By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Coca-Cola Europacific Philippines is strengthening its plastic bottle recovery and recycling efforts in Davao City while supporting this year’s Kadayawan Festival.
During the Media Kumustahan on Wednesday, Aug. 12, company representatives highlighted the “Tapon to Ipon” program, which collects and recycles used clear PET bottles of any brand.
Jeffrey Lazarte, commercial unit director for Southeast Mindanao, said the company has been operating in the Philippines for 114 years and serves consumers and small businesses through its manufacturing and distribution network.
The company has eight manufacturing plants and about 9,000 employees nationwide. In Southeast Mindanao, it operates facilities and distribution networks serving Davao City, Tagum, Cotabato City, and General Santos City.
Lazarte said Coca-Cola also reaches about 1.2 million small retailers nationwide, including sari-sari stores, carinderias, groceries, and supermarkets.
Andy Alarcon, the company’s communications lead, said sustainability efforts include water conservation, renewable energy, returnable glass bottles, and recycled PET packaging.
She said the “Tapon to Ipon” program now has more than 6,000 collection points, many of them located in neighborhood stores.
Collected bottles are sent to PETValue Philippines in General Trias, Cavite, where they are processed into recycled PET material for new packaging.
The facility can process up to 2 billion PET bottles annually, Alarcon said.
In Davao, collection bins are available at selected partner locations, including Shell Select outlets.
The company has also partnered with local governments in Davao del Sur, Samal, and Davao Oriental for bottle collection and recycling efforts.
For Kadayawan, the “Tapon to Ipon” program will be available at Rizal Park from Aug. 14 to 16, where consumers can bring eligible clear PET bottles to the collection booth.
Lazarte said the company’s Kadayawan participation also includes support for the Aug. 15 concert, food bazaars, and other festival activities in Davao City.
