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Globe Advocates Care for the Environment Through E-Waste Efforts
Apart from caring for its customers, Globe advocates caring for the environment through proper electronic waste (e-waste) management and disposal as part of its contribution to achieving a circular economy, a process wherein the value of goods is maximized to produce zero or the least waste possible.
“In a circular economy, we don’t just talk about recycling. We start by reassessing our purchasing habits. We need to influence our fellow Filipinos to refuse acquiring new and unnecessary gadgets and always aim to reduce, reuse and recycle electronic wastes. These efforts will help avoid the continuous extraction of raw materials and conserve our precious natural resources,” said Rofil Magto, Globe Climate Action Lead for Sustainability and Social Responsibility during the #TEPTalks webinar on eco-friendly solutions for sustainable innovation.
The talk is organized by the UP Circuit, a duly recognized academic, non-profit, and non-partisan student organization from the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) of the University of the Philippines - Diliman. It is part of the organization’s The E-Waste Project (TEP), a year-long campaign with the advocacy of raising awareness about proper Electronic Waste (E-Waste) disposal and management through annual seminars and collection drives.
"The E-waste Project's goal, ever since its establishment, is to raise awareness, educate, and encourage individuals to join the fight for a greener environment. Amidst the pandemic and the limitations of face-to-face activities, we continue to pursue social media campaigns, online activities, and webinars to provide a platform for the public wherein they could learn more about electronic waste and its impacts on our environment. The E-waste Project continues to work hand in hand with different institutions, organizations, and companies with the same agenda, such as Globe, as this is an unceasing fight that needs the involvement and collaboration of everyone,” said Sam Oguing and Jewel Cusipag, TEP Overall Heads.
“As a company that remains mindful of how we affect the community, we always innovate our products and services, engage different public and private stakeholders, and collaborate with government agencies to work collectively towards proactive climate initiatives. Our aim is to create lasting impact with the concrete steps we are taking,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
Through its E-waste Zero program, Globe has set up about 120 e-waste drop-off points across the country to ensure that end-of-life electronic devices like old mobile phones and non-working gadgets and appliances do not end up in landfills. The company also offers free door-to-door collection of e-waste with a minimum weight of 10 kgs to maximize the trip and lessen carbon footprint. Pickup requests may be done through the Globe Sustainability website.
Aside from promoting proper waste management and the efficient use of natural resources, Globe continues to partner with various stakeholders to support the current e-waste management efforts in the country. Since 2014, more than 66 corporations, organizations, local government units, and schools have contributed to this program, leading to the safe management and disposal of more than 1.4 million kg of e-waste. E-waste Zero was also recognized by the GSMA, the international organization representing various mobile operators worldwide, as one of the global best practices in e-waste management. Read the GSMA article on E-waste Zero.
The collected e-waste is delivered to Globe’s partner Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities, namely Total Environment Solutions - Asset Material Management Philippines (TES-AMM) in Pasig City, and Maritrans Recycler, Inc. in Cebu.
E-waste is made up of toxic and hazardous materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, barium, and beryllium, making the process of recycling risky for those who are not trained properly and who do not have the necessary facilities to do it. The UN Environment Programme reports that only 20% of e-wastes are recycled and roughly 80% end up in landfills, pollute the environment and make informal communities susceptible to the hazards of e-waste. The United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 reported that 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2019 alone. In the Philippines, the Global Environment Facility estimated that around 3.9 kg of e-waste per person was generated during the same year.
Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production, which is about achieving economic growth and sustainable development by urgently reducing ecological footprint, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html