Sustainability Expo bridges big brands with Pinoy Innovators

The first-ever international sustainability Expo in the Philippines entitled “PMG Market 2.0: An Innovation and Sustainability EXPO” was held last August 3 and 4 at the SMX Center in SM Aura, Taguig City. The expo was organized by the PMG Group, a regional Integrated Marketing Communications agency with presence in 15 countries across Asia Pacific that services the regional needs of some of the biggest global corporations and iconic brands.

The expo showcased a myriad of sustainable, and some even cost-effective options available as alternatives for marketing materials and even premium items that were previously usually made from single-use plastics or other non-recyclable chemical substances. They were displayed in stalls that simulated real-world settings such as sari-sari stores, supermarkets, department stores, eateries, cafés, and even pharmacies.

The aim of the expo was to encourage PMG’s global clients as well as their vendor partners to absolutely insist on sustainable options whenever they are available. PMG Market 2.0 provided a venue for PMG clients to interact with Filipino vendor partners of some of the most innovative sustainable products on the market.  

“Our aim is to work with our clients to encourage conscious consumerism and environmentally ethical business practices, for which we use sustainability interventions at every step of the value chain,” explains Client Servicing Director at PMG Asia Pacific, Mohita Gulati.

Client Servicing Director at PMG Asia Pacific, Mohita Gulati: “I felt that the vendor partners in the Philippines are a little ahead of the curve on sustainability”

“We ensure sustainable supplier base raw material that is recyclable or recycled and environment friendly, design that aids reusability or recyclability, we aim to work with packaging that is environment friendly and recyclable, and our products are designed to reduce transport and logistic footprints. We assist our clients to shift from a linear economy to a circular economy, which means we check and repair, use and reuse, and incorporate the process of recycling in the making and consumption of goods,” she elaborates.

Aside from being the first in the Asia Pacific region, PMG Market 2.0 was the first effort of its kind for PMG for very specific reasons: “I felt that the vendor partners here are a little ahead of the curve on sustainability. They are willing to partner with us to find solutions to the asks of the customer, even from the government perspective,” points out Mohita Gulati, PMG Client Servicing Director.

Representatives from Nestle and Loreal, came to talk about their own efforts in sustainability, but also to see if there were any interesting innovations, they could make use of in the near future. Many of PMG Group’s other global and local clients also attended to get an idea of the possibilities for their own brands.

In keeping with the expo’s sustainability message, there were no fliers and brochures handed out. The event’s over 500-page catalog was uploaded to a PMG’s Qtech platform. It contained all kinds of creative and surprisingly durable display stands in all shapes and sizes made from corrugated paper, plastic, and even such unconventional materials as agricultural waste. There were also all kinds of novelty items such as edible spoons and forks, pens made of recycled coffee grinds, stylish and functional chairs made of recyclable corrugated paper, and even elephant poop paper products.

Because the event product catalog was uploaded to Qtech platform, event guests could scan QR codes that were on all products on display at the expo, to get specific and detailed information on the particular products they would scan. Gulati added that the Qtech platform was also used by PMG for other things such as real-time order tracking and inventory management and customized marketing solutions. 

A representative of the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), was there to talk about Pinyapel, a new material developed by the DCP that makes paper out of parts of the pineapple that used to be discarded as waste. Maria Rita “Rhea” Matute, Executive Director, Design Center of the Philippines talked about how Pinyapel help maximize the earnings of pineapple farmers, by allowing them to monetize what was previously agricultural waste. It is also fully biodegradable and contributes to a circular economy.

Representatives from PMG offices all over the Asia Pacific + Japan region flew in for the two-day expo, even current PMG Group Chief Executive Kong Man Haw, who was quite pleased with how the event turned out: “The turnout was much better than we expected, and the amount of interaction is especially encouraging. We got a lot of opportunities to talk to our clients and our partners so that we know what the preferences are, and we know how to make adjustments going forward,” he enthused.

No less than PMG Global Chief Executive Kong Man Haw spoke at the event

To view the official event video, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6964085544964292608/