PMFTC Batangas factory recertified for responsible water use

Elvio Rocco, PMFTC manufacturing director

The manufacturing plant of PMFTC Inc. in Tanauan, Batangas marked another milestone in its commitment to water stewardship after once again obtaining a core certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) three years after it was first certified in 2021.

PMFTC Inc. is the local affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI). Its Batangas factory was the first ever manufacturing site in the Philippines to secure the AWS certification.

“Our vision of a sustainable smoke-free future is at the heart of PMI’s values of ‘We Care, We Are Better Together, and We Are Game-Changers.’ This AWS recertification aligns with our environmental commitment to preserve water resources and respect the natural cycle of water relevant to our business, our stakeholders and the communities where we operate,” said Elvio Rocco, PMFTC Manufacturing Director.

“For us, caring for our water resources means caring for people. That focus extends to preserving water quality and promoting safe access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, as well as collaborating to proactively address water-related challenges within the community,” Rocco stressed.

AWS is a global standard that helps water users minimize their water footprint, address water-related risks, and collaborate with stakeholders in the same water catchment for effective water management.

The certification is part of the global PMI commitment to minimize its environmental impact. Since 2017, the AWS Certification has been introduced amongst PMI’s sustainability pillars to drive sustainable water management in local territories.

The Batangas site is open and transparent to all stakeholders: internal (employees and contractors), industrial (First Philippine Industrial Park or FPIP in Batangas and other suppliers), institutional (government bodies and the local government of Batangas), and the relevant public to support, collaborate and do collective measures for water sustainability.

Proving its commitment to water stewardship, PMI plans to certify all facilities worldwide by 2025. To date, PMI has a total of 25 sites that are AWS-certified.

Further demonstrating its sustainability pledge, PMFTC’s Batangas factory has also undertaken various efforts to raise awareness of waste management. This includes initiating a plastic-collecting program among employees where over 750kg of plastic was gathered. This will be upcycled and processed to construct a handwashing facility that will eventually be donated to a community in need.

In addition, PMFTC has also heavily invested in initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions with the installation of a $9.9M solar plant in its Batangas facility, which is expected to result in a CO2 reduction of more than 11,000 tons annually.