Teaching students to recycle for the environment

Manila, Philippines -  Aside from the three Rs that students are taught (Reading, ’Riting, ’Rithmetic), they’re now learning another R: Recycling. Tetra Pak recently awarded the winners of its Tetra Pak Care & Share program at its office in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The program focuses on the collection of used Tetra Pak cartons from more than 100 partner schools in the country and educates kids on the importance of recycling used Tetra Pak packages.

Winner was St. Theresa’s College (STC), QC Grade School Department. Eleonor Brocoy, STC’s grade school science coordinator, shared how the Tetra Pak Care & Share program has been integrated in their school’s waste management program.

“This drive has been fully integrated in our waste management program named SINOP, which stands for Sama-samang Itaguyod Natin ang Oras, Pondo at Iba pa, since we joined in 2003. Aside from promoting less paper consumption, less plastic, and no to Styrofoam, our students are also encouraged to recycle by collecting their used Tetra Pak cartons from their homes. These used and properly flattened Tetra Pak cartons are then brought to school on Fridays for collection,” said Eleonor Brocoy.

The program has raised students’ knowledge on the importance of recycling and sustaining the environment, and has promoted camaraderie not only among the students but also throughout the STC community. “We were actually putting the Care & Share program in front because we knew that by doing so, we were already doing our part in saving the earth,” shared Pamela Suanes, STC grade school student organization’s president. Francis Gayle Macam, STC GSCO vice president, agreed, saying, “Through this program, we also learned that we are doing ourselves a favor by keeping our surroundings clean and tidy.”

Tetra Pak has truly made its mark all over the world with its innovative packaging solutions and continues to run the business in a sustainable manner. The company’s six-layer aseptic carton packaging is made from fibers that are harvested from sustainably managed forests. Since Tetra Pak packages are primarily made from paper, these packages are recycled into useful materials such as brown paper, notebooks, and paper bags.

“By educating students through our Tetra Pak Care and Share program, we are able to encourage students to help care for the environment and actively contribute to the recycling of used Tetra Pak packages. Also, the winning schools get to benefit from the program and help both their school and their adopted foundations or underprivileged schools,” noted Tess Raymundo, Tetra Pak communications and environment manager.

The top four schools were given recognition and awarded cash prizes for their school and their adopted institution. St. Theresa’s College received P50,000 and another P50,000 for its adopted institution Sambayan Educational Foundation, Inc. First runner-up Colegio San Agustin, received P40,000 and the same amount for its adopted institution, CSA Grade School Outreach. Second runner-up De La Salle Zobel received P30,000 and the same amount for its adopted institution, Luac (Lambes) Elementary School. Third runner-up Lourdes School of Mandaluyong received P20,000 and the same amount for its adopted institution, Gawad-Kalinga Mandaluyong.