Coca Cola sees recycling plant bandwagon in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Coca Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) is investing, along with other companies, in a P1 billion recycling facility project for plastic bottles which it sees as paving the way for other similar facilities in the country.

CCBPI declined to say the amount of investment it will make in the project, but said it is in talks with a local firm, and an internationally-recognized green technology company for the recycling facility.

The project will involve turning post-consumer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles into new ones.

CCBPI president and chief executive officer Gareth McGeown said the project is expected to help ensure sustainability in the country.

“Our Coca-Cola bottles and cans are 100 percent recyclable and have value as a recycled material. Our aspiration with this facility is to close the loop on our packaging by helping turn old bottles into new ones. This facility is testament to our resolve in making our World Without Waste vision a reality across the country, with real positive impact not just across our value chain, but also in the communities where we belong,” he said.

Through the recycling facility, PET collection and recycling rates in the country are expected to improve.

The project is also seen to improve the livelihood of workers in the waste materials value chain.