You hear the word “bokashi” and you’d think of it as Japanese. Or if you were a twenty-something who is familiar with Beki-speak, it would mean a request to open the door or something. Bokashi, to the uninformed, refers to the technology of composting that is low-cost, mess-free, pest-free and odor-free.
This technology, which was launched by The Cravings Group’s corporate social responsibility arm The Culinary Foundation Inc. on Earth Day last year, is now being embraced by at least 40 communities all over the country.
During the first National Integrated Waste Management Exhibition organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ National Solid Waste Management Commission headed by director Eli Ildefonso, The Cravings Group/CEF showcased its commitment by participating in the five-day event through a series of seminars and demos that engaged visitors and audiences, mostly environmentalist groups and students.
The event also served as an occasion for the awarding of a P50,000 prize to the “Most Sustainable Bokashi Program” – which went to Barangay Magay in Tanauan, Leyte. CEF envisions the Bokashi technology to immensely contribute to the growing demand for organic farming which is crucial to health and food security in the Philippines. TCG’s Susana P. Guerrero, concurrently the president of Zero Waste Philippines, Inc., was at the forefront in this landmark event. Senator Loren Legarda, who was also present, lauded TCG in her speech at the Green Summit sponsored by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation after watching the actual demo in the exhibit.
The event also gave CEF the opportunity to introduce to the public their one-day seminar on “Best Green Practices in Commercial Kitchens” to promote Green Chefmanship and Going Zero Waste in the hospitality industry. Another highlight of the event was the TCG’s opportunity to show how it was able to steer the company into an ISO 14001 Certification, the global standard in environmental excellence.
For more information on CEF’s seminars and activities, call Mel Adriano of CEF (4/F, CCA Bldg, 287 Katipunan Avenue, QC), with nos. (02) 426-1338, 925-3969; e-mail: admin@cefmanila.com or follow them on Facebook.
