AboitizPower advances circular economy-based sustainable living

AboitizPower aims to deliver sustainably-sourced energy by 2030. Fly ash waste from its thermal plants in Davao is being converted into durable, long-lasting ecobricks for construction. The eco-buildings are stronger than regular hollow blocks and cost less per square meter than the usual construction materials.

Sustainability has always been at the heart of AboitizPower's philosophy and business operations as the nation's top producer of renewable energy.

Along with its pledge to provide 4,600 megawatts (MW) of energy from sustainable sources by 2030—roughly half of its target portfolio of 9,200 MW—AboitizPower is also working to advance its goal of a sustainable future by implementing eco-friendly procedures at its facilities and offices and encouraging team members to incorporate sustainability into their daily lives.

Beyond initiatives like planting trees or cleaning up the coast, AboitizPower is elevating discussions about sustainability among its subsidiaries.

Recently, the company held a virtual event where special guests discussed the circular economy and provided suggestions for integrating it into team members' daily lives as well as the company's daily business operations.

Emmanuel V. Rubio, President and Chief Executive Officer of AboitizPower, spoke at the event and stressed the necessity of finding solutions to reduce the negative environmental effects of businesses while also ensuring the welfare of the individuals and communities that are directly impacted.

"At 1AP, we take this challenge seriously, so I'm happy to report that we are making significant strides to incorporate the circular economy mindset into our business operations. Not only are we conscious of our waste, but we also use it purposefully, according to Rubio."

Rubio drew attention to the Fly Ash Ecobrick Project run by AboitizPower and its partner, the circular economy and innovation company Green Antz, based in the Philippines. The project converts fly ash waste from AboitizPower's thermal plants into a usable raw material that can be processed into strong, long-lasting ecobricks for construction.

The resulting ecobricks are stronger than conventional hollow blocks, cost less per square meter than standard building supplies, and benefit the AboitizPower partner communities in Inawayan and Binugao in Davao.

Rianna Bengzon, a research and development and communications specialist for Humble Sustainability, one of the homegrown Filipino organizations looking to close the loop and make a circular economy more accessible and profitable, was also a speaker at the event.

Dr. Rico C. Ancog, the current dean of the School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of the Philippines - Los Baos, also discussed the growth of the circular economy in the Philippines.

AboitizPower believes that sustainability should always be about generating shared value and having a positive influence on the communities it serves and operates in.

This is part of the company's mission to transform energy for a better world. AboitizPower is a leading example of how it is transforming sustainability in the country and the power sector by incorporating a circular economy model into its business operations.

According to Rubio, "Our way of creating economies of the future—ones that are inclusive and sustainable, and built on innovations that bridge the gap between the environment and the economy—involves integrating elevated sustainability practices into our business and into how we interact with our communities."

"We will keep looking for holistic ways to use our resources and capabilities to change how we produce and consume in order to help our business become more circular and sustainably innovative throughout our transformation journey towards a better world."

Source: Aboitiz Power newsroom