawatts later on.
The energy-to-waste facility would utilize up to 80 tons of wastes for conversion to bio-fuel, which would then be used to run diesel-fed power generators.
PBEST also mentioned the tripartite partnership between the Laguna Lake Development Authority, Unilever Philippines and Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands to save Laguna de Bay and make it a member of the Living Lakes Network, an international network that works for the conservation of lakes.
Meanwhile, Nestlé Philippines was cited for installing world-class wastewater treatment plants which operate in all its factories. In Nestlé factories, treated waste water is used to sustain life forms, from watering the gardens in the premises, to propagating Koi fish and tilapia, in order to showcase how water can be treated and reused, and demonstrates the importance the Company gives to water.
PBEST also recognized Maynilad Water Services Inc. for launching its Greenhouse Gases and Air Emissions Inventory Development Project in partnership with civil society groups. Through the project, Maynilad is able to measure its carbon footprint using greenhouses gases (GHG) international protocol standards and calculation tools.
READ MORE: http://www.mb.com.ph/care-for-environment-is-good-for-business-pbest/
