URC steps up efforts to achieve plastic neutrality

MANILA, Philippines — Gokongwei-owned Universal Robina Corp. (URC) continues to step up efforts to achieve plastic neutrality.

In a statement, URC said it opened two more plastic collection sites as part of its newly launched “Juan Goal for Plastic” initiative meant to achieve “plastic neutrality.”

URC’s initiatives are in line with the Gokongwei Group’s thrust to promote long-term efforts that will significantly help manage post-consumer plastic waste. Various business units under the group have ongoing collection, sorting and recycling programs in various areas nationwide.

The new sites are in Batangas and Negros Occidental.

Both sites are currently collecting used PET bottles as well as other recyclable plastic waste, and offer incentive schemes.

URC’s Batangas collection site is in partnership with the Local Government of Balayan Batangas, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and the Balayan Junkshop.

Some 281 kilos of PET bottles were collected, through the efforts of the local community and URC employees, during the site’s opening last month, it said.

The Negros collection site is likewise in coordination with the local government.

Over 700 kilos of plastic waste were gathered during the site’s recent launch, with some 300 children and their parents and other community members participating.

URC is also currently collecting plastic waste in exchange for “environmental points” in various barangays in Bagong Ilog Pasig and General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

Other sites are in Robinsons Malls Galleria, Ermita, Las Piñas, Magnolia and Starmills Pampanga, where collection booths are set up every payday weekend until the end of the year.

In partnership with Robinsons Land Corp., these booths gather clean and dry plastic waste under a drop-weigh-redeem scheme.

The plastic materials being collected are shredded into flakes that are then sent to an upcycling center.  These flakes can be used to make high-value products such as chairs, bins and tables.