Robinsons Malls recently introduced its first “Renew-a-Bottle” machine at Robinsons Galleria as part of its "Save the Planet 1 Bottle a Time" campaign. This initiative is integrated into the solid waste management program of its parent company, Robinsons Land Corporation, which aims to channel most of the non-biodegradable waste generated at its properties toward recycling and other waste-processing facilities by 2030.
Located at Robinsons Galleria's Eat Street, the innovative Renew-a-Bottle machine encourages customers to actively protect the environment and promote sustainable living. With the machine, mallgoers can conveniently surrender their used plastic bottles in exchange for points that may be redeemed at Robinsons Malls’ featured partner establishments for the month, which include Robinsons Movieworld, Playlab, and Tom’s World for January. The amount of points earned is based on the number of bottles fed into the machine as well as their displacement or volume.
Robinsons Malls’ plastic waste recovery efforts are being done in conjunction with Juan Goal for Plastic, a sustainability-focused initiative being undertaken across the Gokongwei Group ecosystem. Spearheaded by Universal Robina Corporation (URC), the project seeks to collect, recover, and divert plastic waste from landfills as part of the Group’s commitment toward achieving plastic neutrality. Apart from Robinsons Malls, JG Summit Olefins Corporation (JGSOC) and the supermarkets and convenience stores under Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) are the other key participants in Juan Goal for Plastic. Working collectively, Robinsons Malls, JGSOC, RRHI, and URC have established more than 100 plastic waste collection hubs throughout the country.
Apart from launching the Renew-a-Bottle machine, Robinsons Malls regularly hosts a monthly recycling market to offer its customers more opportunities to participate meaningfully in a circular economy. These recycling efforts go hand in hand with the sustainability goals of RLC. As stated in its most recent sustainability report, the real estate company is steering its properties toward having “the best waste management system in the country.”
Major improvements on this front are being done by working with mall merchants to replace non-recyclables with recyclables in a bid to reduce its total residual waste. Robinsons Land is also working to link recyclers with its properties’ waste collectors, thereby ensuring that the non-biodegradable recyclable waste is properly and adequately recycled. In addition, RLC is exploring options to convert biodegradable waste into compost or energy, reducing the overall waste sent to landfills.
For more information on Robinsons Malls, visit robinsonsmalls.com
