Save PHL Seas, Coca-Cola PH team up again to support community-based solutions on plastic waste

Reimagine Recycling, an annual program that aims to scale plastic waste solutions and promote a circular economy, is calling on individuals and groups that currently implement community-based plastic waste solution programs to submit proposals that it can support with up to PhP 500,000 grant funding.

Deadline for submission of entries is extended until July 22, 2022.

Now on its fourth year, Reimagine Recycling is a project of Save Philippine Seas and Coca-Cola

Foundation Philippines that aims to help those with existing projects on preventing waste leakage in rivers and seas, mainstreaming gender sensitivity in waste management and improving the welfare of informal waste sector expand their projects through capacity building workshops on stakeholder management, communications, and business models, mentoring and financial grant funding.

“At Coca-Cola, we believe in the power of partnerships to help address the global plastic waste issue. By partnering with Save Philippine Seas and supporting entrepreneurs to expand and scale their existing solutions that promote a circular economy, we are also strengthening our commitment to achieve our global goal of a World Without Waste,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and VP for Coca-Cola Franchise Operations in the East Region (Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines).

In 2018, The Coca-Cola Company, through its World Without Waste vision, announced its global goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can it sells by 2030. In the Philippines, Coca-Cola is set to open this year PETValue, the first bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in the country. PETValue is a joint venture between Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. and Indorama Ventures, a global leader in packaging solutions and green technology.

“Consistent with our resolve to help uplift the lives of the communities that we serve, the Coca-Cola

Foundation Philippines is delighted to work with Save Philippine Seas in providing opportunities for Filipinos, especially those who are part of the waste collection value-chain, to improve their lives while helping solve the plastic waste issue in the country,” said Cecile Alcantara, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines President.

“We’re proud to see how last year’s Reimagine Recycling grantees have been able to grow their initiatives through the resources and mentorship of the program. We are excited to look for more initiatives that we can support and help scale,” said Anna Oposa, Executive Director of Save Philippine Seas.

This year, Reimagine Recycling will also include the special participation of Tetra Pak (Philippines) Inc.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify, proposals must be submitted by organizations, associations, or groups with established and ongoing projects that aim to improve the welfare of those in the waste management sector, especially in coastal communities; promote gender mainstreaming in the waste management sector; and prevent waste from going into rivers and marine ecosystems. Projects must be in existence for at least six (6) months by July 2022.

Proposals may be submitted by private entities (including startups and social enterprises), civil society organizations, or academic institutions.

Examples of proposals that would be considered are as follows:

• Low-cost technology to recycle/upcycle plastics
• Digital platforms that improve transparency and traceability in waste collection
• Digital platforms for citizen science projects
• Equipment to collect river- or ocean-bound waste
• Incentive programs for informal waste pickers
• Monitoring or reporting tool for waste collection/recycling rates

Out of the proposals received, 15 entries will be selected to receive capacity-building workshops and mentoring in the areas of stakeholder management, communications, and business models. Out of the 15 shortlisted entries, winners will be selected this year to receive up to PhP500,000 each to expand and scale their projects.

For more information about the program and submission of entries, review the FAQs at www.savephilippineseas.org/faq–reimagine–recycling or send an email to rr@savephilippineseas.org.