Watsons Philippines has been recognized as a winner of the Green Leadership category at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2024. Presented by leading regional NGO Enterprise Asia, an award from the AREA serves as a badge of excellence to spur further innovation and best-practice sharing. Companies that are green leaders embrace principles and practices that prioritize environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic viability.
Watsons Philippines makes sustainability and corporate social responsibility efforts that are aligned with the AS Watsons 2023 Sustainability Vision and are focused on supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Focusing on 3 Pillars of Sustainability– Planet, People, Products; the company engages with local communities and suppliers to drive positive social and environmental impact.
“Planet” centered initiatives aim to fight the climate crisis through carbon footprint reduction across the company value chain; this includes efforts to achieve zero waste in landfills and building greener stores. “People” centered programs aim to uplift the health and well-being of communities internal and external to the company. Under the “Products” centered perspective, the company’s mission is to provide customers with sustainable options that are of high product quality and safety.
2023 was a big ‘Do Good’ year for Watsons Philippines.
“Planet” centered initiatives drove an impact through its rollout of 30 solar panels to stores nationwide, its transition from plastic bags to paper bags for over 80% of all Watsons stores, the collection of 50,000 kg or over 2.8M of ocean-bound plastic bottle waste which helped give livelihood to communities in partnership with Plastic Bank, and the roll-out of 8 Recycle for Rewards bins to encourage plastic recycling for local communities.
“People” centered programs include employee engagement and volunteerism through Eco Tours and Coast Clean-Up activities, and conducting 12 health and well-being seminars to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of employees. For communities, the Alagang Pangkalusugan Medical Missions served over 4,000 beneficiaries nationwide, and 127 free lip and cleft palate surgeries were done in collaboration with Operation Smile Philippines.
The “Products” pillar is also achieved by providing the availability of over 1,600 Sustainable Choices products both offline and online for its customers.
Through education and advocacy, Watsons Philippines inspires change and aims to create a more sustainable world. As Watsons Philippines embarks on this sustainability journey, it invites customers and partners to join hands in making a positive impact on the planet.
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine toward sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation, and courage for future generations. Please visit https://www.enterpriseasia.org/ for more information.
About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)
The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership, Corporate Sustainability Reporting, and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.