It was a partnership with a purpose that started in 2020 and has resulted in the collection of 43,000 kilos of post-consumer plastic which were then repurposed into upcycled products.
Two years later, food manufacturer Mondelēz International and social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) expanded their plastic waste collection and recycling project through a partnership with Megaworld Corporation.
“Sustainability is one of our core thrusts as a company. We are always open to collaborating with organizations which promote the same values. I want to thank Mondelēz International and PLAF for working with us in this milestone project,” said Megaworld Lifestyle Malls head Graham Coates.
The project will cover a year-long waste collection drive in five Megaworld Lifestyle Malls—Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, McKinley Hall, Uptown Bonifacio, and Arcovia City.
Consumers who bring in their plastic waste in the five participating malls can get Mondelēz International treats in exchange for helping support proper waste management.
“Our goal is to make snacks with better packaging, to make it easier to recycle; to use less packaging by optimizing our pack sizes; and supporting improved systems through the collection of as much plastic as we put into the environment,” Mondelez International Country Manager for Corporate and Government Affairs Joseph Fabul said.
“We are glad that our malls have become avenues where people can practice a greener lifestyle. At Megaworld, we are committed to a culture of environmental consciousness and we continuously look for ways to practice and incorporate it in our township and lifestyle properties,” added Coates.
Ideally, plastic wastes should end up in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) of every barangay for segregation where these would be recycled depending on the type—whether it is a bottle or sachet. However, there are still a lot of plastic wastes that are not disposed of properly, or when collected, which would then be illegally dumped on open land or in bodies of water—something that PLAF seeks to prevent.
“We want to become part of the solution, and not the pollution,” said PLAF Chief Operating Officer Erica Reyes.
“Our work at PLAF consists of collecting, segregating, transforming, and designing plastic for reuse. We make practical construction materials out of plastic, like eco-lumber and eco-boards. This ensures that we are able to recycle plastic and at the same time help reduce the use of precious resources like wood or minerals to make furniture or even shelters,” she added.
At present, PLAF, using plastic wastes, creates and sells eco-lumber and eco-boards which can be used to make outdoor furniture, bike racks, benches, and tables, among others.
This year, Mondelēz continues to strengthen its partnership with PLAF and aims to collect and recycle another 20,000 kilos and turn them into usable eco-boards with the help of Megaworld Corporation.
To know more about the initiative, visit https://www.theplaf.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/eastwoodcity/photos/a.482909209921/10162090475359922/.
