Personal Collection wins Eco-friendly Initiative of the Year - Philippines Award for #GreenLifeGreatLife Movement

A milestone in sustainability recognised at the FMCG Asia Awards 

The Personal Collection Direct Selling Inc. in the Philippines has received the Eco-friendly Initiative of the Year - Philippines in the FMCG Asia Awards, with its #GreenLifeGreat Life movement, an innovative effort to address the pressing problem of plastic pollution in the Philippines. 

The FMCG Asia Awards, a much-anticipated event, serves as a platform for acknowledging and celebrating exceptional companies. This year, the spotlight was on Personal Collection, as they stood out for their commitment to environmental responsibility and their impactful efforts to make a positive change in the region.

The journey began when Personal Collection was faced with the saddening truth that the Philippines ranks as the world's third largest contributor to plastic waste and the realisation that recycling alone is not a sufficient solution. Given this, the company embarked on its pioneering #GreenLifeGreatLife sustainability initiative. To ensure its success, they have collaborated with industry specialists. 

They started their eco-friendly transition on 8 June 2021, starting with their flagship home care products. Since then, they have extended their biodegradable packaging to personal care, fragrances, and baby care lines. In just over two years, from June 2021 to August 2023, millions of biodegradable-packaged products were sold, indicating a noticeable shift in the market towards environmentally conscious brands. Currently, more than 83% of its product packaging is made of biodegradable materials that break down within five to ten years, compared to conventional plastic materials.

To continue their project, they also launched their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in October 2021, with activities like coastal clean-up operations and nationwide tree and mangrove planting projects. Hundreds of dealers and employees enthusiastically participated, resulting in over 240,000 newly planted trees and mangroves. This effort contributed significantly to offsetting 6,362 tons of CO2 emissions (using the calculation for CO2 offsetting at encon.eu). Furthermore, the collective efforts of the team also resulted in the successful collection of more than 35 tons of trash, showcasing the company's commitment to environmental conservation.

To reach a wider audience, they heavily promoted their green advocacy by spreading information and awareness about plastic pollution and proper segregation. They used educational videos, blogs, emails, marketing materials, billboards, published articles and advertorials, and social media activities, which touched the lives of 110 million people in the national and online communities.  

Filipinos recognised the company as the most environmentally responsible direct-selling brand in the Philippines. With an 87% approval rating from hundreds of Filipino direct sellers belonging to SEC Classes C, D, and E, Personal Collection surpassed its competitors in the industry. Comments on social media accounts also affirm that the campaign is beneficial. Additionally, they have clinched distinctions from various organisations in the Philippines.

The awards fueled the company to continue pressing forward. They plan to build turtle sanctuaries, continue an awareness campaign, transition their formulations to biodegradable materials, achieve 100% biodegradable packaging of their products, and encourage more people to support their #GreenLifeGreatLife Campaign.

Personal Collection, with over 600 branches nationwide, is one of the pioneers in promoting environmental responsibility in the Philippines. The biodegradable packaging and formula, CSR campaigns, and media advertising resulted in the prestigious Eco-friendly Initiative of the Year - Philippines award. 

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 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the FMCG industry, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].