My Mushings

Coca-Cola Philippines and World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF) today unveiled the first plant billboard in the country, an iconic structure to represent the long-standing partnership between the two organizations to make a positive difference in the environment. I have seen it and I was in awe because I never thought I’d something like this happen.

The partnership spans across two areas of Coca-Cola Philippines’ Live Positively sustainability program. From what I saw and heard they decided to focus on two areas

• Water Stewardship — Since 2008, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with WWF in an effort to help conserve critical watersheds in the country. It is one of the environmental initiatives implemented by Coca-Cola Philippines to strive to be a water sustainable business and replenish the amount of water equivalent to what the company uses in all of their beverages and their production.

• Climate Protection — Coca-Cola Philippines is a major corporate partner of WWF in this year’s Earth Hour and in the other programs throughout the rest of the year challenging individuals, companies and organizations to go “Beyond the Hour.”

The 60 x 60 ft. plant billboard, located along Northbound EDSA-Forbes, utilizes a thriving species of Fukien tea plant, which absorbs air pollutants. According to botanist Anthony Gao, each plant can absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year, on the average. “This billboard will  help alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate.

Recyclable materials were used for the overall make-up of the billboard. 3,600 pots were used, recycling old bottles of various Coca-Cola products. These bottles were filled with a potting mixture made up of a combination of industrial by-products and organic fertilizers—a formulation that is stable and light-weight. These bottles were also designed to contain the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways. Additional holes were made for proper drainage and for holding the drip lines in place.

A drip irrigation system, also known as trickle irrigation or micro-irrigation, was especially installed for efficient water distribution. This irrigation method saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The system is operated on a schedule to distribute water with nutrients to the plants. It provides the plants with what they need when they need it.

With all the eco-friendly mechanism it employs and the relevant advocacy it stands for, this innovative advertising is a salient reminder for Filipinos to take an active hand in protecting and saving the environment.

For more information about Coca-Cola Philippines and WWF, please visit their websites at www.livepositively.com.ph and www.wwf.org.ph.