CEBU CITY — Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge) launched its #CountdownToZeroWaste group-wide waste management campaign focusing on the proper disposal and recycling of waste as part of its countdown to eliminate waste to landfill output by 2030.
“At Converge, sustainability means walking the talk. We want to show that we are keeping our promises and turning our sustainability commitments into real, tangible company practices,” Converge President and Co-Founder Maria Grace Uy said.
She said that in 2021, Converge established its Solid Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Management Guidelines while this year the company puts more into practice based on the guidelines to ensure that its wastes are recycled, reused and treated properly.
Uy shared that Converge’s #CountdownToZeroWaste campaign, partnered with Jontrix Trading Philippines and Green Antz Builders Inc. for the proper processing, management, and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or e-waste and with Kreations PH for the upcycling of its excess marketing materials such as tarpaulins.
“As we expand our business, we understand that we have a greater responsibility to operate more sustainably. Thus, we have pledged to achieve zero solid waste to landfill by 2030 as part of our sustainability commitments. To this end, we are embracing circularity and resource efficiency as key levers to reduce our waste,” Converge Chief Strategy Officer Benjamin Azada explained.
Jontrix Trading and Green Antz Builders are scrap recycling organizations that collect and upscale solid wastes into bricks, chairs, and other construction materials to aid in waste reduction.
Meanwhile, Kreations is a social entrepreneur that helps women in Rizal to augment their household income by upcycling various materials; like tarpaulins, into bags, mats, and other household items.
“This initiative is particularly important because we know that the improper disposal of waste has a direct impact on climate change. Everyday, we see the impact of climate change on our environment. Typhoons are becoming stronger and the devastation is more massive. We’ve seen this happen several times in the past year as we strengthened our Disaster Preparedness Protocols,” Uy shared.
E-waste is now considered one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the Philippines. Through its partnership with Jontrix and Green Antz, Converge ensures that its hazardous and e-wastes are properly hauled, processed, and recycled by DENR-accredited companies.
To kick off the strategic partnership, Converge has launched the collection of discarded electronic devices and equipment from employees through zero-waste bins placed in its offices in Pasig and Clark and selected business centers while directing all of its business units to send all used tarpaulins to the head offices for proper upcycling and processing.
Azada underscored the importance of recycling e-waste as it contains toxic chemicals and a significant carbon footprint that will continue to impact the environment if these materials are not recycled.
“E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world because we are digitalizing our economies. Everyone has electronic gadgets now, our TVs are getting bigger, and home appliances are becoming more accessible. The Converge network being pure fiber is already more sustainable. However, we recognize that we still produce a significant amount of e-waste from our day-to-day operations,” he said.
Thus, Converge is committed to doing its part to minimize waste and to institute a circular economy, where they reduce, reuse, and recycle across its operations and its supply chain, Azada added.
Aside from fulfilling its zero-waste-to-landfill commitment, Converge also contributes in attaining the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) target of increasing the global e-waste recycling rate by 30 percent by 2023. In 2021, Converge released its Sustainability Commitment as a guiding principle in becoming a globally competitive and sustainable company, Azada bared.
Through this framework and the guidance of the Board Risk and Oversight Committee (BROC), Converge is continuously improving its company policies and operations to manage its economic, environmental and social impact. (Photos: Converge)
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