PCPPI, Plastic Bank partnership turns plastic waste into shared value

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) is raising the bar for sustainability in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, having recovered 13,000 metric tons of plastic waste in 2024 through its ongoing partnership with Plastic Bank, an international social fintech with a global bottle deposit program.

The initiative not only ensured compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law—a requirement for companies to recover a percentage of the volume of their plastic output—but also empowered waste collectors, engaged local communities, and positioned PCPPI as one of the country’s most forward-thinking companies in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership.

“Plastic Bank partnered with us into thinking beyond compliance. We transformed sustainability into a company-wide mindset that involves every employee, partner, and community we touch,” said Atty. Carina Bayon, Chief ESG Officer of PCPPI. “This has created real, measurable value across our business and the communities we serve.”

Since launching the partnership in 2022, PCPPI has been funding the recovery of plastic equivalent to its entire annual footprint in the Philippines, covering key areas like Cebu, Pampanga, Davao, and Muntinlupa. This is after Plastic Bank gave PCPPI access to a scalable plastic recovery infrastructure aligned with the country’s evolving environmental policies.

But the effort goes beyond waste collection. It supports local recycling ecosystems, improves livelihoods of waste collectors, and strengthens grassroots partnerships with local government units (LGUs) through projects like Adopt-a-River and community-based material recovery initiatives.

“PCPPI’s corporate responsibility goes beyond compliance and leads by example in uplifting communities across the Philippines while preventing plastic from polluting the environment,” said David Katz, Founder and CEO of Plastic Bank. “Together, we’re proving that solving the plastic crisis is possible when companies lead with purpose and create prosperity for the people and the planet.”

From Bottling Beverages to Bottling Change

PCPPI’s sustainability model doesn’t end at recovery. “It aims to empower,” Atty. Carina Bayon added.

The company’s workforce has been mobilized as ESG champions through internal campaigns, bottle collection drives, and learning sessions with Plastic Bank.

With the appointment of its first Chief ESG Officer in 2023, PCPPI unified its sustainability, compliance, legal, and people strategies into one forward-thinking framework. This alignment has led to faster, more impactful decisions and solidified the company’s leadership in the ESG space.

PCPPI’s commitment to sustainability is also generating reputational returns. The company earned recognitions in international ESG forums in Jakarta and Singapore, strengthening the company’s appeal to sustainability-focused investors and partners.

“The company’s transparency and consistency in passing EPR audits are also building consumer trust in a landscape where environmental credibility is increasingly non-negotiable,” said Atty. Carina Bayon. “By embedding ESG into our core strategy, PCPPI has proven that environmental responsibility is not just good business, it is good citizenship, for the common good.”