Called “Drop IT for Good,” the campaign was launched on June 4, 2026, at the Rockwell Business Center in Pasig City as part of the Lopez Group Envi Festival in observance of Philippine Environment Month.
The initiative invites employees from First Gen Group, its subsidiaries, and parent firm First Philippine Holdings Corp. to bring unused, broken, obsolete, or discarded electronic devices to designated collection points for proper handling, recycling, and disposal.
Responsible disposal
HMR Envirocycle, a full-service e-waste recycler, will support the processing and recycling of collected materials to help ensure that these are managed responsibly and kept away from landfills, waterways, and informal disposal channels.
The campaign covers common electronic items found at home or in the office, including old chargers, cables, unused gadgets, keyboards, batteries, small appliances, and other end-of-life electronic devices.
The launch featured a ceremonial e-waste drop-off led by First Gen vice president Shirley Cruz; Lopez Group Foundation executive director Mercedes Lopez-Vargas; Oscar M. Lopez Center executive director Dr. Rodel Lasco, who also leads the Lopez Group Environment Cluster; and Energy Development Corp. environmental compliance and assurance analyst Emmanuel Cruz.
Their participation, First Gen said in a statement, underscored the conglomerate’s shared commitment to practical and collective environmental action.
Everyday action
“Through this partnership with HMR Envirocycle, the First Gen Group aims to help keep e-waste away from landfills, waterways, and informal disposal channels, while promoting greater awareness of circular and responsible waste management,” Cruz said during the launch.
“Drop IT for Good reflects this broader commitment by making environmental action practical and accessible for employees,” she added.
Cruz said the campaign turns sustainability into an everyday choice by providing workplace-based collection points and building awareness on proper e-waste disposal.
She also explained the campaign mechanics, including the types of e-waste that may be brought to the collection points, the schedule and process for drop-offs, and the importance of shared responsibility in managing e-waste for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.
Circular solutions
As part of the launch, HMR Envirocycle’s Engr. Wilssie Sanchez conducted an awareness talk for employees on the proper handling, recycling, and disposal of end-of-life electronic gadgets and appliances.
Sanchez said old electronic items can still pose environmental risks when improperly discarded. Through the campaign, employees are given a simple and accessible way to clear out e-waste while contributing to pollution prevention, circularity, and environmental stewardship.
HMR Envirocycle provides environmental services and circular economy solutions, including e-waste handling, recovery, recycling, data security, asset disposition, and disposal services. Its work helps organizations manage used and end-of-life electronics in ways that support environmental compliance.
Climate programs
The campaign builds on First Gen Group’s environmental advocacies, including Create for the Climate and BINHI.
Create for the Climate is one of the country’s sustained private sector-led environmental education programs. It aims to create climate awareness among young people, strengthen long-term learning, train them in practical climate action, and help foster community resilience.
BINHI, meanwhile, is considered the country’s largest private sector-led forest restoration initiative. It supports biodiversity conservation and the protection of native tree species. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
