Perfetti Van Melle Philippines, through its partnership with PCX Markets (PCX), has transformed over 1,000 kilograms of plastic waste into 100 Mentos benches that are distributed to bus terminals nationwide.
As part of its Mentos “Yes to Fresh” campaign, Perfetti van Melle is exploring new ways to refresh Filipino commuters, especially during the recent All Saints’ Day long weekend (Undas) when millions of Filipinos traveled to their provinces to visit friends and family, and in preparation for the upcoming Holiday season.
Mentos looks forward to provide some much-needed freshness to commuters in major bus terminals in Batangas, Naga, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro.
Besides sharing its beloved Mentos candies and other goodies, the brand donated 100 Mentos-blue benches made from 100 percent recycled plastic, giving commuters a chance to rest, refresh, and say ‘Yes to Fresh’ while waiting for their buses.
The Mentos benches, which will remain as permanent fixtures at the bus terminals, also offer a fresh lease of life to plastic waste that might otherwise have ended up in nature or landfills.
“As so many Filipinos enjoy our products every day, we have a unique opportunity to help drive positive change. By integrating sustainability into our brand plans, brands like Mentos can bring joy to consumers while also supporting the development of a circular economy for plastic in the Philippines,” said Perfetti Van Melle Philippines’ managing director David Roos.
“These refreshing Mentos benches, made entirely from recycled plastic waste, are a great example of how this can be done,” he added.
Perfetti Van Melle has a strong commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint globally. The company continues to reduce plastic in its packaging and is dedicated to finding meaningful alternatives to plastic packaging materials.
In the Philippines, Perfetti Van Melle teamed up with PCX Markets to support projects that divert plastic waste from nature.
Besides the innovative Upcycled Benches project, the company supports recycling initiatives and social impact projects like the Aling Tindera waste-to-cash program, which empowers women micro-entrepreneurs to become sustainability champions in their communities, as well as company-wide beach clean-ups.
