#PullingOurWeight in Dow Philippines
Committing to finding sustainable waste management and combating plastic pollution, Dow Philippines has joined in this global endeavor to address plastic waste, one of the most important sustainability issues of our time. For consecutive years, Dow has partnered with different organizations to increase its impact in reducing plastic and delivering circular economy solutions through volunteer activities.
Even before the #PullingOurWeight campaign, Dow had joined International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) events. The ICC is a volunteer effort to address the issue of marine trash. The ICC was born through the Ocean Conservancy, a US-based NGO that organized the first-event coastal cleanup in Texas in 1986. The Philippines joined ICC in 1994 through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In 2019, Dow Philippines participated in various cleanup activities. In its first event in early 2019, 55.2 kg of plastic trash/films were collected to be donated for a plastic road pilot project. Dow also participated in an Earth Day Clean Up at the Las Pinas plant, collecting 55.4 kg of trash. In June, in Bayanan Baywalk Muntinlupa City, 264 kilograms of waste were collected and in September, 225 kg of trash was collected in Las Pinas – Paranaque Critical Habitat Freedom Park.
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, face-to-face volunteering became unlikely. So to make sure that volunteers are safe and #PullingOurWeight is still on the go, Dow participated in a virtual International Coastal Cleanup – on our own homes. Employees had the chance to do the personal cleanup in their homes where they could always start advocating for waste reduction.
In 2021, despite the ongoing pandemic, Dow Philippines still had an opportunity to continue the #PullingOurWeight campaign. Through the Rubber Sole Collection Project, employees can volunteer in the comfort of their homes. This project aims to collect any used shoes/rubber slippers transforming them to be a part of a pedestrian footbridge surface. The bridge will be installed in the Pasig river along Manila.
The #PullingOurWeight campaign is a global initiative aiming to increase responsible waste management awareness. To execute this campaign, Dow organizes volunteer events to engage its employees and communities in addressing plastic pollution. It was the largest employee volunteer event for a single cause in Dow’s history, demonstrating the company’s commitment to a cleaner environment.