Last September 30, employees from Nestle Philippines and GMA Network participated in collecting plastic and other wastes from the shore of Las Piñas Parañaque Critical Habitat & Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA). The cleanup activity, which was also joined by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) employees and Sparkle GMA Artist Center (Sparkle) artists, is one of the initiatives under the partnership between Nestle Philippines and GMA Network.

With the aim to help address the plastic crisis in the country, the two companies have joined forces as Kapuso at Kasambuhay ng Kalikasan to educate the public about their individual responsibility in caring for the planet through reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics, and encourage them to be more actively involved in the advocacy for the environment.

“It is very important for us to have our employees, our ambassadors, and our partners to physically do it. It is not just about spending the money to retrieve the plastic, but it is for all of us to feel the challenges we have ahead of us when it comes to plastic pollution, when it comes to sustainability, and how together we can make a difference,” said Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki.

A total of 1,307 kg of wastes were collected during the cleanup activity, which also marks Nestlé Philippines’ second year of plastic neutrality as well as the end of the National Cleanup Month.

According to a market study by the World Bank, the Philippines generates 2.7 million tons of plastic waste each year and an estimated 20% of these end up polluting bodies of water and coastal areas. This is caused by various factors, including improper waste disposal and management, and low collection and recycling rates in the country. When left unaddressed, this will vastly endanger marine life and the environment in general.