- Snacks company receives award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability
- Actions on carbon emissions reduction and plastic waste management recognized
Mondelēz International in the Philippines has been awarded the prestigious IABC Triple P Award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability in the Food Manufacturing Category. This recognition highlights the snacks company’s dedication to driving practices that prioritize Sustainable Snacking: covering carbon emissions reduction, plastic waste management and community engagement.
Known for beloved snack brands like Oreo, Toblerone, Tang, Eden Cheese and Cadbury Dairy Milk, Mondelēz International is guided by its vision of empowering people to snack right, by offering the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way. This is reflected in its Sustainable Snacking strategy, which places emphasis on resource efficiency, waste management innovations, and supporting the circular economy of plastics.
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization was Jasser Morales, Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Lead for the Philippines. “As the global leader in snacking, we understand our unique responsibility in leading by example in environmental stewardship,” Morales said. “Our progress in sustainability reflects a commitment that goes beyond compliance. We are taking bold steps to ensure that snacking goes hand in hand with the environment and community.”
The organization’s achievements at its 61-year old Sucat manufacturing plant underscore the tangible outcomes of its sustainability efforts. The company has successfully implemented 100% renewable energy sourcing in its plant, by utilizing hydropower, solar panels, and biomass boilers, all of which have also drastically cut down carbon emissions by 96% since 2018. Additionally, the Philippine site also achieved 19% reduction in water consumption and 50% reduction in food waste, respectively, as it maintained certifications for Zero Waste to Landfill and Zero Water Discharge, further distinguishing it as a top-performing facility among Mondelēz International sites in Asia.
“Our efforts, especially at the Sucat plant, have been transformative. We continue to achieve milestones in reducing our emissions and resource consumption, demonstrating our dedication to minimizing our environmental footprint while continuing to champion mindful and sustainable snacking,” Morales explained.
Moreover, Mondelēz International has also recently concluded its flagship sustainability program called “Trash Right.” The initiative, facilitated in partnership with Plastic Flamingo and Save Philippine Seas, was designed to engage school communities in plastic waste awareness, and collection and segregation activities. As of October 2024, the campaign has already collected almost 10 metric tons of plastic waste from twenty-seven public elementary schools in Parañaque City, where its operations are present.
Caitlin Punzalan, the Corporate and Government Affairs Lead of Mondelēz International, emphasized the program’s importance in reinforcing the company’s sustainability goals. “We believe that sustainability is a shared responsibility. The Trash Right Program aims not only to collect plastic waste but also foster environmental awareness within the communities involved.”
“Through these efforts, we aim to engage the youth in sustainability,” Punzalan shared. “By equipping the youth with knowledge and practices to help address marine pollution, we are supporting the future stewards of the environment.”
As Mondelēz International continues to take significant strides toward more efficient, eco-friendly processes and practices, this award is a testament to its commitment to environmental stewardship and its role in leading the future of snacking. Through its holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to sustainability such as the Trash Right Program, the company remains dedicated to creating a lasting impact on the environment and the communities it serves.
