Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has entered into a three-year tripartite agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the municipality of Cavinti, Laguna to support the 'Tayo ang Kalikasan' reforestation management program.
"Taking care of the environment is a monumental undertaking that requires the participation of everyone. So, we're very happy that AstraZeneca is doing its part for this effort," said Vener Garcia, OIC Chief, Policy Studies Division, DENR.
As part of AstraZeneca’s Sustainability efforts in environmental protection and in celebration of the World Environment Day, 150 of its employees in the Philippines planted around 1,000 indigenous trees in Cavinti to help offset the CO2 emissions of its car fleet.
Cavinti Mayor Milbert Oliveros expressed his gratitude for this initiative.
"The Caliraya Watershed is very important to our municipality, as it provides water supply for drinking and power generation. We're grateful to AstraZeneca and DENR for their help in rehabilitating our watershed," he shared.
The 1,000 trees planted is the first phase of the partnership. According to Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines Country President, the company aims to plant a total of 3,000 trees by 2021 by increasing the number of sites as well as involving more employees around the country.
"At AstraZeneca, our approach to sustainability puts health at the heart of our work. Sustainability means using our capabilities to make the most meaningful impact where society needs it—health,” he said.
AstraZeneca believes there is a “strong connection between the health of our patients, people and the planet, and each of these impacts one another," Lotis said.
"Sustainability is a journey. A journey that we're deeply committed on taking. We're making great strides towards reducing our carbon footprint and I'm very happy to see our people excited and taking ownership of protecting the environment,” he added.
“There's still much to do, so we're very proud to partner with the DENR and the municipality of Cavinti towards this mission. We are also the only pharma company with a 3-year partnership with DENR," said Lotis.
AstraZeneca is strengthening its commitment to sustainability by focusing on three pillars of its strategy: patients, people, and the planet. Their sustainability journey is about reducing the negative effects and having a positive impact on the patients, the society, and the environment.
One of the initiatives that AstraZeneca wanted to explore was the impact of its fleet of cars around the country and how it can help with greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. In 2018, the company’s fleet contributed about 722 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), which requires planting 800 trees to help offset the GHG emitted last year.
AstraZeneca is no stranger to giving back to the environment and the community. The company regularly holds Community Day every year wherein various activities are planned to allow its employees to pay it forward – from building houses, educating school children about health and proper nutrition to spending time with orphaned children, elderly and PWDs.
The company also launched its “Go Green – Say No to Plastic” campaign in the head office where single-use plastic is strongly discouraged. Bamboo tumblers and wooden utensils were given to employees. AstraZeneca is continually looking for ways on how to help the environment and is currently working with its suppliers to support this advocacy.