Beer market leader San Miguel Brewery Inc. recently strengthened its efforts to aid in “regreening” the country with its annual Trees Brew Life tree planting activity.
In response to Malacaňang’s directive for citizens to become stewards of the country’s natural resources, SMB conducted its environmental outreach in locations where the company operates.
On its ninth year, the campaign consists of tree planting engagements in Cebu, followed by activities in Davao Del Sur, Quezon City, Pampanga, Negros Occidental, Makati, and Calamba.
This year, volunteer employees and partner institutions will work hand in hand to plant over 75,000 seedlings of hardwood, mangrove and fruit-bearing species in identified areas nationwide.
“With the current administration zeroing in on its efforts to rehabilitate the country’s environmental integrity, we readily extend our support by aligning our programs with our government’s initiatives,” says SMB President Roberto N. Huang.
“The Trees Brew Life project is one of the pillars of our organization’s commitment toward environmental stewardship. Having our campaign supplement our nation’s goals is a source of pride for us beermen. It not only contributes to the preservation of our country’s natural resources, it also promotes a sense of responsibility among our employees.”
The initiative directly supports the Expanded National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which aims to reforest unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands.
Since its inception in 2010, SMB’s Trees Brew Life has successfully planted over 600,000 seedlings.
Under the brewery’s flagship Buhayin ang Kalikasan program, the nationwide environmental program aims to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate forest covers in both urban and rural settings and aid in regenerating mangrove areas in coastal communities.
The project likewise aims to ensure the availability of water supply in its host communities.
SMB has also adapted water sustainability measures in line with San Miguel Corporation’s pledge to cut water consumption across all its businesses by 50 percent.
As of March 2018, SMC has been able to save four billion liters of water, equivalent to the daily water consumption of 137,000 households.
Last September 2017, SMB discontinued its plastic bottled water business, which furthered the company’s commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.
Instead of selling bottled water, SMC will invest in filtration technology, which will be deployed during calamities to provide access to safe drinking water.
Aside from environmental concerns, SMB is also actively involved in programs that promote education, health, and basic services and livelihood.