Coca-Cola Philippines reinforces its long-standing commitment to sustainability with the launch of the expanded Tapon to Ipon program, marking a significant step forward in strengthening local bottle collection infrastructure and accelerating PET bottle recovery efforts across communities.

The unified system merges Coca-Cola Philippines’ various bottle recovery initiatives, including the Tindahan Extra Mile (TEM) program, under one umbrella. Through Tapon to Ipon, Coca-Cola Philippines aims to strengthen its network of collection hubs and ensure broader access to recycling opportunities across the country.

By expanding its reach, the company continues to deliver on its packaging strategy to design for recyclability and partner to collect, ultimately supporting circularity in packaging.

Launched in 2021, Tapon to Ipon is a nationwide collection initiative led by Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP). The initiative focused on partnering with its network of sari-sari store owners, key customers, government agencies, and local government units for recovery of post-consumer clear PET bottles.

Driving responsible bottle disposal and community engagement

The initiative encourages consumers to exchange their used PET bottles of any brand for Coca-Cola products at designated collection points, including sari-sari store collection hubs and pop-up booths at major local festivals such as the Sinulog festival Dinagyang festival, among others.

The goal is to bring the collected bottles to PETValue Philippines, the country’s first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility located in General Trias, Cavite. PETValue Philippines, a joint venture between CCEAP and Indorama Ventures, plays a critical role in supporting circularity in packaging by turning post-consumer PET bottles into new food-grade recycled PET (rPET) packaging.

To date, CCEAP has established nearly 800 Tapon to Ipon collection hubs nationwide and has reached over 170 cities and municipalities nationwide, allowing more communities to participate actively in responsible waste management and bottle recovery. The program has also been recognized at the FMCG Asia Awards, Quill Awards, and Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, underscoring its significant contribution to promoting sustainable practices and responsible waste management.

Incentivizing community recycling systems

Now fully integrated under Tapon to Ipon, the TEM initiative empowers sari-sari store and carinderia owners to become active agents of environmental stewardship. Implemented in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners (PASCO), TEM enhances community-based recycling efforts at the grassroots level.

Participating micro-retailers collect PET plastic bottles and other recyclables from their communities, which allows them to earn points based on the volume of materials they gather. This system provides residents with convenient access to collection points for their recyclables, while also incentivizing local businesses to participate and inspire collective action towards plastic bottle recycling.

Scaling up nationwide pet bottle recovery

The streamlining of Coca-Cola Philippines’ bottle collection efforts through Tapon to Ipon underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. By partnering with MSMEs retailers, private organizations, and LGUs, the company continues to build a strong network of collection hubs that make recycling more accessible and engaging for communities across the country.