Various members of Royal FrieslandCampina (RFC) leadership team in Asia were in Manila to attend a Leadership Conference on Sustainability last 17-18 May 2023.

The symposium aimed to equip the company’s senior leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead their teams in implementing programs aligned with RFC’s sustainability goals by 2030. The said conference was attended by managing directors (CEOs) from FrieslandCampina’s operating companies (OpCos) in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The two-day training covered various topics related to RFC’s Sustainability pillars which are sustainable packaging, nutrition, and local sourcing of milk. The training also included a creek clean-up, wrapper redemption, market visit, and a Meet and Greet with San Pedro City, Laguna Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado. These provide the participants with a hands-on experience on implementing the programs of Alaska Milk who has been very proactive in sustainability programs among RFC (OpCos).

The team visited Luna Extension Creek in Barangay San Roque, San Pedro City, Laguna, for the clean-up. This is an integral site among other bodies of water in the city because of its proximity to Laguna de Bay, the largest and most important lake in the Philippines.

Aside from plastics and other commercial and household waste gathered and collected along the stretch of the creek, invasive water hyacinths or water lilies from dense colonies were also cleared because it blocks sunlight and crowds out native species of plants and animal life in the area. This is one of the major causes of the declining productivity of Laguna de Bay.

The delagation also visited the San Pedro City Hall to witness and be involved in the Wrapper Redemption activity, one of the environmental sustainability programs of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) in partnership with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of San Pedro.

“We, the people of San Pedro, are thankful for this visit because it clearly shows that Alaska and FrieslandCampina are dedicated to solving pollution caused by plastics. Our city, a partner of Alaska for many years now, will still continue to support this (Wrapper Redemption) project because it does not only benefit our community but also the environment,” said City of San Pedro Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado.

According to Corine Tap, Senior Vice President of Royal FrieslandCampina in Asia, sustainability is a crucial priority for the company. “We believe that sustainable practices are not only good for the environment but also our business. By implementing sustainable practices, we can reduce our environmental impact, improve our operational efficiency, and enhance our brand reputation,” she said.

Tap also emphasized the importance of leadership in driving sustainability initiatives. “Sustainability is not just a task for our sustainability department. It is a responsibility that every employee, especially our leaders, should take seriously. This training is part of our efforts to equip our leaders with the skills and knowledge to lead their teams in implementing sustainable practices,” she added.

The endeavor received positive feedback from the participants, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn and share best practices with colleagues from other countries. “The training was eye-opening and inspiring. It gave us a better understanding of the importance of sustainability and how we can integrate it into our operations,” said Tarang Gupta, Managing Director of AMC.

The training is part of RFC’s commitment to sustainability, which includes the company’s “Nourishing a Better Planet” program. The program aims to reduce the company’s environmental impact and promote sustainable agriculture and dairy farming practices.

With this leadership training, RFC is taking a proactive approach to driving sustainability initiatives in its operations in Asia. By equipping its leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge, the company is well-positioned to achieve its sustainability goals and contribute to a better planet.