US-ASEAN Business Council Highlights Private Sector Efforts at 17th ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education (AWGEE) Meeting

(Metro Manila, Philippines) – The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) participated in the 17th ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education (AWGEE) meeting on July 2, 2025, marking its first formal engagement with the working group. USABC is committed to supporting ASEAN’s sustainability priorities through public-private collaboration and education-driven initiatives.

During the plenary, USABC highlighted its work under the Sustainability Committee on circular economy, plastic waste management, and sustainability reporting. USABC also shared recent initiatives, including the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Workshop held in the Philippines, and previous participation in the ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste (AWGCW) and UNFCCC/COP29. 

The session featured member-led presentations from Coca-Cola and Mondelez. Coca-Cola showcased its “Tapon to Ipon” ("From Waste to Savings") program under PETValue Philippines, the country’s first food-grade bottle-to-bottle recycling facility, which has collected over 1 billion PET bottles through over 6,000 hubs nationwide. Mondelez presented its collaboration with Miming and Friends, an educational YouTube series promoting environmental awareness among children and families, developed with Save Philippine Seas. 

“As a platform that connects U.S. industry with ASEAN policymakers, USABC is committed to advancing public-private collaboration on critical issues such as circular economy, waste management, and climate action,” said Ms. Florina Vistal, Chief Representative for the Philippines at USABC. “This engagement is a meaningful step toward deepening shared understanding and building inclusive, long-term solutions for the region.” 

USABC’s participation reflects its ongoing efforts to bring private sector perspectives to regional dialogues on environmental education and sustainability across ASEAN.