Tetra Pak has forged an agreement with the nonprofit CSR organization of food and beverage firm Del Monte Philippines Inc. for a program that aims to educate schools and communities on the importance of recycling used beverage cartons (UBCs).
Del Monte Foundation Inc. said its partnership with Tetra Pak for the Cartons for Communities program is in keeping with its mission of promoting sustainable practices.
Tetra Pak said in a statement that it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the foundation to formalize the partnership.
“We are excited to bring Del Monte Foundation onboard as the beneficiary of Cartons for Communities and the opportunity of working together to raise awareness on the importance of segregation for recycling among Filipino communities and bring about change,” said Catherine Chua, Sustainability Manager at Tetra Pak Philippines.
Through its Cartons for Communities platform, Tetra Pak educates schools and private communities on the importance of recycling UBCs, collection partners and junk shops to collect and recycle used beverage cartons. The packaging solutions firm said these collected used beverage cartons are then turned into Poly AI boards and recycled chipboards that can be converted into “useful everyday items,” such as chairs and tables. Andrea E. San Juan
Tetra Pak said the initiative takes an “integrated” approach across the value chain by involving all stakeholders, from “fostering awareness to collection, recycling, and conversion of collected cartons.”
Recently, Tetra Pak said some of its representatives, along with the Del Monte Foundation, conducted a visit to school beneficiaries in Bukidnon province to gain important insights into the community’s needs.
“The visit identified a pressing need for kindergarten chairs and tables. This insight has been incorporated into the program’s plan to make furniture from recycled UBC boards to address the needs of local communities’ schools,” the company said.
Meanwhile, Del Monte Foundation Executive Director Bella Quimpo said the nonprofit CSR organization is committed to promoting sustainable practices and protecting the environment.
“We believe that environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility and this partnership with Tetra Pak aligns perfectly with our mission. Through the program, we aim to drive awareness, educate the public and promote a recycling value chain that will preserve our natural resources for generations to come,” Quimpo said.
Tetra Pak said the Cartons for Communities platform is driven by its “strategic” ambition to lead sustainability transformation across industries. The company said it works closely with stakeholders across the value chain to drive collective action that can help contribute to circularity and increase food packaging recycling.
