Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

2016

Top Green Companies In Asia

Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

Top Green Companies In Asia

2016

Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

“When your services are highly dependent upon, and directly impact the environment, sustainability is more than just a buzz word—it becomes an imperative.”

Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) in the Philippines recognizes that as a water and wastewater services provider, its operations have a direct impact on the environment. The company therefore knows that its responsibility ranges from ridge to reef.

The continuous supply of water is integral to Maynilad’s business, and watersheds help maintain the quality of Maynilad’s water supply. Plant for Life is a long-term, multi-site reforestation and afforestation program that engages various stakeholder groups. This is achieved through formal agreements with private organizations and government agencies; and leveraging ties with non-profit institutions and other volunteer organizations.

Moreover, the company partners and empowers the indigenous communities living in watershed areas by (1) helping them organize their cooperative, (2) supporting their sapling nurseries, and (3) awarding stewardship fees for maintaining the planted trees. This has enabled the indigenous peoples to gain viable alternative livelihood opportunities compared to their traditional practices that could cause environmental harm.

Originally created to reforest the watersheds in Angat, Ipo and La Mesa, the program was later expanded to include the areas along the Manila Bay coast and Laguna Lake.

In fact, for the period between 2013 and 2014, more than 100,000 seedlings and 37,000 mangrove saplings were planted by employees and other volunteers.

Meanwhile, water used at homes and businesses usually end up back to bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. When left untreated, the wastewater becomes the cause of pollution and disease spreading.

To address this, Maynilad also offers wastewater management services to the 17 cities and municipalities it currently serves. The company lays sewer conveyance systems and deploys septic tank cleaning trucks to collect wastewater. The wastewater is then brought for treatment to Maynilad’s facilities before it is discharged to the receiving bodies of water.

Maynilad produces also a Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutants (GHG/AP) Inventory to show its greenhouse gas production and measures to curb it. In fact, in 2011, Maynilad became the first company in the Philippines to receive the ISO 14064:2006 certification for the verification of its greenhouse gas (GHG) or carbon footprint quantification and reporting initiative from TUV Rheinland.

An outtake of conducting the GHG/AP inventory is a program aimed to curb energy consumption.

Through the Maynilad Energy Management System (EnMS), Maynilad established procedures that seek to meet yearly energy consumption targets. The continued growth in carbon emission since the first GHG/AP was attributed to Maynilad’s water service expansion projects and accelerated wastewater service efforts. That is, Maynilad consumed more energy in order to deliver and expand its services and reach more people.

As such, technological interventions and system improvements are being adapted, such as procedures involving machinery, pumps, lighting and alarms. The company also instituted procedures for solid waste and hazardous waste management, in line with legislation and certified quality controls.

To decrease environmental footprint, Maynilad also continually seeks ways in which to procure leaner and greener supplies and materials for its operations.

Maynilad publishes an annual Sustainability Report to keep its stakeholders informed and updated about its various programs and practices.

Truly, Maynilad is inclusive and empowering in its effort to protect the environment. Just as it recognizes that this is a shared responsibility, the company seeks to help its stakeholders understand that they, too, have a roles they must and can play to ensure that the next generation may also enjoy such bountiful resources. Maynilad’s efforts in being a green company goes beyond branding: they are a reflection of its commitment in protecting the environment so that future generations will still have access to clean and safe water.