NEGROS OCCIDENTAL—After a successful launch in Bacolod, Coca-Cola Philippines and partners celebrated Earth Day by collecting 444.85 kilograms of PET bottles and cans between April 16-21 through the Tindahan Extra Mile (TEM) program during the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2024.
The program empowers sari-sari store owners and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to transform their stores into collection hubs for empty plastic bottles, supporting efforts to curb plastic waste and combat pollution.
Micro-retailers earn points for collecting bottles, which can be redeemed for cashback and products for their businesses.
TEM is a collaboration between Coca-Cola Philippines, Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO). As of May, there are over 3,500 TEM members in the country.
This local effort aligns with The Coca-Cola Company’s global World Without Waste strategy. Globally, the company aims to collect and recycle the equivalent of each bottle and can it sells by 2030, make its primary consumer packaging recyclable by 2025, and use an average of 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030.
TEM forms an integral part of Coca-Cola Philippines’ consumer engagement program, “May Ikabobote Pa,” designed to educate, inspire, and engage consumers to return their empty bottles and cans for recycling.
Through the Coca-Cola Philippines Sustainability Hub, consumers can locate the nearest collection points and discover more about the company’s recycling initiatives.