Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines nabs FMCG Asia Awards 2024 for recycling and collection programme

The initiative highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship and empowered communities to take concrete steps towards sustainability.

Beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) took home the win in the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines at the prestigious FMCG Asia Awards 2024 for the success of “Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!”, its flagship nationwide collection programme for post-consumer clear PET plastic bottles.

The initiative seeks to strengthen communities’ waste management systems through the establishment of collection and recycling centres for recyclable post-consumer clear PET plastic packaging. Through the programme, the company continuously works with partners such as local government units, private organisations, and MSMEs with the goal of efficiently and effectively collecting used clear PET plastic bottles from communities.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. has expanded this programme since its successful launch to partner with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in developing an inter-barangay waste recovery and recycling campaign that kicked off across the country’s capital region.

This collaboration seamlessly integrates the beverage company’s “Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!” campaign and the agency’s Mobile Material Recovery Facility (MMRF) programme that seeks to help minimise solid waste in waterways in the Metro Manila megalopolis. Both programmes share the goal of creating cleaner and greener communities by diverting waste and creating a circular economy for recyclable plastic packaging.

Under this synergy, community members have exchanged various recyclable materials for commodities or grocery items within a four-month pilot period. MMDA’s MMRF programme has served as a collection channel for used clear PET bottles of any brand, as well as Coca-Cola returnable glass bottles and crates, which are equivalent to points that participants can exchange for Coca-Cola products.

Over 20 barangays have participated in the initiative, with the top barangay being Barangay Pinagsama in Taguig securing first place, and Barangay Tejeros in Makati and Barangay Bayanan in Muntinlupa claiming second and third, respectively. They have been awarded significant funding to further support their sustainability initiatives, focussed on waste recovery and recycling.

Beyond raising public awareness about the recyclability of clear PET plastic bottles and the importance of returning Coca-Cola glass bottles and crates, the programme harnessed the strong support and ingenuity of each participating community as they executed their own innovative strategies to support their collection efforts.

Organised by Retail Asia, the FMCG Asia Awards 2024 celebrates the most outstanding companies in Asia’s FMCG industry, recognising exceptional products, innovative initiatives, and remarkable projects.

The FMCG Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the FMCG industry, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].