Aboitiz joins efforts in “Restoring the Earth”
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the Aboitiz Group, together with the Climate Change Commission, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, and various public and private organizations, pledged support to the global theme “Restore the Earth” and to help address the global climate crisis and its effects on biodiversity, food and water, public health, industries, and communities.
Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz called for businesses to act immediately and collaboratively as the world’s climate emergency is further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is no better time than now to make the commitment to responsible stewardship of our planet’s finite resources. This is at the heart of the solution and what compels us to pursue better collaboration with multiple sectors in our inclusive approach to resource efficiency.”
Sustainability has always been at the core of Aboitiz business strategy and the company’s own team members carry on that legacy by leading various Group-wide programs that promote the “rethink before you use” mindset. An example of this is the ‘Wealth Out of Waste’ program that encourages a more circular flow of materials across all strategic business units.
Its cement business unit, Republic Cement, is partnering with LGUs and other companies in co-processing plastic waste and turning it into alternative fuel, offering a much-needed solution to the plastic pollution crisis by significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and waterways.
In support of ecosystem-based biodiversity management, Aboitiz crossed a milestone in 2020 by planting a total of 11.7 million trees, exceeding its original target of 9 million for the A-PARK program.
From a business operations perspective, AboitizPower, with its partners, owns the largest installed capacity in renewable energy (RE) sources in the Philippines. The company is committed to further expanding its Cleanergy-branded RE portfolio, targeting a 50:50 balance between its RE and thermal portfolios by 2030 in support of the global movement for clean energy.
The Aboitiz Group acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. The company is championing its Earth Day 2021 pledge by going beyond regulatory compliance in ecosystem restoration from ridge to reef.
“We will scale [sustainability programs] up with innovative, affordable solutions towards restoring our Earth, while supporting the country’s economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, and ecologically sound business practices,” Aboitiz affirmed.
