Pepsi builds new school out of plastic bottles
There’s a shortage of classrooms in The Philippines. But no shortage of waste plastic bottles. So as part of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Manila’s Sarap Magbago (change tastes good) campaign Pepsi partnered with the My Shelter foundation in the building of a new type of structure.
This is the story of the first school building in Asia constructed from recycled plastic bottles (any brand). The School recently opened its doors to its first set of pupils. The structure is made largely of around 9,000 recycled waste plastic bottles. Volunteers recruited by Pepsi via the campaign helped collect bottles, raise awareness of the national classroom shortage and build the structure.
The Bottle School project has been made in collaboration with the My Shelter Foundation. Illac Diaz, My Shelter Foundation’s social entrepreneur and executive director, expressed his enthusiasm in working with Pepsi for the Bottle School Project.
“Through the Bottle School Project, we would be able to make bigger, greater positive changes in our country one bottle at a time. We are glad to work with Pepsi to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly way of solving the classroom shortage and garbage problem in the Philippines,” Diaz said.
Mikey Rosales, Pepsi Brand Manager, said: “Pepsi is strengthening its ties with Filipino youth through the Bottle School Project. Having volunteers participate in the construction is a huge thing because we not only save on materials but on labor costs as well.” BBDO Guerrero GM Francine Kahn-Gonzalez said: “The overall campaign has almost 30,000 volunteers nationwide and we’re very proud to be part of this project to help Filipino youth get involved in different activities that benefit society.”
4 Comments
Yeah, capitalize on the younger generation. When they grow up, they are your loyal brand fans.
BTW, did anyone check on the health issue when using the recycle bottles? Will the bottles leak chemical fumes after a prolong exposure to environment?
Can’t Pepsi (or BBDO) donate a big lump sum of cash to build those schools? In fact, they can save the extra cash that is needed for all the award entries (probably sufficient to build a few classrooms).
Yes. Remind people this shit is not biodegradable. And can anyone imagine the hell of actually being inside a building made of lenses in tropical sunshine?
Never mind. Let’s give poor people our garbage. Literally. I hope they are grateful.
This technology is well established in Latin America (see http://www.hugitforward.com/pages/show/id/1) for example.
I don’t see why it’s any worse because a soft drink brand is involved.
Cool idea. Great cause. More clients should get involved in projects like this.
Well done Pepsi & Guerrero.
The two commentators above have been in the business too long. Smile.