As part of its commitment to environmental protection and conservation, Globe joins the world in calling for consistent global recycling efforts, proper e-waste disposal, ban of single-use plastics and other sustainable initiatives during the worldwide celebration of Global Recycling Day on March 18.
Launched in 2018, Global Recycling Day was created to help recognize and celebrate the crucial role recycling plays in preserving the world’s precious primary resources to help secure its future. It also encourages everyone to think about resources, not waste, when it comes to dealing with different kinds of goods.
Globe continues to encourage positive consumer behavior through its numerous environmental sustainability programs like E-waste Zero and ‘Wag Sa Single Use plastic or WasSUP that call for the extended lifespan of electronic gadgets, plastics and endorse responsible recycling.
“We introduced our E-waste Zero program back in 2014 as a way to raise funds to put up new classrooms in Aklan which were devastated by typhoon Haiyan. Since then we were able to scale the program by partnering with the rest of the AC Group, corporate clients, schools, and NGOs,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
By recycling materials, natural resources are conserved, pollution caused by hazardous substances is avoided, and vulnerable communities are protected. Improper disposal of e-waste, for instance, can pollute the environment and even pose health hazards as old phones, home appliances, broken electronic gadgets and their batteries contain toxic components such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury that can severely damage the environment and even harm people.
Thus, Globe, through its E-waste Zero, focuses on the responsible disposal and recycling of electronic wastes or e-wastes. The program is a platform for individuals and organizations to donate their old, non-working electronic devices and accessories via participating Globe Stores, select malls and offices of partner groups. Free door-to-door pickups are also available through the website – https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability/environment.html
To date, more than 1.4 million kilograms of e-waste were donated, collected and responsibly recycled through Globe’s partner Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities. These are Total Environment Solutions – Asset Material Management Philippines (TES-AMM) in Pasig City and Maritrans Recycler, Inc. in Cebu. E-wastes are segregated to recover plastic materials, electronic components, and precious metals and the final recycling process is done in TES-AMM’s facility in Singapore.
TSDs are DENR Environmental Management Bureau accredited facilities that have the capacity and technology to process hazardous wastes. All generated hazardous wastes must be handled and disposed of in accordance with the Republic Act 6969 otherwise known as the Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990. Globe has aligned its internal disposal process with this through the ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System being implemented across the organization.
WasSUP, on the other hand, is a corporate sustainability program geared towards advocating a zero waste lifestyle and educating Globe employees on how avoidance of single-use plastics can help in environmental conservation. Just this year, Globe collaborated with Green Antz Builders Inc. for the responsible disposal and processing of single-use plastic wastes starting with its main office at The Globe Tower in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Green Antz Builders is an innovative provider of building and housing solutions that integrates eco-friendly practices and green technologies in its products and services.
Globe has already installed a plastic shredder that makes sure that all identified single-use plastics or SUPs from within the premises are processed in a responsible manner before getting transported to the Green Antz facility in Taguig. The shredded plastics would then be used as a component of eco-bricks and pavers that will be later on sold by Green Antz as construction materials for schools and garden pathways.
Two more sustainability efforts by Globe are its partnership with Vending Experts Night and Day Philippines, Inc. or VEND, and Quanta Paper. The company has worked with VEND to produce vending machines that operate using the Quick Response (QR) code for cashless and contactless transactions using GCash. 28 VEND machines have already been installed at Globe offices with customers being given a Php 1.00 rebate on their transaction when they use their own mug instead of a disposable paper cup.
Meanwhile, Quanta Paper provides rolls of tissue paper to Globe offices that are marked with the Green Choice Seal of Approval. This certifies that the products are environmentally safe and produced in accordance with the principles of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development.
Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 12— Sustainable Consumption and Production—which is about achieving economic growth and sustainable development by urgently reducing ecological footprint. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources; and SDG No. 13 which is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html
