Manila Electric Company said it banned single-use plastic, polystyrene foam and similar products in all its premises, activities and corporate events effective Oct. 1, 2019 to help save the environment.
“The protection of the environment is a collective obligation that we not only owe to the communities we serve, but more importantly, the future generation. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to ensure that we integrate sustainability in all areas of our operations and in our workplace to create a positive impact to the environment,” Meralco president and chief executive Ray Espinosa said in a statement.
The ban also applies to the Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp. Group, CIS Bayad Center Inc. Group, Meralco Energy Inc., Radius Telecoms Inc., MSpectrum Inc., MRAIL Inc., Meralco Powergen Corp. Group and eSakay Inc. as well as affiliated companies, Comstech Integration Alliance Inc., Clark Electric Distribution Corp. and Shin Clark Power Group effective Nov. 1, 2019.
Meralco’s supply chain partners have also been told to ensure full compliance with the ban effective January 1, 2020.
Aside from reducing its contribution of plastic to landfills and marine pollution, Meralco aims to educate employees and business partners on the responsible use of plastic for proper disposal for a sustainable economy and help pave the way for a lifestyle change.
According to a report published by the United Nations Environment Program, the world’s ability to cope with plastic waste is already overwhelmed. Only 9 percent of the nine trillion kilos of plastic the world has ever produced has been recycled.
Most end up in landfills, dumps or in the environment. If current consumption patterns and waste management practices continue, then by 2050 there will be around 12 trillion kilos of plastic litter in landfills and the environment.
As the first of many sustainability initiatives, the use of SUP, including polystyrene foam and similar products, is banned from all offices, premises and facilities of Meralco, including operations centers, business centers, subsidiaries, affiliates and in company events and activities effective Oct. 1, 2019.
SUPs covered by the ban include plastic grocery bags, beverage bottles, food service utensils (cutlery, plates, cups, lids, straws, stirrers) and dispensing containers for cleaning fluids.
“Everyone in Meralco is committed to do their part in ensuring that we embrace sustainability as a way of life by greatly reducing our contribution to the million tons of plastics waste that are used and dumped in our water ways, rivers and oceans every day,” said Espinosa.