Leaders from the hospitality, retail, and advocacy sectors gathered at the Sheraton Manila Hotel on Monday, November 10, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Philippine Sustainability Movement, reflecting on a decade of collaboration aimed at making food systems in the country more responsible, traceable and sustainable.
The movement, initiated by Pristine Solutions, has focused on encouraging environmentally responsible practices, ethical sourcing, and transparency in the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HORECA) sector.
“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,” Christian Schmidradner, founder of Pristine Solutions, said.
“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,” he added.
The anniversary event featured panel discussions and interactive experience rooms covering topics such as organic transformation, plastics reduction, animal welfare, and ESG integration in hospitality and retail operations.
A highlight was the launch of PYC Foods and One World Deli’s ESG and Sustainability Framework, which aims to embed environmental and social accountability into daily food operations.
“Trust and traceability are now at the heart of how we build food businesses,” Roscila Anne Baylon, head of Nutrition and Wellness at PYC Foods, said.
“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,” she added.
Alexandra Castillo, Philippines Coordinator for Promotions and Market Linkages at Naturland e.V., spoke on behalf of the global organic community, emphasizing how organic practices contribute to building stronger and more resilient food systems.
“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,” she said.
The anniversary coincides with ongoing efforts to expand the organic movement in the Philippines through the “European Organic: Nurturing Every Juan” campaign, which seeks to make European organic products more accessible and educate both consumers and businesses on responsible food choices.
Over the last ten years, the Philippine Sustainability Movement has served as a platform for collaboration, bringing together hotels, restaurants, NGOs and government agencies to promote environmental stewardship and responsible food production.
Looking ahead, organizers aim to further scale the initiative’s impact, fostering food systems rooted in accountability, transparency and shared commitment.