Ajinomoto Philippines strengthens sustainability with MOA with BEST, Envirotech, Plastic Credit Exchange, and Republic Cement.

In its latest move to comply with the 2022 Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPR Law), Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) has formed partnerships with four prominent Filipino waste management organizations. These collaborations solidify APC's commitment to a more sustainable future, marked by a Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony at their Makati head office on September 1, 2023, alongside Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), Envirotech, Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), and Republic Cement.

The EPR Law mandates companies to take increased responsibility for the disposal and recycling of their products, including post-consumer waste management. APC, as an obligated enterprise, must play its role in recovering, diverting, and recycling plastic waste generated by its products, aligning with policies aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of post-consumer plastic waste.

Seeing the EPR Law as an opportunity to enhance their existing environmental initiatives, APC proactively sought partnerships with organizations that would not only support their sustainability efforts but also foster new initiatives for a greener future in the Philippines.

To facilitate post-consumer packaging collection, APC enlisted BEST, a waste management consulting firm with a Trash-to-Cashback program and the MyBasurero App, promoting incentivized waste collection.

Envirotech, since 2010, has established numerous materials recovery and processing facilities nationwide, specializing in transforming low-quality soft/flexible plastic waste into construction and furniture-grade materials.

PCX is renowned for pioneering the Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard, enabling companies and institutions to manage pledges for reducing their plastic footprint and earning Plastic Neutrality Certifications. They focus on cleaning up ocean waste and creating livelihood opportunities for women in vulnerable communities through their Aling Tindera Program.

Completing APC’s new set of collaborations is Republic Cement, who launched the Ecoloop program that encourages waste recovery and processing from collecting, segregating, and shredding of viable solid waste to be used as Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).

During the ceremony, Mr. Ernesto Carlos, APC’s Chief Sustainability Officer further assured that APC, alongside its partners who signed the Memorandum of Agreement, will put up unwavering efforts for future generations of Filipinos.

“We encourage all companies to embrace the EPR Act and take a proactive approach to managing their plastic footprint,” Carlos said. “By working together, we can make a positive impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future for all.”

Towards the realization of its goal of reducing environment impact by 2030, APC has been actively finding solutions to reduce plastic waste. The company has launched in the market the first-ever seasoning product in paper packaging, the AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning 45g which is made from natural and renewable paper material that can be planted, grown, harvested, and replanted. While the group has launched initiatives facilitated within their production processes, it has also introduced sustainability education under the #IlabasAngSustainAbilidad campaign which harnesses the reach of Ajinomoto Philippines’ social media pages.

With the expertise of their four new partners, the implementation of APC Group’s sustainable practices and the promotion of eco-friendly lifestyles are now on a larger scale toward building sustainable communities.