My daughter once told me, “Mom, our children will not have a good earth anymore.” It made me reflect on what I and our generation contributed to this belief. It also made me proud of my sister, Joan, who has been focused on sustainability that one fresh paper used unnecessarily in our office becomes a major red flag. And yet the question still lingers: “Now that we know more about the environmental crises we face, can we really do more?”
According to a new study in the US by consumer goods giant P&G, 72 percent of people want to do more to be sustainable at home. But fewer than half of the people who participated in the study routinely make environmentally conscious choices at home. For most people, “not knowing how” is the biggest barrier to acting sustainably.
It is timely that P&G recently held its Philippines’ Sustainability Summit last month, built on the theme “#ItsOurHome”. Hosted virtually, the event focused on increased awareness about the climate and solid waste landscape, and discussed the actionable solutions stakeholders, its consumers and partners like NGOs, tech companies, and the government could take toward greater sustainability. 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 toward its global Ambition 2030 goals which aim to make responsible consumption possible for consumers through holistic, comprehensive interventions in various aspects of its operations, including but not limited to supply chain, customer relations and employee involvement.
TAKING ACTION FOR CLIMATE AND NET ZERO EMISSIONS
P&G’s climate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of the decade. They will do this by cutting greenhouse-gas emissions at P&G sites globally by buying 100 percent 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. Beyond helping in P&G’s net zero emissions goal, Forests for Good aims to actively protect nature, beginning with 12 pilot programs in 12 months across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMA) region, by planting trees that help improve local ecosystems including the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
ACTIVE WATER CONSERVATION
The company is also on track to achieving its global water goals to increase water efficiency at its sites and source at least 5 billion liters from circular sources. The P&G Cabuyao plant tracks its overall water consumption and recycles wastewater inside the plant. P&G’s 2030 goal is to promote and support water conservation and protection for people and nature.
P&G AMA also recently announced acceleration of these 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.
ENABLING PLANT AND CONSUMER WASTE MANAGEMENT
P&G AMA has also certified that 100 percent of its plants as Zero Manufacturing Waste to Landfill, including its local Cabuyao manufacturing plant.
To help reduce post-consumer waste, P&G is committed to comprehensively work on and invest in packaging design and innovation across brands, as well as collaborating with external stakeholders in piloting waste infrastructure interventions across several of its markets.
In the Philippines, P&G has already eliminated the virgin plastic overwrap packaging on its Safeguard multi-packs and are now using 100 percent recycled paper carton material. The change saves 8,500 kilometers worth of plastic waste every year. 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. Raffy Fajardo, P&G president and general manager for Philippines, reiterates: “P&G, our people and our brands will continue to use our expertise, operations and scale to build a better world for all.” He highlighted the culture of sustainability they foster in their workplace, enabling employees to be Green Citizens.
I found the efforts shared by P&G to be encouraging eye-openers for us as consumers, and even more as parents, to educate our kids that “yes, we can all do something today to ensure a good earth for your children.”