NOW in its fifth year, through its partnership with the PCX Markets, Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) continues its ongoing commitment to circularity, having fully recovered plastic waste from the environment equivalent to 100 percent of the plastic packaging usage of its brands. This is a milestone that surpasses the 40 percent plastic recovery requirement set by the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 or Republic Act 11898.
“We recognize that offsetting is only one of the many solutions to tackling plastic waste. This is an interim step while we continuously seek long-term ways to minimize and responsibly manage plastic use, ultimately doing our part to contribute to a circular economy,” writes CNPF in a statement.
As a Plastic Cleanup Partner of PCX, CNPF continuously invests in cleanup credits that recover 100 percent of its brands’ plastic packaging footprint. This enables the removal of the equivalent amount of its post-consumer plastic footprint from the environment, which is then responsibly processed.
PARTNERS IN CIRCULARITY Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) proudly partners with PCX Markets to fully recover all of its brands’ plastic packaging footprint. PHOTO FROM PCX
In fulfillment of its commitment to promoting circularity, the company and its subsidiaries have funded the clean up of approximately 2,900 metric tons worth of plastic in 2024 alone through purchased credits and Century Tuna’s Saving Our Seas campaign.
To ensure transparency and accountability, CNPF’s plastic recovery efforts are audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. These third-party audits verify the company’s plastic waste accountability and support CNPF’s certification as a Plastic Cleanup Partner of PCX.
Furthermore, CNPF notes that the Control Union Philippines Inc. carries out a thorough assessment of its plastic reduction initiatives.
By transparently measuring and reporting the impact of its plastic credits through the PCX credit registry, CNPF fosters transparency and accountability within its operations, going beyond compliance and positioning itself ahead of the requirements set by the EPR Act of 2022.
Empowering communities through responsible waste management
CNPF’s plastic recovery initiatives support community development, particularly around women empowerment.
With partners HOPE and PCX, CNPF supports the HOPE’s Aling Tindera Waste-to-Cash program that engages women-owned sari-sari (variety) stores in Batangas to serve as plastic collection hubs.
These micro-entrepreneurs, also referred to as HOPE’s Aling Tindera partners, help promote community development in plastic recovery while also benefiting from additional income — with their average annual earnings reported to have risen by 37 percent from collecting and selling back plastic waste to HOPE. The amount of plastic waste recovered and processed through HOPE’s Aling Tindera are then converted into credits by PCX and purchased by CNPF, closing the loop.
MONEY IN PLASTIC The photo features Teresa Caloy, HOPE’s Aling Tindera partner from Barangay Ligaya, Mabini, Batangas. Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) has 30 collection sites in Mabini, Batangas as of 2025. PHOTO FROM PCX
CNPF believes in using its brands as a platform to raise environmental awareness. Its Century Tuna brand amplifies this program with its ongoing Saving Our Seas campaign in partnership with HOPE and PCX, successfully diverting about 55 metric tons of plastic waste from seas and waterways as of 2024 since its inception.
SAVING SEAS Through its Saving Our Seas program in partnership with HOPE, Century Tuna has successfully diverted about 55 metric tons of plastic waste from seas and waterways as of 2024 since its inception.
Saving Our Seas campaign through the years
The Century Tuna Saving Our Seas initiative — first introduced as a coastal cleanup in 2023 — has grown into a full-fledged campaign to keep plastic waste out of the ocean.
Throughout 2024, Century Tuna has rolled out various community-based initiatives under this campaign. A key milestone is its integration into Century Tuna Superbods, a fitness and modeling competition, where contestants have actively participated in coastal cleanups.
To expand its reach, the campaign has marked the launch of the Palit Plastic Project in La Union, a garbage exchange initiative in partnership with the provincial government.
In celebration of International Cleanup Day, a cleanup activity has also been organized by CNPF in Mabini, Batangas. In three schools within the same municipality, Century Tuna also holds ongoing plastic drives as a meaningful opportunity to regularly collect plastics, educate students in plastic waste reduction and environmental responsibility, and help create a marketplace for waste-to-energy and recycling systems.
And this year, the Saving Our Seas campaign aims to scale its reach even more, starting with a fan meet that featured renowned South Korean actor Park Seo Jun.
SEA SAVER Century Tuna teams up with South Korean actor Park Seo Jun to be a Sea Saver and to clean up plastic waste in his name, amplifying CNPF’s advocacy and encouraging attendees to join the cause.
Unlike a typical meet-and-greet, the event has carried a strong environmental advocacy, encouraging public participation and raising awareness about plastic diversion.
A portion of merchandise sales was allotted to support plastic waste diversion efforts, while PET bottles were also collected from fans during the event.
SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) partners with HOPE and PCX to support women micro-entrepreneurs through a plastic waste-to-cash initiative, called HOPE’s Aling Tindera program, which provides income opportunities while promoting responsible plastic waste management among community members. PHOTO FROM PCX
In essence, every piece of plastic recovered and responsibly managed fuels CNPF’s push for circularity and sustainability. In this relentless pursuit, Century Pacific joins hands with its partners, consumers and communities in creating a cleaner, greener and more resilient future.
It continues to live by the mantra of its founder Ricardo Po Sr. that goes, “Do more good, help more people, be humble.”
This article was originally written and published by The Manila Times.
