Celebrating 10 years of the Philippine Sustainability Movement in the HORECA Sector and Setting the Stage for the Next Chapter

MANILA, Philippines, —The Philippine Sustainability Movement marked a decade of collective action toward sustainability in the local HORECA sector. It celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Sheraton Manila Hotel. The event brought together leaders from the hospitality, retail, and advocacy sectors. They set the direction for the next decade of responsible and traceable food systems.

Initiated by Pristine Solutions, the milestone event focused on advancing organic, promoting certified responsibility, and strengthening traceability across the value chain — from farm to fork.

Building a Collaborative, Responsible, and Sustainable Food Future

Christian Schmidradner, Founder of Pristine Solutions and Initiator of the Philippine Sustainability Movement shared, “Over the past ten years, the movement has grown into a collaborative platform for businesses, NGOs, and government agencies committed to environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing, and transparency in food systems.”

He added, “Our goal for the next decade is to make sustainability more achievable for all by helping more organizations adopt responsible practices, so that we may continue to create tangible impact for our communities, people, and the planet.”

Moreover, the event featured discussions and experience rooms on organic transformation and plastics reduction. It also highlighted animal welfare and ESG integration in the hospitality and retail industries.

Among the highlights was the launch of PYC Foods and One World Deli’s ESG and Sustainability Framework, which aims to embed environmental and social accountability into everyday food operations.

Trust, Traceability, and Organic Practices Strengthen Food Systems

“Trust and traceability are now at the heart of how we build food businesses,” said Roscila Anne Baylon, Head of Nutrition and Wellness at PYC Foods. “Through our ESG program, we’re ensuring that what we serve is not only safe and nutritious, but also responsibly sourced and transparently produced — because consumers deserve to know where their food comes from.”

Representing the global organic community, Alexandra S. Castillo, Philippines’ Coordinator for Promotions and Market Linkages at Naturland e.V., underscored how organic practices build stronger and more resilient food systems. She emphasized that organic farming goes beyond environmental responsibility. It also promotes animal welfare, biodiversity, and community well-being.

“Organic is one of the ways sustainability can be achieved,” Castillo said. “At Naturland, we help bring this to life by equipping farmers with practical knowledge, supporting businesses meet organic standards, and empowering consumers to make responsible choices with their food.”

Driving Organic Growth and Sustainable Practices in the Philippines

This event coincides with ongoing efforts to grow the organic movement in the Philippines through the “European Organic: Nurturing Every Juan” campaign. Naturland implements the campaign with support from the European Union. Furthermore, It seeks to make European organic products an accessible, everyday choice for consumers. The effort includes education programs that explain what organic truly means. It also encourages businesses to embrace organic options.

The 10th Philippine Sustainability Movement brought together representatives from the hospitality, restaurant, and retail sectors. It also gathered key movers in the local sustainability space, including Greenpeace, Control Union Philippines, PAWS, World Animal Protection, WWF Philippines, and the UN Global Compact Network Philippines.

Over the past decade, the Philippine Sustainability Movement gathered businesses, hotels and restaurants, NGOs, and government agencies toward a common goal. It strengthened environmental stewardship and responsible food production through collaboration and education. It also raised awareness and encouraged adoption of sustainable practices in the country’s hospitality and food sectors. In addition, these efforts moved supply chains toward more environmentally responsible practices.

Looking to the future, The Philippine Sustainability Movement aims to scale its impact– aiming to build more resilient and responsible food systems rooted in accountability, transparency, and shared commitment.

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