Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines announced that it has already reduced over 80 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions from its local operations, way ahead of its global target of cutting it by 50 percent by 2030.
This significant progress and the launch of its Philippines Forests for Good program were announced during P&G Philippines’ Sustainability Summit, built on the theme #ItsOurHome. The summit saw participation from its employees, business leaders, external partners, and sustainability advocates from the industry, NGOs and social enterprises.
During the event, P&G declared accelerated commitment to strengthen progress towards its global Ambition 2030 goals. Ambition 2030 aims to make responsible consumption possible for consumers through holistic, comprehensive interventions across four aspects which the company controls: its brand innovations, supply chain operations, trusted partnerships that impact society and their employees.
As a result, P&G has a long-term commitment to make significant and meaningful impact in the environmental areas of climate, water and waste.
P&G’s climate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of the decade by cutting greenhouse gas emissions at P&G sites globally by buying 100percent renewable electricity and increasing energy efficiency.
To further offset the unrecoverable emissions, the company is supporting natural climate solutions that help conserve, protect and restore forests with global partners such as Conservation International and its recently launched P&G Forests for Good program. The program aims to actively protect nature, beginning with 12 pilot programs in 12 months across its Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMA) region, by planting trees that help improve local ecosystems. Philippines is one of the pilot countries supporting this natural climate solution and will help forestation efforts in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
Today, there are 5,000 trees and counting in the P&G Forest for Good in Sierra Madre and it will continue to help in the reforestation efforts for the Philippines’ longest mountain range.
P&G Forests for Good in the AMA region has partnered with EcoMatcher to pilot its block chain technology that increases forestry transparency and accountability, together with local conservation organizations in each country where it is starting this journey. In the Philippines, FEED Inc. is the local conservation partner of EcoMatcher and P&G. The program better enables employees, partners and consumers to have strong visibility and tracking of the impact they have from planting trees.
P&G AMA also recently announced acceleration of its water goals by developing a water stewardship action plan in accordance with the externally recognized Alliance for Water Stewardship standard for 100 percent of P&G’s manufacturing sites located in high water stress areas by end of 2022. This will significantly help as water scarcity is a challenge facing many parts of the world including several across the AMA region.
In the Philippines, P&G has already eliminated the virgin plastic overwrap packaging on its Safeguard multi-packs and is now using 100 percent recycled paper carton material. The change saves 8,500 kilometers worth of plastic waste every year. P&G’s new Herbal Essences bio: renew collection also now uses post-consumer recycled material for its bottle packaging.
Ultimately, P&G will make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030 and will also cut the use of virgin plastic in packaging by 50 percent.
“We will reduce the use of virgin plastic and start using alternative materials in our Philippines’ product bundling activities as well as point-of-sale materials found inside stores,” commits Raffy Fajardo, P&G president and general manager for Philippines. “P&G, our people and our brands will continue to use our expertise, operations and scale to build a better world for all.”
