Diageo, the maker of international spirits products like Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Tanqueray, and Don Julio, is launching its first post-consumer glass collection initiative in the Philippines. The new program, called Diageo Harmony, is aimed at promoting post-consumer glass bottle collection and recycling as a way to put us back in harmony with ourselves, with others, and with the environment. To encourage consumers to participate in this sustainable recycling initiative, the company will reward those who will donate any clean and empty Diageo and generic food and beverage bottles with premium Diageo merchandise and complimentary drink stubs which may be claimed at Locavore and Nikkei participating outlets. Diageo will kick off its pilot collection drive in July within Taguig’s financial and lifestyle center, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), with seven collection sites located in De Jesus Oval, Essensa (21st Drive), Maridien (27th Drive), 10th corner 25th, Burgos Circle, McKinley Hill Information Center, and near Landers BGC. Diageo will be working closely with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST), lead innovator for waste management systems and technologies in the country as well as with recycling partner, San Miguel Yamamura Glass Recycling Facility for processing collected bottles into cullets for recycling. “It is our mission in Diageo to grow sustainably in a way that benefits the environment and the communities. We have come a long way, and we will continue to make significant strides to make our packaging more sustainable, to eliminate waste from our value chain, and to create more innovative solutions to achieve a more circular economy,” said Paul Guzman, the supply chain director of Diageo Philippines. The initiative is part of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, the company’s 10- year Environment, Society and Governance (ESG) action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. The SOP priorities reflect the most material issues impacting Diageo’s company, people, brands, suppliers, and the community. These include promoting positive drinking, champion inclusion and diversity, and pioneer grain-to-glass sustainability.

”Our Spirit of Progress underpins everything we do, and that means doing the right thing the right way for our business, people, society and the environment. We have a responsibility to preserve the natural resources available for us now and for the future generations,” said Rajesh Joshi, General Manager of Diageo Philippines. The initiative is part of Diageo’s ambitious plan to reduce the impact of its total 2023 volumes by offsetting 10% of its total imported weight by the total volume of the post-consumer glass bottle collected. The alcoholic beverage giant also wants to heighten the focus on collecting and recycling post-consumer glass bottles, which are in fact higher valued items that support the informal economy. The program also signifies Diageo’s continued commitment to being a responsible manufacturer that strictly complies with the government’s existing rules on waste management.