Diageo, the makers of some of the most popular liquors in the world like Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Tanqueray, and Baileys, recently launched its first post-consumer glass collection initiative in the Philippines that would further help reduce waste and create a more circular economy.
This is part of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, the company’s 10-year Environment, Society and Governance action plan for a more inclusive and sustainable world.
The SOP priorities reflect the most material issues impacting Diageo’s company, people, brands, suppliers, and the community. These include promoting positive drinking, champion inclusion and diversity, and pioneer grain-to-glass sustainability.
”Our Spirit of Progress underpins everything we do, and that means doing the right thing the right way for our business, people, society and the environment. We have a responsibility to preserve the natural resources available for us now and for the future generations,” said Diageo Philippines general manager Rajesh Joshi.
The new program, aptly called Diageo Harmony, is aimed at promoting recycling as a way to put us back in harmony with ourselves, with others, and with the environment.
The company will reward those who will donate any clean and empty Diageo and generic food and beverage bottles with premium Diageo merch and drink stubs.
“It is our mission in Diageo to grow sustainably in a way that benefits the environment and the communities. We have come a long way, and we will continue to make significant strides to make our packaging more sustainable, to eliminate waste from our value chain, and to create more innovative solutions to achieve a more circular economy,” said Diageo Philippines supply chain director Paul Guzman.
Diageo kicked off its pilot collection drive in July within Taguig’s financial and lifestyle center, Bonifacio Global City, with seven collection sites located in De Jesus Oval, Essensa (21st Drive), Maridien (27th Drive), 10th corner 25th, Burgos Circle, McKinley Hill Information Center, and near Landers BGC.
Diageo is the first international spirits & liquor company to roll out a consumer glass collection and recycling campaign in the market.
The company will be working closely with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc., a waste collection company, to leverage its waste collection program and recycling partner, San Miguel Yamamura Glass Recycling Facility.
The initiative is part of Diageo’s ambitious plan to reduce by 10 percent the impact of its total 2023 volumes by offsetting the total volume of glass bottle collection and the total imported weight.
The alcoholic beverage giant also wants to heighten the focus on collecting and recycling post-consumer glass bottles, which are in fact higher valued items that support the informal economy.
Consumers near the drop-off centers may stop by and donate to redeem special items. They would need to fill up their Diageo passport sticker cards with stickers that they will receive upon every visit and donation of at least five clean and empty food and beverage glass bottles.
The collection centers are open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Aside from scaling down environmental impact, the program also signifies Diageo’s continued commitment to being a responsible manufacturer that strictly complies with the government’s existing rules on waste management.
Diageo is committed to becoming net zero carbon across its direct operation, reducing supply chain emissions by 50 percent and using 100 percent renewable energy across all direct operations by 2030 or sooner.
