The Jollibee Group said over the weekend it teamed up with Nutricycle Inc. to launch a food waste-to-fertilizer initiative as part of its “Joy for Tomorrow” sustainability agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The partnership, which began early this year and is set to continue for the rest of 2025, aims to divert about 1,572 metric tons of organic waste from landfills.
The initiative will repurpose food waste from Jollibee Group’s facilities into nutrient-rich fertilizer using Nutricycle’s organic waste management system, which employs black soldier flies to break down organic matter.
The process is expected to yield an estimated 480 to 960 bags of fertilizer annually. Half of the output will be donated to farmers through the Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), while the other half will be endorsed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Calabarzon region to support the National Greening Program.
The FEP is a long-standing initiative that provides smallholder farmers with training, market access, and business skills.
“This partnership is part of our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while finding meaningful ways to support our communities,” said Jollibee Group global chief sustainability officer Pepot Minana in a statement.
Dino Simbulan, president of Nutricycle, said the partnership “sets a strong example for how companies can take proactive steps toward environmental responsibility.”
The initiative builds on Jollibee Group’s ongoing waste management efforts, including Mang Inasal’s Marilao Commissary achieving zero-waste-to-landfill status.
The company said it increased its volume of sustainably disposed waste away from landfill to 62.5 percent by the end of 2024, from 24 percent in 2020.
Jollibee Group also reported a 44-percent cumulative reduction in food loss and waste across its Philippine manufacturing sites by the end of 2024 compared to a 2020 baseline.
The company said it remains committed to broader sustainability goals, including responsible sourcing, energy efficiency, and community-based programs.
Monina Cacayan, vice president and head of Jollibee Worldwide Services, finance and accounting and human resources, said that “by collaborating and working together with partners like Nutricycle, we can achieve more, not just for our company, but for our children and their children too.”
