Nestlé Philippines is keen on running all its facilities in the country with 100 percent renewable electricity (RE) by 2025 and seeks help to connect its Cagayan de Oro facility with clean energy sources.
The Cagayan de Oro factory is the only facility not yet powered completely by RE, Jose Uy III, the company’s senior vice president and head of corporate affairs, said during the Promoting Renewable Energy Access in Mindanao forum hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in Davao last Friday.
“We made an earlier commitment and this is a big concern for us and that’s why we have interest to join the ECCP and really try to push the agenda here in Mindanao. Because we committed that 100 percent of all our manufacturing plants will be running in RE… That’s why we seek the help of the private sector, ECCP and government to help bring this into fruition because we want to really deliver our commitments,” said Uy during the forum.
Uy added all of Nestlé Philippines’ manufacturing sites in Luzon are now powered by RE including those in Cabuyao, Laguna which produces infant nutrition and liquid beverages; Canlubang, Laguna that produces infant formula; Lipa, Batangas which produces breakfast cereals and chocolate drink powder; and Tanauan, Batangas that produces creamer, powdered milk and chocolate drink.
Nestle Philippines’ Cagayan de Oro facility mainly produces its coffee products in the country.
The company also said its main office in Makati City runs on 100 percent RE as part of Nestlé’s global ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Uy said business-wise, switching to renewables is advantageous because it saves on energy costs, strengthens stakeholder relations and enhances corporate sustainability. He did not provide exact figures. – Jed Macapagal
