DTI Unveils OBRA Design Masterclass Program to Elevate the Furniture Industry through Training and Mentorships

22 December 2023 - Pasay, Philippines – The Philippine Trade Training Center - Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) unveiled the OBRA Design Masterclass Program that aims to provide specialized furniture training and mentorships to young designers and scholars.

The OBRA Design Masterclass Program is designed to empower and uplift local talent within the furniture and creative industries. The program is set to put the standards of Filipino furniture design to the next level by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable materials, and innovative creative processes.

“In the OBRA Design Masterclass, there will be training programs from mind setting, design thinking, market-driven designs, creative process, design phase, and prototyping. We will be witnessing the participants’ progress from the raw materials to those worth selling to the international market,” PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera said.

The program also aims to address challenges faced in the industry that affect Filipino furniture makers’ creativity and product development. Dillera cited escalating costs of imported raw materials and the competitive landscape amid rapid development on both local and international fronts.

Moreover, according to Ruby Salutan, Executive Consultant of Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., a critical challenge the program intends to deal with is the emigration of professionals, including skilled furniture designers, from the country. OBRA Design Masterclass focuses on cultivating a cohort of young designers capable of seamlessly entering and contributing to the industry.

DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba highlighted in her keynote speech the pivotal role of design in shaping a product's value, influencing consumer perceptions, demand, and market positioning, which generates value in the furniture landscape.

“In an increasingly competitive market environment, design stands as a key differentiator. Beyond keeping pace with design trends, our designs must also align with emerging consumer preferences encompassing eco-friendly materials, digital technology integration, and responsible sourcing,” Aldaba said.

The program sessions will take place simultaneously across three locations: Pampanga, Cebu, and Manila. Participants will have the opportunity to refine their skills and capabilities in crafting designs and prototypes, guided by industry-renowned furniture designers such as multi-awarded industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and industry partners like the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., and Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc.

The program comprises three phases: the designer’s phase, providing participants with training in planning, execution, evaluation, and tools; the program consultancy phase, involving participant-companies in product development planning; and the designing for the market phase, where participant-companies engage in an international event, notably the Philippines International Furniture Show in March 2024.

The OBRA Design Masterclass Program sessions are scheduled to commence in the second week of December 2023. For more information, visit the DTI-PTTC Facebook page or www.pttc.gov.ph.

Coca-Cola Philippines Accelerates Efforts to Achieve Circular Economy on Plastic Packaging, Water Security

MANILA, Philippines, 22 December 2023 —- Coca-Cola Philippines concludes 2023 with significant progress in its commitment to environmental sustainability and enters 2024 with an increased resolve to accelerate its efforts. This year, the company continued to strengthen its initiatives to meet its World Without Waste targets and launched “May Ikabobote Pa”, a brand-led initiative aiming to inspire behavior change among consumers regarding recycling. This includes expanding partnerships with organizations sharing a commitment to advancing a circular economy for plastic packaging.

The Coca-Cola Company also unveiled its 2030 Water Security Strategy, which aims to achieve 100% circular water use across 175 facilities globally. Additionally, the company plans to partner with like-minded organizations to enhance the health of 60 critical watersheds and return a cumulative total of 2 trillion liters of water to nature and communities between 2021 and 2030.

“We are grateful for all our projects this year, which demonstrate our dedication to conducting our business more sustainably and empowering the communities where we operate and serve,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines. “We recognize our responsibility to continue making a positive impact in communities and the environment and acknowledge that we still have a long way to go and that we cannot do this alone. We encourage everyone to join us in these efforts.”


Advancing a circular economy on plastic packaging

Coca-Cola Philippines took another significant step toward a circular economy for plastic packaging by introducing more bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (rPET), excluding caps and labels. In September this year, the company introduced rPET packaging for Coca-Cola Original in 190ml and 390ml and Wilkins Pure in 500ml, in addition to Sprite 500ml, which was introduced in 2019.

The announcement came on top of the launch of “May Ikabobote Pa,” the company’s new consumer engagement initiative aiming to inform and engage consumers about the actions they can take to recycle their empty plastic bottles. 

"May Ikabobote Pa" is brought to life by new rPET labels featuring a call to action, ‘Recycle Me Again,’ and a QR code that directs users to the Coca-Cola Sustainability Hub. This hub provides information about the company's recycling program, including a map displaying the locations of over 2,800 recycling drop-off points across the country, in collaboration with more than 60 partners. The hub also provides relevant updates on the company's waste management initiatives. Moreover, "May Ikabobote Pa" offers enhanced consumer recycling experiences, digital-led communications, and partnerships within selected 7-Eleven and Shel outlets.

Leveraging partnerships for effective waste collection and capacity building

Since the launch of The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste global strategy in 2018, Coca-Cola Philippines has formed strategic alliances with the government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society to help establish a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country.

One of the company’s goals is to make recycling easier and more accessible for consumers by expanding its over 2,800 recycling drop-off points across the country through increased partnerships with like-minded organizations and institutions. This includes enabling the participation of micro-entrepreneurs, particularly carinderias and sari-sari stores, through the Tapon to Ipon and Tindahan Extra Mile Balik PET Bottle programs. Both programs help create a community-backed circular economy for plastic packaging while promoting economic empowerment among micro-retailers.

TEM collection bins are placed in front of sari-sari stores and carinderias. Here, consumers can drop their empty bottles and cans for recycling

For 2024, the company aims to expand the number of its partner carinderias and sari-sari stores to 2,400 in Metro Manila and nearby areas. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Philippines' bottling arm, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBPI), has inaugurated over 700 Tapon to Ipon store hubs in 170 cities and municipalities across the country. CCBPI has also partnered with the provincial governments of Iloilo, Davao del Sur, and Camiguin for the large-scale collection of recyclable plastic bottles.

Joel Papagayo is one of the collection partners of Coca-Cola Philippines and Plastic Bank under the Ecosystem Impact Program.

Coca-Cola Philippines also helps improve the welfare of informal waste sector workers by supporting the work of social entrepreneur Plastic Bank. Since 2021, the partnership has so far activated 38 waste collection locations and 651 collection community members in the South Luzon area which has resulted in the collection of 546,000 kilograms of post-consumer bottles for recycling.


Helping preserve and improve water resources

In the Philippines and around the world, people are experiencing the impact of a warming planet through changes in water—from floods to droughts to rising temperatures in oceans. These changes adversely affect farming communities, create challenges in food production, and make it difficult for hundreds of communities to access safe and clean water for drinking and sanitation.

With a presence in more than 200 countries and territories, The Coca-Cola Company recognizes its responsibility to protect local water resources and help people who live in places that face water scarcity. Coca-Cola gives priority to communities near its facilities, urban hubs where its products are sold, and rural farming areas where it sources and grows its ingredients.

In the Philippines, Coca-Cola champions water security through efficient water use in manufacturing, improving watershed health, and helping communities access safe and clean water.

Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. implements water-saving initiatives to improve national water use efficiency.

Bottling partner CCBPI has improved its national water use efficiency across 18 manufacturing plants throughout the country through stringent water-saving initiatives. From 2015 to 2022, CCBPI saved approximately 11 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 4,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines prioritizes nature-based solutions as a way to conserve watersheds using natural processes such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines helps hundreds of communities have access to safe and clean water for drinking and sanitation.

Through the Foundation, Coca-Cola Philippines collaborates with more than 25 partners nationwide to return the same amount of water used in producing finished products to nature and communities. This collaboration aims to enhance access to water for drinking and sanitation in the most impacted communities.


"The Coca-Cola Company has been in the Philippines for the past 111 years. We stay true to our company’s purpose of refreshing the world while making a difference through loved brands, done sustainably, for a better-shared future," said del Rosario. "As we look ahead, we are dedicated to serving Filipino consumers their favorite beverage brands and building a thriving and sustainable business that will endure for many more years."

Know more about Coca-Cola Philippines and its programs at coca-cola.com/ph/en or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

Lufthansa Group and LGE Travel Forge Groundbreaking Sustainability Partnership

 

- LGE Travel commits to investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)  -  Largest bulk SAF deal for Lufthansa Group in Asia Pacific region -  First bulk SAF deal for Lufthansa Group in Singapore -  SAF is a decisive technological key to more sustainable flying

Lufthansa Group is pleased to announce a historic partnership with Singapore-based LGE Travel, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability in aviation. This partnership with LGE represents the highest-ever Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) bulk deal for Lufthansa Group in the Asia-Pacific region. It not only marks a monumental step towards sustainable practices but also signifies a pivotal moment as the first-ever bulk SAF deal in Singapore. Lufthansa Group is proud to spearhead such an innovative partnership aimed at reshaping the future of aviation in the Asia Pacific region.   LGE Travel is a leisure travel agency and an advocate for sustainable travel initiatives. A specialist in global group touring, they have consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the shared vision of a more sustainable future in aviation and their commitment to sustainability resonates deeply with Lufthansa Group's ethos.   “We are proud and honored to be the first travel agency in Singapore to be part of the committee driving towards more sustainable travel with Lufthansa Group.”, Mr. Benny Ho, Managing Director, LGE Travel.   As the first agency in Singapore to sign a bulk SAF deal, LGE Travel takes a proactive approach to embracing sustainable practices, aligning with the increasing demand for leisure travel in the local Singaporean market.   "Partnering with LGE Travel is a testament to our shared commitment to promoting sustainability within the aviation industry," remarked Mr. Philipp Bonkatz, General Manager Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, Lufthansa Group. "This deal not only marks a significant achievement in our sustainability endeavors but also paves the way for future collaborations aimed at redefining the aviation landscape, both globally and more specifically in the Asia Pacific region."   By embracing both innovation and sustainability, Lufthansa Group and LGE Travel are dedicated to shaping a more responsible and eco-friendly future for the aviation industry, paving the way of more mindful travel for generations to come.   Further information about Lufthansa Group's numerous programs and initiatives for more sustainable flying can be found here.