UNIVERSAL Robina Corp. (URC) said that it is planning to implement more water conservation initiatives as part of its sustainability efforts.
“We recognize that water is a non-renewable resource, and that it is an essential input material in the production of our products,” URC President and Chief Executive Officer Irwin C. Lee said in a statement on Wednesday.
Since 2018, URC reported that it has saved over 11 million cubic meters of water with its conservation efforts.
In 2021, the company said it recycled over 860,000 cubic meters of water, which is enough to cover the water needs of 2.26 million people in a day.
“These were all achieved via URC’s reduce, reuse and recycle program meant to optimize water use. URC has been reducing its water consumption by fixing leaks, replacing pipes with more durable materials like stainless steel, eliminating production wastage, improving the efficiency of its water treatment facilities, and using rainwater harvesting methods,” the company said in a statement.
URC said it reuses water when cleaning pallets, watering plants and flushing toilets; and recycles water meant for washing critical raw materials used in its products, such as unpeeled potato.
The company also has environmental stewardship initiatives, including reforestation programs, coastal, river and drainage clean-up drives, and mangrove-planting activities.
In partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), around 7,600 seedlings were planted across different sites.
The company’s sugar and renewables group also signed a memorandum of agreement with the DENR to adopt a 3-hectare forest in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental and another 5-hectare forest in San Enrique, Iloilo.
Last year, URC reported its net income more than doubled to P24.3 billion. Excluding sales in Oceania, the company reported growth of 3% to P117 billion for the full year.
At the stock exchange on Wednesday, URC shares went up by 3.52% or P3.80 to finish at P111.90 per share. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
