PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have partnered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to promote responsible electronic waste (e-waste) management across the Commission’s offices nationwide.
Under the partnership, PLDT and Smart will deploy “Be Kind. Recycle.” e-waste collection bins and conduct related activities in SEC offices, enabling employees to responsibly dispose of used and broken electronics associated with telco and digital services.
These will be complemented by joint efforts to raise awareness on the importance of proper e-waste disposal and recycling among SEC employees and stakeholders.
Be Kind. Recycle. is PLDT and Smart’s flagship e-waste management program, which has already activated more than 200 e-waste collection points nationwide, in collaboration with various commercial establishments, schools, enterprises, cooperatives, local government units, professional organizations, and trade communities.
“We are honored to partner with the SEC, as it continues to be at the forefront of championing sustainability and promoting responsible business practices among Philippine companies,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment towards supporting our country in managing the impacts of e-waste on our people and the environment, and in transitioning towards a circular economy,” added Pangilinan.
As part of the SEC Sustainability Week Program, the partnership aligns with the Commission’s continuing efforts to promote greater transparency on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters and advance the adoption of globally aligned sustainability reporting standards.
“The SEC strongly supports initiatives that incorporate sustainability into the core of corporate practices. We encourage all market participants to do their part in driving the shift to a more sustainable future,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.
Collected e-waste from SEC employees and facilities will be turned over to PLDT and Smart’s authorized partner e-waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, ensuring proper handling and compliance with applicable environmental and human rights laws and regulations.
PLDT and Smart’s partnership with the SEC builds on the group’s broader focus on circularity and responsible waste management, covering operations, products and services, and value chain activities.
“While we do not directly manufacture devices and electronics, we acknowledge that the use of our services and the continuous advancement of our network technology contribute to the generation of e-waste. We therefore embrace our responsibility to facilitate recovery and ensure proper disposal of consumer e-waste, particularly those associated with our products and services,” explained PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios.
Since 2023, PLDT and Smart have already collected and recovered 42.5 metric tons of e-waste, avoiding an estimated 17.3 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 286 tree seedlings grown over 10 years.
Through the program, PLDT and Smart continue to expand the availability and accessibility of proper e-waste disposal channels nationwide by connecting grassroots communities and the general public to formal e-waste collection and recycling facilities.
Parallel to e-waste collection, Smart also works with various device manufacturers that incorporate recycled components into their modes of production and enable offering of trade-in and trade-up programs for customers.
These efforts reinforce the shared commitment of PLDT, SMART, and SEC to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production and Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
